the original edition of Feng’s collection was unavailable, I used the contemporary revised version. By translating and enhancing this collection from dry and rigid classical Chinese to simple and colorful English, I hope to engage a new generation of both Chinese and Western readers.
Walton C. Lee
El Cerrito, CA
There is no single rule of wisdom. What matters is how you use it. Consequently, even a blockhead sometimes makes a smart choice, or a genius makes a foolish one. Why? The Supreme Wisdom naturally flows from one’s mind and answers the problem; there is no need to rack one’s brain for a solution. The wise person positions him or herself outside of a problem and analyzes it, always looking at the puzzle from a larger perspective, before undertaking any solution. He or she weighs the ultimate long-term advantages against the immediate short-term disadvantages.
At the other end of the human spectrum, the narrowminded person approaches problems with tunnel vision, confounded by immediate gain or short-term loss. While the wise person is calm and rational in a crisis, the impatient person is worried, emotional and irritated. These states of mind are counterproductive when dealing with a dilemma. Facing a problem, the person with Supreme Wisdom always behaves, in the beginning, ordinarily, and even indifferently. But the outcome is remarkable and even astounding to average people. It is a rare and unique talent to be capable of following the Supreme Wisdom, which can be divided into four categories. Here are several stories to illustrate my point.
How to Rule a Country
Warring States Period475 B.C. to 221 B.C.
This conversation occurred in 312 B.C. during the Warring States period. China was unfortunately in disunity as a handful of kings and lords jockeyed for domination. The country of Yang had been devastated by a palace insurrection and an invasion, and the older ruler had suffered an untimely and humiliating death. After visiting the sacked city and wounded soldiers, the new king Yang-Jau1 was disturbed, and wondered how a similar situation could be prevented.
“How should I manage my country?” he asked one of his advisors, a man named Guo Wai.2
“Your Majesty, if you want to be an Emperor,” the advisor explained, “you should treat your subordinates as teachers. To be a King, you should treat them as friends. To be a Lord, you should treat them as guests. If you wish to ruin your country, if I may say, you should treat them as servants or even slaves. The choice is yours alone.”
Impressed and a little surprised, the king politely returned, “Your statement is very interesting. Since I desire to be an Emperor, whom should I begin to respect?”
“Your Majesty might start with me,” the advisor boldly suggested, “a little-known person. As a result, other capable individuals, with greater reputations, will be envious and come to try their political fortunes here. These intellectuals, whose counsel you seek and esteem, having heard of your generosity and expecting to be treated likewise, will confidently approach Your Majesty and freely present their ideas and suggestions. Your Majesty may then choose the best administers from among them. Thus our country’s prosperity and Your Majesty’s potency is surely secured.”
The king was well pleased and acted swiftly. Besides providing his advisor with an exceptionally generous salary, this smart ruler also ordered his royal architect to design and construct a splendid villa for him. This news rapidly spread among neighboring countries. Hearing this, people were amazed. Many well-educated gentlemen resigned their current positions and relocated themselves to this country. In less than three years, after meticulous selections and severe competitions, a handful of distinguished and competent foreigners were properly appointed, with similar generous treatment from the king. They helped him to efficiently manage his country and steadily expand its borders.
The advisor really understood one of humankind’s most important abilities; utilize the wisdom of others to establish one’s success.
The Right People
Spring and Autumn Period770 B.C. to 476 B.C.
One day, Confucius’s horse ran away and trampled a neighbor’s rice field. The victimized farmer was infuriated and retained the vandalizing horse. Upon hearing of this misfortune, Confucius immediately instructed Tzy Gon,3 one of his best students, to negotiate with the farmer, compensate him for the damage, and win the release of the animal. Tzy Gon arrived at this rural area, and after a few inquiries, this well-dressed student, in the polished language and manner of the upper-class, apologized to this illiterate farmer, and tried to settle the matter as two gentlemen would.
However, after a brief conversation, this farmer was baffled by the visitor’s fine talk and hurriedly retreated home, hiding behind a tightly bolted door. Standing in the front yard, the student courteously explained his intention. Understanding none of the elegant words, the farmer, puzzled and irritated, stubbornly refused to receive him again. After a whole day of fruitless effort, the student, exhausted and frustrated, went back and reported his failure.
“You two are from totally different social levels,” Confucius beamed a profound smile and calmly remarked. “Your attempt to reason with the farmer is like serving expensive and delicious dishes to a cow or playing beautifully composed music to a chicken. They couldn’t appreciate or understand it at all.”
Next morning, Confucius dispatched his horseman to handle the problem. After a brief dialogue, the farmer happily accepted the terms and returned the horse.
Different people have different abilities. Only a wise person can manage these differences appropriately. Because of their different backgrounds, the literate student’s refined language wasn’t understood by the uneducated farmer. Even if the student had used a coarse dialect, which might have been taken as a mockery, the farmer wouldn’t have felt comfortable communicating with him.
Then why didn’t Confucius send his horseman in the first place? Because he understood that his well-bred student, in his arrogance, would have felt offended if he, an educated and capable gentleman, was not sent. Confucius also saw that, after the student had failed his mission, the horse-man’s success would be valued all the more by the other students. The wise man perceived that his students and servants would profit equally from the experience.
A Drunken Bodyguard
Western Han Dynasty206 B.C. to 25 A.D.
Once, a famous prime minister named Bin Jyi4 was on his way to attend a party. One of his bodyguards was a little drunk, and suddenly threw up on the carpet of the carriage.
“How dare you?” an assistant promptly scolded, and then with great embarrassment and uneasiness, asked his master “Your Highness, should I discharge
