Observe etiquette and maintain justice, and
maintain integrity and have a sense of shame(禮義廉恥)
During the Spring and Autumn Period in
China, there was a famous minister in the Qi Kingdom. His name was Guan Zhong.
He helped the king of the Qi Kingdom to
become the most powerful kingdom in terms of military might and national power
in the contemporary era. He wrote a book explaining his philosophy of ruling
the country.
There is a story in this book that goes
like this.
The king of the Qi Kingdom asked Guan
Zhong, "How should we govern the Qi Kingdom well?
How can I prevent the Qi Kingdom from
becoming weak or even being destroyed?
Guan Zhong replied to the king.
I believe that in order to build a strong
and stable kingdom, the most important thing is for people all over the country
to clearly understand and practice the following four important values. These
four values are like the four thick ropes that hold up a tent.
If a kingdom is missing one of these ropes,
the kingdom becomes unstable.
If a kingdom is missing two of the ropes,
the kingdom is out of balance.
If a realm is missing three of these ropes,
the realm is seriously tilted.
If a kingdom is missing four ropes, the
kingdom will quickly fall.
Asked the king.
How many ropes does our kingdom currently
lack? Does our kingdom still have a chance to become stronger?
Guan Zhong replied.
There are several ropes missing in our
kingdom, which is why our kingdom is so weak at the moment.
But don't worry, as long as we don't perish
and we start to change now, we can transform our kingdom from its current
weakness to strength,
Asked the king.
Can you explain to me clearly what these
four ropes represent?
Guan Zhong replied.
I would like to explain to you the meaning
and importance of these four ropes.
The first rope is that we must have clear
etiquette and moral standards, because only in this way will our society be
stable and orderly.
The second rope is that we must act with
integrity and justice, because only in this way will our society be free from
deception and speculation.
The third rope is that we must remain clean
and have the ability to distinguish right from wrong, because only in this way
can our society face its own shortcomings fairly and objectively without
escaping.
The fourth rope is that we must have a
sense of shame and be able to reflect on our own mistakes, because only in this
way will our society become more and more progressive.
After listening to Guan Zhong's words, the
King of Qi Kingdom expressed his strong agreement.
The King of Qi fully authorised Guan Zhong
to lead the Qi Kingdom according to his own ideas and methods. The Qi Kingdom
later became the most powerful kingdom at that time.
The literal translation of this idiom is to
observe etiquette, uphold justice, maintain integrity and have a sense of
shame.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Is your country getting weaker or stronger
at the moment? What ropes do you think your country is missing?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
禮義廉恥(Observe etiquette and maintain
justice, and maintain integrity and have a sense of shame)
中國的春秋時代，齊王國有一個著名的大臣，他的名字叫做管仲。
他協助齊王國的國王成為當代武力與國力最強大的王國，他寫過一本書，他在書中分享他治理國家的理念。
這本書中有一段敘述如下。
齊王國的國王問管仲，我們要如何治理好齊王國呢?
我要怎樣避免齊王國變的衰弱甚至滅亡呢?
管仲回答國王。
我認為要建立一個強大而穩固的王國，最重要的是要讓全國的人民都清楚的知道並且實踐以下四種很重要的價值觀。這四種價值觀就像是吊起一個帳幕的四根粗大的繩子。
如果一個王國缺少了其中一根繩子，那麼這個王國就會變得不穩定。
如果一個王國缺少了其中兩根繩子，那麼這個王國就會失去平衡。
如果一個王國缺少了其中三根繩子，那麼這個王國就會嚴重傾斜。
如果一個王國缺少了四根繩子，那麼這個王國就會快速走向滅亡。
國王問。
我們王國目前缺少了幾根繩子呢?我們王國還有機會變的強大嗎?
管仲回答。
我們王國中缺少了好幾根繩子，所以我們王國目前才會如此衰弱。
但你不用擔心，只要我們還沒有滅亡，我們現在開始改變，我們就可以讓我們的王國從現在的衰弱轉變成為強盛，
國王問。
你可以跟我清楚地說明這四根繩子所代表的意義嗎?
管仲回答。
我很樂意為你說明這四根繩子的意義並且說明其重要性。
第一根繩子就是我們要有清楚的禮節與道德規範，因為只有這樣，我們的社會才會有穩定而且秩序。
第二根繩子就是我們要有正直而且正義的行為，因為只有這樣，我們的社會才不會有欺騙與投機的風氣。
第三根繩子就是我們要保持清廉而且具有分辨是非對錯的能力，因為只有這樣，我們的社會才能夠公正客觀地去面對自已缺失而不逃避。
第四根繩子就是我們要能夠有羞恥心並且能夠反省自己的過錯，因為只有這樣，我們的社會才會愈來愈進步。
齊王國的國王聽完管仲的話後表示極度的認同。
齊王國的國王充分的授權給管仲，讓管仲按照自己的理念與方法去管理齊王國，齊王國後來成為當時最強大的王國。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是遵守禮節與保持正義與維持清廉與有羞恥心。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你的國家目前是愈來愈衰弱還是愈來愈強大呢?你認為你的國家少了那幾條繩子呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為管仲-管子-牧民