Renowned Chancellor in Jin Dynasty: Benevolence and Righteousness

(Minghui.org) Whether it was in an ancient dynasty or a modern organization, a high official should follow moral principles, position him- or herself properly, and stick to their responsibilities. This article shares a few stories about Wang Dao (276 – 339), a chancellor in Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Wang was born in a prominent family and assisted three emperors in the early Eastern Jin Dynasty. Fang Xuanling, a famous chancellor of the Tang Dynasty, commended Wang in the Book of Jin: Like Guan Zhong, a Chinese philosopher and politician, Wang had a heart of benevolence and was able to support small and weak states. Like Zhuge Liang, Wang practiced benevolence and justice in assisting the new state. It was Wang’s virtuousness that helped him to serve as a founding father in Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Remaining Loyal and Respectful to the Emperors

According to the Book of Jin, Wang was very close to Sima Rui long before Sima became the first emperor of Eastern Jin Dynasty. Seeing the society was chaotic, Wang assisted Sima wholeheartedly to restore law and order. Sima also thought highly of Wang and the two were close friends.

Wang often advised Sima to restrain himself, abide by etiquette, and recruit sages and men of virtue to achieve his goals. Sima once referred to Wang as his Xiao He, an intimate friend and adviser to Han Dynasty’s first emperor Liu Bang.

Wang said that the Emperor of the Qin Dynasty was ruthless, and officials suppressed citizens without restraint. As a result, people followed Liu and overthrew the Qin Dynasty. At that time, court officials and aristocratic families competed for luxury lives, with morality gradually declining. Laws and regulations were not observed. Many officials indulged in pleasure, which ultimately damaged social morality.

As a natural law, things tend to turn in the opposite direction when they become extreme. In view of the situation at the time, Wang advised that if Sima was endeavoring to unify the country, talented individuals like Guan Zhong and Yue Yi (a prominent military leader of the State of Yan) would emerge accordingly. Sima followed Wang’s advice and gradually earned respect and support from the general public.

Wang was virtuous also because he could maintain an appropriate relationship with the emperor. Here are two other stories recorded in the Book of Jin. When Sima became the emperor, all court officials were sitting on the side. The emperor then invited Wang to sit next to him, but Wang humbly declined, saying that if the sun descended to the level of all other things, how could common people look up to and enjoy the brilliance of the sun? The emperor appreciated his humility and accepted his position.

The second story happened when Sima Rui died and his son Sima Shao became the new emperor, who was also assisted by Wang. At that time, Wang’s cousin Wang Dun rebelled. The emperor and Wang Dao successfully defeated Wang Dun.

After the rebellion was put down, Emperor Sima Zhao specifically rewarded Wang Dao. For example, Wang could wear a sword and shoes when coming to the imperial court, and that he did not need to walk quickly like others. However, Wang Dao resolutely declined such honors.

In history, many advisers of a dynasty’s first emperor often ended up losing power or being purged due to various reasons. The reason that Wang was able to assist three generations of emperors with full trust was because he always humbly maintained an appropriate relationship with emperors as a humble subordinate.

Taking Responsibility for His Mistakes

No one is perfect, and being able to take responsibility when mistakes occur is certainly a form of virtue. When Xu Kan, the governor of Taishan, rebelled, Sima Rui tried to seek out someone to quell the rebellion. Wang recommended Yang Jian, but Yang suffered a defeat and was punished.

Wang wrote to the emperor that because it was him who recommended Yang, he should be punished as well with demotion.

The emperor refused to demote him, and Wang’s humility and sense of responsibility was praised by later generations.

Paying Attention to Moral Education

Another contribution from Wang was convincing the emperor to set up schools and promote education and moral principles.

In one letter to the emperor, he wrote that the foundation of social atmosphere lies in the establishment of righteous concepts of human relations. The key to such relations is setting up schools to educate people. Schools can promote ethics, morality, and etiquette. The good governance of the state for a stable society can then be maintained smoothly. When people understand the sense of shame and abide by the righteous norms, family relationships will be harmonious and orderly. The righteous relationship between the emperor and the court officials will also be more solid and stable. This is just like what is said in the Book of Changes that “When families are upright, the world will be stable.”

Therefore, a wise emperor would teach his people the correct values starting from childhood, so they can be guided with good moral concepts as they grow up and refrain from committing sins. Those who have cultivated good character will be given appropriate positions to contribute to the country.

Even children of an emperor should be taught proper values so that they develop good morals in their lives before they are given dignified status. When people understand that the reason why scholars are respected is because of their moral values, they would constantly pursue self-improvement and follow honesty as well as virtue. This is the outcome of education. After reading Wang’s letter, Sima accepted his proposal.

Blessing for Descendants

Wang lived a frugal life with little desires for personal gain. He had no extra food at home and never pursued luxuries. After the emperor learned about his situation, he gave Wang ten thousand bolts of cloth. When Wang felt sick and could not attend the royal court services, the emperor paid him a visit at his home and set up a banquet with entertainment for him.

When Wang passed away due to illness at the age of 64, the emperor arranged a mourning ceremony in the imperial hall for three days, in the same manner as what was done for Huo Guang (a well accomplished general and a dominant court official in the Han Dynasty) and Sima Fu (the King of Anping in the Western Jin Dynasty).

On the day of Wang’s funeral, the emperor assigned nine ceremonial carriages, guards and bands used for an emperor’s funeral ceremonial, as well as hundreds of warrior entourages to escort them. Wang’s funeral was unmatched by any funerals of well-known officials in the past.

According to the Book of Song, after Emperor Wu of Song took the throne and replaced the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he issued an imperial edict stating that, although the title conferring system in the Jin Dynasty had changed over time, the title of Wang Dao and other virtuous officials of the Jin Dynasty remained the same. That is, their descendants would still enjoy various benefits.