Be muddled in character, wise in action - Wang Zhenhui's Works Collection

Author: Wang Zhenhui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Numbers don’t turn, but words can. Inner peace is the most important thing. Don’t blindly believe or speak without understanding, and maintain a flexible heart toward truth and falsehood. This may be helpful for those pursuing a life of freedom. There are many reasons why people come to believe. One is through personal experience and understanding, feeling that their experience is real, so they believe. Another is because many people say so, considering it reliable, so they believe. The most common reason is facing what is visible and tangible, finding it unquestionable, so they believe. Once a person believes in a "reality," unless someone presents more convincing evidence to prove it false, they are easily led to superstition. For example, people in the past believed the Earth was flat, thinking that if you reached the end, you would fall off a cliff. Modern people, however, laugh at this idea. Belief brings peace, but it can also bring fear, and superstition is even more so. Between these, many interesting psychological phenomena and reactions arise.
Emperor Wu of Western Jin, Sima Yan, the founder of the Western Jin Dynasty, forced the last emperor of the Cao Wei regime, Cao Huan, to abdicate. Despite his triumph and ascension to the throne, his heart remained uneasy, fearing that one day he would be swallowed by the treacherous political environment. Therefore, on the very day he ascended the throne, Sima Yan eagerly consulted an oracle to see how long his dynasty would last. This practice, called "probing the lot," was said to determine the longevity of the dynasty based on the number drawn. The entire court held its breath, waiting to see what auspicious number the emperor’s golden hand would reveal.
The result was revealed: he drew a "one." This was an embarrassing number, instantly making everyone, including Sima Yan himself, gulp and struggle to maintain a pleasant expression. As everyone awkwardly exchanged glances, unable to speak, the minister Pei Kai suddenly raised his voice and said to Sima Yan, "Your humble servant has heard that when Heaven receives 'one,' it becomes clear, orderly, and bountiful; when Earth receives 'one,' it becomes peaceful, tranquil, and vibrant with life; and when a ruler receives 'one,' they are beloved by the people and respected by all."
These words immediately eased the tension on everyone’s faces, turning frowns into smiles, transforming absolute regret into hopeful anticipation, and temporarily setting aside the awkwardness as they praised Pei Kai’s cleverness. Perhaps because human understanding of the universe, even of ourselves, is limited, what is believed today may be overturned tomorrow, and truth or falsehood can be interpreted differently. Those who believe consider it true, while those who doubt consider it false. Because truth and falsehood can bend, leaving room for interpretation, it gives people great flexibility in their beliefs—allowing them to be serious or not.
For example, when Sima Yan drew a "one," those who believed in this omen thought it meant his dynasty would last only one generation and would inevitably come to an end—a very unlucky number. Fortunately, numbers don’t bend, but words do. Pei Kai immediately reinterpreted it in a fortunate direction, instantly resolving the awkward situation.
In truth, inner peace is the most important thing. Don’t blindly believe or speak without understanding, and maintain a flexible heart toward truth and falsehood. Perhaps this is more helpful for those pursuing a life of freedom. Isn’t that right?