Wu Guangqiang

    jw368@163.com

    THE Chinese term “benfen” means one’s part or duty. Another phrase derived from the word is “jin benfen,” meaning doing one’s part or duty.

    In Chinese, “jin benfen” refers to any action that is regarded as morally incumbent, apart from personal likes and dislikes or any external compulsion.

    “The Zhouli,” or “Rites of the Zhou Dynasty,” one of the Confucian classics, holds that if each person does his benfen (duty) and cares for each other, the world will be harmonious and the highest spiritual state of “benevolence” will be reached.

    “The Zhouli” dwells on the meanings of “benevolence”: the ruler should know the sorrows and miseries of his subjects and carry out his rule in a humane and lenient manner; the minister should be loyal to the ruler and perform his duties faithfully as the ruler expects of him; the father should behave as a father and the son as a son, and so on.

    In the same vein, every individual should know his place and duties in society and act according to his social status and profession. Only in this way, holds Confucianism, can social order and stability be maintained and economic growth and cultural prosperity be sustained.

    For thousands of years, Chinese civilization has been evolving without interruption despite frequent setbacks and catastrophes. One of the major sources of the nation’s resilience and vitality is its traditional value system, the content of which, though they have evolved over time, remains essentially unchanged. Benfen is still held dear by most Chinese today and they do their benfen in earnest.

    Most Chinese have a simple idea about doing his benfen: settling down to whatever pursuit one is engaged in and doing it as well as he can, however big or small the pursuit is.

    Good citizens know how to do his or her benfen.

    Illiterate farmers make their living by honest labor without a dream of striking it rich overnight — their fathers and grandfathers taught them the value of honesty. Knowledgeable scientists have devoted their entire lives to the development of sophisticated weapons needed to safeguard the nation without many material desires. Conscientious teachers not only impart knowledge to students but also protect students’ lives when danger strikes. Prudent workers produce quality products to earn their salaries.

    At a higher level, most citizens regard patriotism as their benfen. The ancient saying “every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country” has inspired the Chinese for hundreds of years.

    However, historical vicissitudes and ideological changes have eroded popular faith in the pursuit of benfen. The shock of economic globalization and the temptation of rags-to-riches tales have caused some people to ditch their benfen.

    As a result, greedy officials have become avaricious wolves amassing wealth using their powers. Some teachers and principals are more gung-ho about making money through illegal means than teaching. A handful of animalistic teachers even sexually abuse their female students.

    Even some judges and lawyers have become businesspersons by trading justice for money. Following the bad examples of these dishonest people, more common people begin wallowing in the mire, longing to get rich quickly.

    Widespread corruption and deception have impaired the interests of the nation and the people. The grave consequences of giving up benfen have shocked the nation.

    Unfortunately, many people have a low standard for their benfen. They think they are doing their benfen despite their perfunctory work. Workers may dig up a road to fix something but do a shoddy job of repairing the road, leaving a rough and bumpy road behind.

    A recent accident showed what deadly consequences one’s negligence of his benfen can bring. A woman was killed in an escalator accident at a shopping mall in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province. The shocking truth is that the shop management had received a report about the faulty escalator. Instead of turning it off, they simply had two sales clerks stand at the top of the escalator to warn customers of the danger. They thought they did their benfen, but they didn’t.

    Benfen can be a life-and-death matter.

    (The author is an English tutor and freelance writer.)