Stroies from Ancient China: Forgiveness Will Put Your Mind at Ease

Fan Chunren, a famous scholar and government official from the Song dynasty of ancient China, once said, "What I've learnt through my lifetime of study can be summarised in two words: loyalty and forgiveness. My whole life has been benefited from practising these two words. I always live by these two words when I serve the Emperor, communicate with colleagues and friends, and treat people from my clan." He warned his sons by saying, "Even the most stupid person is clear-headed when he finds faults in other people, and the intelligent person is muddle-headed when he forgives his own mistakes. Therefore you should find faults within yourself in the same way that you find faults in other people, and forgive other people in the same way that you forgive yourself. If you can truly do that, there is no need to worry that you won't reach the realm of the saints. "

One of the relatives of Fan Chenren once asked him for some advice. He told him: "Only by being thrifty and simple can you become honest and clean. Only forgiveness can help you gain virtue." The relative inscribed Fan's words on the corner of his table, and followed these words during his whole life.

Fan Chunren offended Prime Minister Chun Zhang because he asked the Emperor to pardon Lu Dafang and other officials. As a result, Fan was demoted and became the governor of Shuizhou City. Within a year, he lost his vision. He asked Emperor to let him retire, but instead Chun Zhang arranged for him to be demoted even further, forcing him to move to a post in the city of Yongzhou. After he received the order, Fan went on his way calmly. Some people said that he did so to make people think highly of him. After Fan Chunren heard it, he sighed and said, "I am already seventy years old and I've lost my vision. In addition, I have been demoted and forced to move ten thousands miles away. Do you think this is what I wanted? But I still can't help being loyal to our Emperor." Every time his sons said angry words about Chun Zhang, Fan always angrily asked them to stop.

After they moved to the city of Yongzhou, Fan Chunren's sons wanted to ask the Emperor to pardon the family by using the fact that Fan and Sima Guang had been at odds before and Sima Guang had just lost the favour of the Emperor. Fan Chunren told them, "I was the one who recommended Sima Guang for the post of Prime Minister. I can discuss state affairs with him at the royal court. But I can't use past problems between us as a way to get myself out of trouble. I'd rather die without regret than live with regret." His sons dropped the idea afterwards.

When they were in the city of Yongzhou, Fan Chunren taught his sons in person and they always studied till late in the night. During the three years in Yongzhou, Fan was always even-tempered and good-humoured, been fully content with himself. Some people treated him rudely, which many others would find difficult to take. Fan Chunren not only didn't let it bother him, he wasn't even angry at those who were rude to him. When he talked to his guests, he always talked about things related to cultivating the heart and body. He never talked about other things. He always looked healthy and peaceful, just like he did when he was a high-ranking official in the capital.