Han Wangxi

TODAY, let’s hear a story about diligence and frugality. In “Shang Shu” (“Classic of History”), it is said, “Be diligent in serving the state and frugal in managing the household.” This means that ancient sages demonstrated their virtues by working diligently for the country and practicing thriftiness at home. According to the Buddhist text “Wu Deng Hui Yuan” (“A Compendium of the Five Lamps”), it states, “If one doesn’t work, one shall not eat.”

The story we are about to share is selected from “Guo Yu” (“Discourses of the States”). Many articles in the “Discourses of the States: Discourses of Lu” talk about the teachings of Jing Jiang to her son, Gongfu Wenbo. Jing Jiang was an extraordinary person who was the daughter of the Marquis of Qi. Gongfu was a distinguished official in the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.).

One day, Gongfu finished his official duties and went to visit his mother. Seeing his mother was spinning thread, he said, “In a family like ours, there is no need for you, my mother, to spin and weave. Your labor might make others think that I have not served you well.”

Hearing this, his mother stopped her work, let out a deep sigh, and said: “I believe the State of Lu is likely to perish if officials like you do not understand the principles of governance. In the past, our ancestors and emperors would not despise barren lands when settling their people. They allowed the people to settle down, engage in labor and unleash their talents. Only then would they employ them, for this is the way to govern a nation. If we encourage excessive indulgence, we will forget our virtues.

“Now that you are an official, you toil from morning till night, and yet you still need to worry about not performing well and ruining the foundation left by our ancestors. If you become slack and lazy, how can you avoid the consequences of your negligence? I am a widow and have to work hard to fulfill my responsibilities. I hope you will remind me never to forget or abandon our ancestral traditions. But today, when you returned from court, you asked me why I spun thread and toiled here while not seeking comfort and enjoying my senior years. I worry that if you continue to have this kind of mindset, our family will come to an end.”

This story tells us that we should remember the virtues of diligence and frugality, and not be tempted by comfort. It serves as a strong reminder for us today because the pursuit of comfort will ultimately destroy one’s future, even their life.

Han Feizi (280-233 B.C.) said, “Those who are extravagant and lazy will be poor, while those who are diligent and frugal will be rich.” Li Shangyin (813-858) also expressed this concept in a poem: “Examining the rise and fall of past nations and families, success comes from diligence and frugality, while ruin results from extravagance. Why does one need an amber pillow? Why are carts decorated with pearls regarded as fine carts?” Throughout history, we can observe that successful nations, families and individuals often achieved their prosperity through diligence and frugality, while downfalls were driven by extravagance, so officials must be extremely cautious.

(The author is a cultural scholar.)

(Translated by Cao Zhen)