Stories from Ancient China: Cheng Hao the Thoughtful Scholar

Cheng Hao was a scholar in the Northern Song dynasty of ancient China. He had a strong desire to help others and bring comfort to the common people and so no matter where his official post took him, he took good care of the local people as if they were his own relatives. When he held a position in Fugou County, he helped the local citizens solve many real problems.

When he arrived in the county, he heard the local water supply was salty. He asked his staff, "How can people keep drinking this kind of water?" His staff said: "You may not be aware of the situation. The only well that produces good quality water in the neighbourhood is in the dormitory of the monks at a temple. Women are not allowed to go there to gather water." After consulting with aides and pondering over it, Cheng decided to dig a new well using the same underground water source so the water problem would be solved. All the people commented, "Magistrate Cheng has solved our water problem that had existed for so many years."

Wang Zhongzheng was an inspector and a favourite of the Emperor. Everywhere he went local officials would spend lots of money to please him. When he arrived in Fugou County, the official in charge asked Cheng Hao how to entertain Wang Zhongzheng. Cheng Hao answered him bluntly, "Our county is poor. How can we follow other counties and spend lots of money on him? Furthermore, the money is from the people. We shouldn't spend the money recklessly." The uprightness of Cheng Hao awed Wang Zhongzheng. He never went back to the county during Cheng Hao's tenure there.

Cheng Hao wrote to a friend, "I believe in using humanity to educate the citizens." Once a thief was arrested, Cheng Hao said to the thief, "If you promise to mend your behaviour, I will settle your case with leniency." The thief promised that he would change and Cheng Hao released him. When the thief committed another crime, a county officer arrested him. The thief felt so ashamed to see Cheng Hao again that he killed himself.

When Cheng Hao had to leave Fugou County, the local citizens tearfully urged him to stay.

When he was an official in Shangyuan County, the Beitang dyke gave way and imminent repair was needed. Otherwise it would affect the irrigation of the rice fields. The repair would require much manpower and so Cheng knew it would be too late if he waited for approval from his superior to start the repair. He quickly organised the masses to repair the burst dyke and then reported what he had done to his superior. His assistant advised him, "Don't you know that you will be criticised by your superior for making the repair without authorisation?" Cheng Hao answered, "I didn't have a choice. If I waited for my superior to send helpers, the crops would be withered. How would the peasants be able to feed themselves the following year? Besides, I did this for the people and even if I receive punishment, I would not hesitate to do it again."

Thus, under his leadership and supervision, the dyke was quickly patched allowing the harvest of that year to be extremely good. Peasants all said, "We are lucky to have Cheng Hao as our county magistrate. He is such a kind and considerate official."

Traditional Chinese culture says, "Treat the joy of the world as one's own joy; treat the worry of the world as one's own worry." Officials who believe in such a saying wish to bring comfort to the common people. They are concerned about the sufferings of the ordinary citizens and try to take care of common people. At the same time, they also try hard to improve the morality of the ordinary people with their virtue. This is the guiding political philosophy followed by the Confucian School throughout the ages.