The Diligence and Integrity Chapter of Linchuan Culture | Tang Xianzu’s Maxims on Official Conduct

In feudal society, the greatest hope for scholars seeking a path in life was “Those who excel in learning shall enter officialdom.” , meaning that if one reads well, one can become an official. A dramatist Tang Xianzu Born into a scholarly family, he hopes to… “Having thoroughly studied the classics of the sages, one sells their knowledge to the imperial court.” In the fourth year of the Longqing era (1570), after passing the provincial examination as the eighth-ranked candidate from Jiangxi Province, he incurred the displeasure of the Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng and subsequently failed to pass the capital’s metropolitan examinations for four consecutive rounds. It was only after Zhang Juzheng’s death in the eleventh year of the Wanli era (1583) that he finally secured sixty-fifth place in the Ministry of Rites’ provincial examination and, in the palace examination, ranked two hundred and eleventeenth among those awarded the third class—thus receiving the title “congratulated together with the jinshi,” commonly abbreviated as “jinshi”—and was retained at the Ministry of Rites to serve as an observing official (an internship in official duties). However, once his official career began, Tang Xianzu adopted an attitude toward office‑holding that differed markedly from the norm; namely, he set for himself A maxim of integrity in public service and incorruptibility in serving the people. 。

Tang Xianzu’s guiding principle for official conduct can be summarized as follows: “First, do not; second, do not; third, be appropriate; fourth, abstain.” Moreover, Tang Xianzu not only set these standards for himself but also put them into practice. In Volume 45 of the “Collected Poems and Prose of Tang Xianzu,” there is an essay titled “Reply to Wu Siming,” which contains the following passage: “Moreover, I am not skilled in governance; therefore, I expound the principles of human nature and the greater moral truths, according to the people’s wishes regarding whether they should stay or leave.” A maxim for official conduct. Wu Siming, the prefect of Ningbo, was Wu Anguo, and upon learning that Tang Xianzu had achieved notable administrative success as the magistrate of Suichang, he sought to meet and converse with him. In his letter, Tang Xianzu explained that, given his low official rank, he dared not trouble his superior; instead, he shared his reflections on his experience as the magistrate of Suichang. This maxim is commonly abbreviated as “yi yin wei.” “Yin” means that officials should act in accordance with the people’s wishes—putting it in modern terms, serving the people; “Wei” means that officials should regularly expound to the populace the great principles of heaven and earth—expressed in contemporary language, this amounts to conducting political and ideological work. The so‑called “great principles of heaven and earth” refer to the three philosophical tenets he consistently advocated: “valuing life,” “clarifying and restoring,” and “preserving the childlike heart.” “Valuing life” means respecting life and putting people first; “clarifying and restoring” entails acquiring extensive knowledge and upholding moral integrity; and “preserving the childlike heart” signifies maintaining purity and innocence, remaining composed and natural—this, in his view, is the proper way to serve as an official. In Volume 47 of the Collected Poems and Prose of Tang Xianzu, there appears an essay titled “Reply to My Disciple Shi Junchke.” He quoted the ancient saying, "For peace throughout the land, one must neither seek money nor fear death," as his guiding principle in office; this maxim is known as the "Two Don'ts." . Tang Xianzu proudly declared in the text that he “Truly worthy of a civil official.” “If a societal ethos takes root in which military officials fear not death and civil officials care not for money, then the realm will surely enjoy peace, and the common people will surely live in contentment—this is the one and only path to becoming an upright and virtuous official.” In Volume Forty-nine of the “Collected Poems and Prose of Tang Xianzu,” there appears an essay titled “A Letter to Li Rudde.” In it, Tang Xianzu first congratulates his student, Li Rudde, on passing the imperial examination as a jinshi; he then goes on to say: “When we first enter public service, our vision should be broad, our resolve firm, and our heart serene. Do not, carried away by momentary enthusiasm, lightly set foot upon the path—otherwise, you will later have to spend much effort cleansing yourself of disgrace. As for me, I have led a clumsy career throughout my life, yet I still seek to instruct others in the ways of officialdom. Even so, I teach by means of my own clumsiness.” The text continues… “Three Desirables” This is Tang Xianzu’s maxim for official conduct. Although he recalled that, despite following the “Three Appropriates,” he never rose to high office, he nonetheless regarded this three‑part principle as still valuable. In serving in public office, one must never become conceited and lose one’s sense of propriety, nor act rashly; rather, one should always adhere to the “Three Appropriates” in order to avert misfortune. Among these, “Eyes should be broad” means that in public office one must adopt a holistic perspective, oversee the big picture, and deliver tangible results; “bones should be strong” signifies that one must be upright and unyielding, forthright and principled, and uphold moral integrity; “heart should be even‑tempered” implies that one should remain detached from fame and fortune, avoid pretension, and treat all people with equanimity. This is the fundamental principle of officialdom.

In Volume Forty-nine of the “Collected Poems and Prose of Tang Xianzu,” there is an essay titled “To Master Wuqu,” which contains… “If one does not covet ill-gotten gains, one’s hands are fragrant; if one does not indulge in lustful desires, one’s body is fragrant; if one does not engage in deceit or litigation, one’s speech is fragrant; if one does not harbor jealousy or malice, one’s heart is fragrant. By consistently upholding these four fragrances of precepts, one finds peace and happiness in the world.” This maxim is commonly known as the “Four Precepts.” Wu Qu Shangren was a distinguished monk whom Tang Xianzu came to know. This maxim for official conduct focuses primarily on personal integrity and moral cultivation; it serves not only as an inviolable principle for those in public office but also as the moral baseline for ordinary people.