Confucius taught that a person cannot get far in life without trustworthiness. He also warned that a government cannot stand without the trust of its people. In traditional Chinese thought, honesty was therefore more than a personal virtue; it was essential to building lasting relationships and maintaining a stable society. Historical accounts preserve many examples of people who upheld this principle, even when telling the truth meant accepting a personal loss.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty (A.D. 25-220), a scholar and official named Zhu Mu became known for his strong moral principles. His grandfather, Zhu Hui, had served as a high-ranking official in the imperial government. Zhu Mu was recognized for his filial devotion as early as the age of five. Whenever his parents fell ill, he would refuse food and drink until they recovered. As he grew older, he devoted himself to studying the Five Classics and developed a reputation for scholarship and integrity. By the age of twenty, he had become an inspector in a local commandery.
Zhu Mu and the sick pig
A story preserved in later historical writings and attributed to Zhu Mu illustrates his commitment to honesty in everyday dealings.
One day, a pig belonging to his household fell ill. Zhu Mu instructed a servant to take it to the market and sell it, but specifically warned him to disclose the animal’s condition to any prospective buyer.
The servant found a buyer but neglected to mention that the pig was sick. As a result, he received a much higher price than Zhu Mu had expected. When Zhu Mu learned what had happened, he immediately hurried to the market to set matters right.
He explained the pig’s condition to the buyer and offered to refund half the purchase price. The buyer refused to accept the money, but Zhu Mu insisted on making amends. Rather than keep the extra payment, he left the money behind and walked away.
Meng Xin and the old ox
Nearly four centuries later, during the Western Wei Dynasty (535-557), another official named Meng Xin demonstrated a similar commitment to honesty.
Meng Xin was a native of Suolu in Guangchuan. Born into a poor family with a tradition of Confucian scholarship, he eventually abandoned his studies to pursue a military career. He rose through the ranks to become prefect of Zhaoping, where he was known for governing with fairness and leniency. Even powerful local families reportedly dared not violate the law under his administration.
Despite his distinguished career, Meng Xin accumulated little wealth. After leaving office, he lived in considerable poverty, with barely enough food to sustain his household. His only valuable possession was an old ox.
Hoping to obtain some rice and firewood for the family, his nephew secretly arranged to sell the animal. The buyer and nephew had already drawn up a sales agreement when Meng Xin unexpectedly returned home.
Upon learning of the transaction, Meng Xin immediately informed the buyer of a problem.
“This ox has been sick for some time,” he explained. “Even a little work causes its illness to return. It would be of little use to you.”
Meng Xin then reprimanded his nephew for concealing the animal’s condition and punished him with 20 strokes of a rod.
The buyer was astonished by Meng Xin’s honesty. After reflecting on what he had witnessed, he offered to purchase the ox anyway, explaining that he did not necessarily need the animal for work. Despite the man’s repeated requests, however, Meng Xin refused to complete the sale.
As it happened, the prospective buyer served Yuwen Tai, the powerful statesman who effectively ruled Western Wei and was later posthumously honored as Emperor Wen of Northern Zhou. When Yuwen Tai heard about the incident, he was deeply impressed by Meng Xin’s integrity.
Not long afterward, Meng Xin was appointed to a prestigious position as a tutor to the crown prince. He subsequently received additional military and court honors. When he eventually requested retirement because of his advanced age, Yuwen Tai respected his wishes and presented him with a carriage and horses, an armrest and walking staff, clothing, and bedding.
Although these two stories unfolded centuries apart, they share a common lesson. Zhu Mu willingly returned money he could have kept, while Meng Xin refused a sale that might have eased his family’s hardship. Neither allowed personal gain to outweigh the obligation to deal fairly with others. Their actions remind us that trust is not built through promises alone, but through the willingness to do what is right, even when honesty comes at a cost.
Historical references: The Analects (2.22 and 12.7); Book of the Later Han, “Biographies of Zhu Hui and Zhu Mu”; Taiping Yulan, Volume 903; History of the Northern Dynasties, Volume 70, “Biography of Meng Xin.”
Translated by Eva
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