Difference between revisions of "Classic Mirror of Wise Rule"

Revision as of 00:33, 19 November 2014

by Shogun Taizong Shimin

Description: A mid-Shogunate era text on leadership and politics. Studied in the Realm and Lookshy, though neither holds it in particularly high esteem due to a tendency towards idealism.

The text conveys a great deal of advice, around the four central pillars of wise rule:

1. Do not surround yourself with "yes men". You need people of good character who will tell you that you are wrong. A leader must be virtuous enough to want to hear dissent, and in times of trouble or stress, it is the natural inclination of most people to only want to hear encouragement.

2. Be practical, not ideological. Always ask: Will this work?

3. Respect the law. One people, one law--the law applies the same to everybody or else its foundation is corrupted, and the people lose respect for the law.

4. Do not lie to the people. They will eventually discover the lies and will lose all trust in you--even when you tell them the truth, they will think it is a lie, and you will be unable to convince the people to follow you in anything.

Contents:

"...The six virtues desirable in an official are:

1. The ability to foresee crises and disasters and take quick, preventative action;

2. Devotion to state affairs evidenced by the offering of sound advice to the sovereign, helping to materialize constructive ideas and remedying situations caused by bad decisions;

3. Willingness to recommend, rather than envy, people of talent to the ruler without rancor;

4. Insight and the ability to make sound judgments;

5. Respect for the law and incorruptibility; and

6. Bravery sufficient to remonstrate with the ruler should he go astray and put his country in danger.

The six evils to beware when appointing officials are:

1. No sense of right and wrong, and the propensity to change with the wind in order to protect selfish interests;

2. Achieving ambitions by sucking up to and fawning upon the ruler and superiors;

3. Nursing ill feelings and speaking ill of those perceived as a threat behind closed doors, while smiling and flattering them to their face;

4. Covering up mistakes, sowing dissension and stirring up trouble among colleagues;

5. Abusing power and conspiring to profit from it; and

6. Deceiving superiors and subordinates and duping the public.

Only the most upright officials could comply with the six virtues, be innocent of the six evils and so truly contribute towards maintaining imperial order and national stability..."

“...If the channel of outspokenness is blocked, there will be fewer honest people; if the channel of flattery is opened, there will be a deluge of untrustworthy characters...”

“...I support outspokenness when it benefits the country. Recently many of the reports received by the imperial court have contained slanderous accusations. If they continue in this vein, those penning such defamatory missives will be charged and punished for the crime of slander...”

“...What enlightens a ruler and what blinds him?” Wei answered, “Listening to all opinions makes a ruler wise, but restricting himself to biased, partial opinions makes him blind...”

Source: The work of Chinese emperor Tang Taizong/Li Shimin. The breakdown of the important pillars originates, I think, with a blog post or comment on the subject, 
but I seem to have failed to record a link to provide proper credit.