The Wisdom of Official Precepts: The Philosophy of Being an Official

Author: Sun Kunpeng and Yang Zhiyong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: Officials fear not my sternness but my integrity; the people do not obey my ability but my fairness. Fairness brings enlightenment, integrity brings authority. The way to govern is threefold: purity, caution, and diligence. Knowing these three can preserve one's position, avoid disgrace, gain the favor of superiors, and earn the support of subordinates.
— Song Dynasty, Lu Benzhong
From official to minister, from servant to marquis, rising to prominence through sheer talent, the ups and downs of the official world are all rooted in this book.
— Qing Dynasty, Zeng Guofan
When one enters the official world, they find not only splendid riches and boundless prosperity but also the hardships and despair that others cannot understand. Yet once immersed in the world of officials, how does one conduct oneself? The Southern Song scholar Lu Benzhong and the Qing Dynasty's extraordinary official Wang Huizhu have given us a profound interpretation: Firmness can be easily broken, while flexibility can be easily misunderstood. One must balance both; straightness may appear foolish, while roundness may seem cunning. Be straight when straight is needed, and round when round is necessary. To be both straight and round is the essence of standing firm.
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(Straightness and roundness are the foundation of one's character.)