Newly appointed cadres should read Sima Guang's "Training and Thrifting and Showing Kang"

Newly appointed cadres who have taken up leadership positions, grasped power, are easily concerned by those around them, and will be "targeted" by people with ulterior motives, and the possibility of being "hunted" will increase, and the temptation of red wine and greenery will gradually increase. Under the influence of the people and things around them, some people began to be willing to be enslaved and single-mindedly pursued material enjoyment. This phenomenon not only exists in today's society, but also for ancient officials, the extravagant hedonism was also an erosion and test. From frugality to luxury is not achieved overnight, many people have hesitated several times: in the end, they are involuntarily in the crowd, or they are left alone to maintain frugal ethics? A northern Song Dynasty politician Sima Guang's "Training and Thrifting and Showing Kang" may provide an answer.

"Song Dynasty Wenjian" received "Training and Thrift"

"Training frugality and showing Kang" is a family lesson written by Sima Guang to his eldest son Sima Kang, which aims to explain the importance of maintaining frugality. According to scholars, this article was written about three years after Emperor Shenzong of Song. At that time, Sima Kangming, who was only twenty years old, was about to become an official. At this time, he was deliberately chosen to seriously teach his son that "the tao is born of frugality and misfortune comes from extravagance" in order to guide Sima Kang to establish the concept of frugality and take the first step after taking office.

In the early years of Shenzong, with the prosperity and development of social economy, social customs were "particularly extravagant", and some people even "criticized each other for frugality". Sima Guang was very worried that his son would be affected by the bad atmosphere around him after he entered the official field. In his memory, during the Holy Years of Emperor Renzong of Song, officials still regard frugality as a virtue, scholars and doctors travel and gather, and although the melon and fruit dishes are simple and simple, they have a deep friendship. Later, it became more and more different, and everyone was proud of extravagance, but on the contrary, they criticized the simple people, and even despised their miserliness, and there were very few people who did not follow the tide and coveted pleasure. He criticized some officials for abandoning their integrity: "Customs are so decadent, although those who occupy positions cannot be forbidden, how can they bear to help? ”

After a long period of official experience, Sima Guang observed the many dangers of coveting material enjoyment, the most serious of which was the pursuit of luxury and the failure of his personal future. In his view, extravagance is more lustful, "a gentleman who desires more is greedy for wealth and nobility, and if he is in vain, he will seek more vain uses, and the loser will lose his life"; and once he has more desires for officials, he will "bribe the official". This means that when an official's material desires are not satisfied, it is inevitable to obtain improper money by accepting bribes.

Although there are not a few officials who are addicted to material enjoyment, there is no shortage of famous ministers who are not afraid of the strange eyes of others, who can discern things clearly and adhere to the frugal fashion. The "History of Song" records that when Li Xun was the prime minister, there was a very small mansion in Kaifeng City, and the open space in front of the central hall was only enough for a horse to turn around. The walls of the house courtyard were damaged, and Li Xun didn't care. Some people ridiculed him for being too stingy, and some people suggested that as the prime minister, he should repair the family home. Li Xun smiled and said, "Nest forest a branch, talk about self-sufficiency, An Shi Feng Ya? This style of "practicing discipline and understanding the general body" is exactly what Sima Guang hopes his son will emulate.

Proceeding from his observation of the current atmosphere and the lessons of the past, Sima Guang explained to Sima Kang his own official code: to pursue fame based on frugality, not to be extravagant and self-defeating. Today, we no longer know how Sima Kang felt after reading his father's teachings, but judging from the historical records, Sima Kang did set strict demands on himself and adhered to the work and living habits of advocating frugality and virtue. After the death of Sima Kang, his friend Fan Zuyu wrote an epitaph for him, and his evaluation of his life was "to be a man of integrity and not to taste wealth". For example, after Sima Guang's death, the imperial court rewarded Sima Kang with two thousand taels of platinum for his father to erect a Shinto monument, considering that his father's funeral expenses were all public expenses, this reward Sima Kang did not take any money, and ordered all the people to return to the Capital Division. When Sima Kang was lying ill in bed, the emperor sent the imperial doctor to the clinic for treatment, specifically considering that Sima Kang's family was poor, and instructed the imperial doctor to "not be fed" by the imperial doctor. It can be seen that Sima Kang spent his whole life practicing his father's teaching of "establishing a name for himself with frugality".

Gentlemen do not serve things, but can go straight. The vigilance and reflection of Sima Guang's father and son on the extravagant and hedonistic atmosphere around them, as well as the behavior of his lifelong admiration of frugality and virtue, have undoubtedly left a good story in history. Their style of "cloth clothes can cover the life of the people", which has been passed down through the condensation of time and space, is also worth thinking, studying and practicing by today's cadres. In particular, newly appointed cadres should remain honest and frugal in the process of adapting to the new environment, so that they can not be dazzled by the confusion of the five colors, link their personal pursuits with the development of the country, and better shoulder their sacred duties and missions.

Source: China Journal of Discipline Inspection and Supervision