(Minghui.org) In ancient China, it was extremely difficult to become a Jinshi [Imperial Scholar], the highest degree and honor awarded in the imperial examination system. The title provides the opportunity to be appointed as an imperial official. Just how difficult was it to become a Jinshi? A fictional character from the Ming Dynasty, Fan Jin, spent decades studying, writing, and repeatedly failing the imperial examinations. However, on his twenty-first try, he finally earned the top honor in a county-level exam, which made Fan was so euphoric that he went crazy. Most people consider achieving the highest marks in a nationwide imperial examination nearly impossible.
That being said, in the Ming Dynasty, a family in Xindu, Sichuan Province beat the odds and produced seven Jinshi. Yang Sheng’an, his grandfather, father, uncle, younger brother, cousin, and son all held Jinshi degrees.
Yang Sheng’an is honored in history as the Best of the Three Talents in the Ming Dynasty. He is the author of “The Immortals by the River,” a poem added to the beginning of the book Romance of the Three Kingdoms. His father, Yang Tinghe, served as the prime minister for two Ming Dynasty emperors.
Having seven Jinshi in one family is a rare occurrence and a significant honor in Chinese history. This happened because of the family’s virtuous past.
“The members should focus on building careers;live within their means;follow the etiquette to keep things and everyone in harmony;properly teach and raise the children.”
The four important family values were passed down by Yang’s great-grandmother. The first two ask the family members to maintain a business, be hardworking and frugal. The other two ask the members to respect, be kind to, and care for one another, and to educate the younger generations so they will be competent.
“I live in a thatched cottage and do not care for a luxurious house. The beautifully painted house does not last, and the skillfully carved beams break easily. I only ask the house to shelter me from wind and rain, I don’t want a tall mansion but a place that doesn’t leak.
“I only need plain food to not be hungry, and don’t think about delicious dishes. Rich food does not last, and delicacies are rare. I only ask for simple food that is easily available. I don’t think about goose feet and pig’s feet [regarded as delicious delicacies], I will be satisfied to not be hungry.
“My wife is not a pretty woman, and I don’t dream about a beautiful one. A pretty one will bring trouble, and a seductive one will kill me. I only ask that she be gentle, kind, frugal, and respectful to my parents. I don’t dream about a pretty wife, a virtuous and understanding one is enough.
“My son is not clever, I don’t expect him to be quick-witted. The clever ones cause trouble, and the tough ones bully others. I only hope that he leads a law-abiding life. I don’t expect him to be a hero, a filial son is enough for me.”
The Yang family’s teachings and rules are documented in Yang’s Genealogy, from the Qing Dynasty and Xindu Yang’s Family Tree, from the Republic. The books also document the honest deeds of Yang’s ancestors when they served as officials.
The Four Family Rules to Be Content focused on housing, food, a wife, and children. A house is meant to be a shelter, not luxurious; food does not need to be delicacies, but to fill the stomach; a wife does not need to be good-looking, but gentle and wise; and children do not need to be overly shrewd, but should follow the rules and respect their parents.
Before Yang Sheng’an passed away, he summarized his life this way: “When faced with personal interest, I dared not place myself in front of others; when it comes to doing the right thing, I dare not fall behind others.” These values are what he believed, and what he expected his descendants to follow.
Yang Tinghe was Yang Sheng’an’s father and served as Prime Minister for two emperors. He cared about people’s livelihoods and was known for his achievements in fighting corruption.
Yang Sheng’an’s grandfather, Yang Chun, was the superintendent of education in Hubei and Hunan Provinces. After he retired, he returned to Sichuan Province and established a school. In his letters, he often reminded his son to govern the country with his best effort and to do things that benefit the people. When Yang Sheng’an became a Jinshi, his grandfather suggested that he spend the silver gifts from relatives on repairing the rundown city walls.
Yang Sheng’an’s great grandfather, Yang Mei, was an official in Yongning, Guizhou Province. Yang Mei often helped his people and did not accept bribes from local officials.
There were many officials in the Yang family, and they were all honest and did their best to serve the people. Notably, in Xindu, their hometown, the Qingyuan Bridge built by Yang Chun and the Xuemen Weir built by Yang Tinghe remain well preserved [Qingyuan means clean origin, Xuemen means scholarly family].
People often say that family tradition is a silent form of education. How do you plan to establish your family tradition to benefit future generations?