Virtuous and humble gentleman Tao Xingzhi

Author: Wang Yixin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: Tao Xingzhi wrote to his son on July 23, 1941, "We must learn to create in collective creation. Creation requires labor and humility. On the night of the 19th, I read in the I Ching: 'A laborious and humble gentleman will achieve good fortune in the end.' It also says: 'A laborious and humble gentleman will be obeyed by the people.' This gave us important guidance." In November, when Feng Yuxiang celebrated his 60th birthday, Tao Xingzhi wrote a poem in celebration, and the line "A laborious and humble gentleman will be obeyed by the people" appeared again, showing that these four characters "laborious and humble gentleman" were very close to Tao Xingzhi's heart. Looking back at Tao Xingzhi's life, these four characters could be used to summarize his character quite well. Upon returning from his studies abroad, he did not seek comfort but devoted all his energy to mass education. He pursued his ideals like (Kuafu chasing the sun) and operated his career like (Sisyphus pushing a boulder uphill), working tirelessly throughout his life. He abandoned the ivory tower as if it were a dilapidated house, wearing simple clothes and willingly associating with the common people, serving them. Without complete humility, he could never have done so. Possessing the virtues of labor and humility already makes one a gentleman, but as a leader of the Salvation Society, Tao Xingzhi was still being hunted down while abroad. If he had been in the country at that time, he would surely have been arrested along with Sha Qianli, turning the "Seven Gentlemen Incident" into an "Eight Gentlemen Incident."