Wisdom of the Doctrine of the Mean

Author: Xiuping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Wuyi Management with Action
Wuyi is an important ancient Chinese management method. Someone once pointed out, The highest-level managers govern through wuyi (non-action), and the common people only know their names, knowing that such a person exists; the next-level managers, by doing many good deeds, are and praised by the people; the next rank of managers, by being harsh and making the people fear and avoid them; The worst managers, by devouring the people and bringing calamity to the country, naturally earn the abuse and humiliation of the people, and even overthrow them. Therefore, judging the of a manager, his relationship with the people is the most important standard. Laozi also said, The people are water, and the rulers are boats; the boat may sail safely in the water, or it may be swallowed by towering waves, so the initiative is not always in the hands of the rulers. Chen Ping, who had six extraordinary strategies, made great contributions to the unification of the Han Dynasty. In his later years, he was appointed as the prime minister by Emperor Wen of Han. One day, Emperor Wen summoned Chen Ping and another prime minister, Zhou Bo. Emperor Wen first asked Zhou Bo, "How many cases do you handle and judge in a year?" Zhou Bo replied, "I am unworthy, and I don't know." Emperor Wen then asked, "Then, what is the approximate annual revenue and expenditure of the state treasury?" Zhou Bo also could not answer. Seeing Zhou Bo, as the prime minister, unable to answer even the simplest questions, Emperor Wen frowned with displeasure. Zhou Bo was so frightened that sweat poured down his back. Emperor Wen then asked the same questions to Chen Ping. Chen Ping replied, "For these questions, I need to ask the relevant persons in charge." Emperor Wen followed up, "Who are the persons in charge?" Chen Ping answered, "The person in charge of judging cases is the Minister of Justice, and the person in charge of state treasury revenue and expenditure is the Minister of Finance." Emperor Wen then asked, "If all matters have someone in charge, what is the role of the prime minister?" Chen Ping calmly replied, "The prime minister ensures that the people are in their proper places, externally pacifies the barbarians and feudal lords, and internally supervises all officials to fulfill their duties." Chen Ping's words deeply resonated with Emperor Wen. During the Warring States period, the people of Handan went to the mountains every New Year's Day to catch woodpigeons and deliver them to the mansion of Zhao Jianzi. Then, Zhao Jianzi rewarded them with a lot of silver. A guest staying at Zhao Jianzi's house saw this and asked in surprise, "Why catch these woodpigeons?" Zhao Jianzi replied, "Do you not know? Every small life is precious! On New Year's Day, I will release them all back into the forests to show my love for life." The guest laughed and said, "Is this the way to show love for life? The common people know that you will release them, and they compete to catch woodpigeons as a reward. Some use iron traps, and others use bows and arrows. Although some may be caught alive, many are still killed. If you truly pity these small lives, wouldn't it be better to issue an order prohibiting the capture of woodpigeons? Otherwise, your kindness far outweighs your faults by catching and then releasing them."
Wuyi governance is a management method that allows the people to rest and recuperate after war. As early as the beginning of the Han Dynasty, the rulers' practice of wuyi governance achieved excellent results. After Liu Bang and Xiao He passed away, the emperor who succeeded them was Emperor Hui, and the prime minister who took over was Cao Can. Cao Can's governance policy was "to make no changes in affairs, strictly adhering to Xiao He's regulations." Why was this the case? Cao Can explained his governance policy as follows: Because Emperor Gaozu and Xiao He had already unified the world, and the laws and regulations were very clear. In a peaceful world, the common people were working hard to rest and recuperate. For officials, as long as they strictly fulfilled their duties and did not lose these, it was sufficient. It has been proven that wuyi governance deeply won the hearts of the people. Later, the people composed a song to praise it: "Xiao He established laws, Cao Can implemented them, and the people lived in peace." This is the typical example of wuyi governance. Of course, "wuyi" does not mean inaction or doing nothing; it means following the natural course and not intentionally changing objective laws through human effort. Therefore, "wuyi" is a means, not an end. The purpose of wuyi is still action, which is further explained by Laozi as "wuyi without action." This kind of "wuyi" is, objectively speaking, beneficial to the stability of people's lives and social conditions. Have these ancient management methods of "wuyi without action" not given us much to learn from? P5-6