Xi Jinping: How to Read Confucius and other Chinese Classical Thinkers

PREFACE

Throughout the ages, every national leader who ran a country well and ensured national security has understood the value of history. History is a mirror—it not only reflects on the past, but also examines the present. To enrich our literary legacy, inspire respect, and promote traditional national culture, it is necessary for Party leaders and personnel to read classical Chinese literature and history, whatever their posts are. This is a compulsory course, along with the intrinsic requirements of people skills, and the ability to plan for the future.

In the past two years, Xi Jinping, in significant domestic and international speeches, has often quoted Chinese classics or the proverbs of other countries to reinforce his important points and demonstrate his disciplined pursuit of wisdom. These quotations contain profound philosophy and radiate the ray of intelligence.

This new collection, Xi Jinping: How to Read Confucius and Other Chinese Classical Thinkers, lists over 200 classical quotations and reflects the achievement of Xi Jinping’s extensive reading and diligent studies. We can clearly discern two distinct features of Xi Jinping’s studies of the ancient classics: First, he reads extensively. From the Four Books to the Five Classics, Tang-Song poetry to folk sayings, he has written commentaries and analyses, which exhibit his expertise in absorbing and explaining traditional Chinese culture. Second, he regards history as a mirror and tries to apply what he has learned from history. Over the past 20 years, Xi Jinping has taken time from numerous governmental and public duties to write articles, and classical allusions can be found in almost every article, allusions that not only promote our literary history, but are also practical and instructional.

Having their own unique charm, Chinese classics are the essence of our traditional culture, the cultural lifeblood of the nation, and a precious spiritual treasure in the history of human civilization. Today’s China is going through unprecedented major transformations and is on the path of realizing the China Dream. We must inherit the legacy of this magnificent culture and apply its ideological essence to broaden our horizons, hone our sensibilities, and observe reality, so as to comprehensively deepen the reform and enable the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

PART

I

NATIONAL GOVERNANCE

I

1.

Those who cannot see the overall situation cannot govern a region.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

Those who cannot see the overall situation cannot govern a region. Officials from different departments and units should be able to perceive the overall situation. Above all, we need to consider whether the proposed major reforming measures conform to the overall requirements and are in favor of the long-term development of the Party and country. We need to look forward, think ahead, and plan in advance. Only in this way can our final mandates be truly suitable for the development needs of the Party and the people.

Xi Jinping, "Explanations on Decisions of the CPC Central Committee on several major issues of comprehensively deepening reform," People’s Daily, Nov. 16, 2013.

SOURCE TEXT

Those who do not have long-term perspective cannot achieve success in short-term; those who cannot see the overall situation cannot govern a region.

Source: Wu Yan: Qian Du Jian Fan Yi

Explanation: Those who do not hold an overall viewpoint and deal with problems from an overall perspective cannot be good governors of a region.

Author: Chen Danran (1859–1930), courtesy name Jiantan,¹ was born in Tongcheng, Anhui. He was raised in a poor family. His father educated him from the time he was a small child. At the age of 9, he was able to write articles, which showed his intelligence and creativity. Later, he took the imperial examination in Tongcheng and stood out among thousands of candidates. In the 19th year of the Guangxu period, Chen passed the examination and became a provincial graduate. Chen was quite conceited and unrestrained; he not only had distinct academic opinions, which earned him the nicknames wild talent and mad scholar, but also dared to express different political ideas. He never parroted the opinions of others, which proved him to be a man of courage.

ANALYSIS

The sentence those who cannot see the overall situation cannot govern a region describes the relationship between overall and a region, that is, the relationship between the whole and the part.

General Secretary Xi Jinping quoted the sentence to educate personnel of all levels that only those who can see the whole picture are able to govern a region. Hence, before proposing major reform measures and when dealing with major issues concerning the overall situation, we must see the whole picture and think from an overall perspective. Only in this case can we make forward-looking, logical, and correct decisions, as well as seize opportunities and achieve constant progress in a greater and broader range of time and space.

2.

A powerful yet warlike country cannot survive.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

The proverb a powerful yet warlike country cannot survive has been known since ancient times. Other similar ideas, such as choosing peace as the best option, harmony in diversity, turn swords into jade and silk, the country is prosperous and the people are at peace, remain on friendly terms with the neighbors, peace reigns over the land, and supreme harmony worldwide have been passed on from generation to generation.

Xi Jinping, Speech at Körber-STIFTUNG (Mar. 28, 2014), People’s Daily, Mar. 30, 2014.

SOURCE TEXT

To protect its people, a country should not neglect farming season or start war during epidemic diseases; to protect the people of enemy states, it should not attack them when they are mourning or suffering from famine; to protect the people of both parties, it should not dispatch troops during winter and summer. As such, a powerful yet warlike country cannot survive, but it is also dangerous to not prepare for war during peacetime. Even though the world is at peace, a country should conduct military exercises by hunting during spring and autumn, and vassals should reorganize the army in the spring and train troops in the autumn to prepare for war.

Source: Si Ma Fa

Explanation: No matter how vast and powerful a country is, if it constantly starts wars, it is doomed to be destroyed.

Author: Tian He was the founder of the Qi empire during the Warring States period (475–221 BC); he was also known as Duke Tai of Qi. His dates of birth and death are unknown. In 405 BC, Tian He became the prime minister of Duke Xuan of Qi. The next year, three kingdoms started war against Qi and attacked the Great Wall of Qi. After Duke Xuan of Qi died, he was succeeded by his son Duke Kang. But Kang indulged in licentiousness and alcohol and never put efforts into politics. In 391 BC, Tian He offered Kang a seaside city to run to cover his expenditures and proclaimed himself Emperor of Qi.

ANALYSIS

This sentence comes from Si Ma Fa written by Tian He, an emperor during the Warring States period. At that time, the world was relatively peaceful. All vassals were making efforts at rehabilitation and none of them intended to start war. Even so, great powers were ready to start war. As a result, Tian He wrote this article to warn them that a powerful yet warlike country cannot survive. In the meantime, he reminded those relatively weak countries that it is also dangerous to not prepare for war during peaceful time.

During President Xi Jinping’s visit to Germany, he reviewed the proverb from 2000 years ago with the intent to declare that ideas such as choosing peace is the best option and remaining on friendly terms with the neighbors have been passed on from generation to generation in China. China is a peace-loving nation and we do not bully the weak by maintaining our strength. Meanwhile, he intended to advise certain powers that picking fights does no good to anyone, and a warlike nation will draw fire against itself. President Xi Jinping’s quotation of the sentence in Germany is significant.

3.

Complying with the aspirations of the people will bring prosperity to a nation; going against the aspirations of the people will bring destruction to a nation.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

Complying with the aspirations of the people will bring prosperity to a nation; going against the aspirations of the people will bring destruction to a nation. Serving the people wholeheartedly is the starting point and objective of every move of the Party and the basic sign distinguishing us from other political parties. All works of the Party must regard the fundamental interests of the masses as the highest priority.

Xi Jinping, Speech at the Forum Commemorating the 120th Birthday of Mao Zedong (Dec. 26, 2013), People’s Daily, Dec. 27, 2013.

SOURCE TEXT

Complying with the aspirations of the people will bring prosperity to a nation; going against the aspirations of the people will bring destruction to a nation. If the people do not want anxiety and toil, I shall bring them peace and happiness; if the people do not want poverty, I shall bring them wealth; if the people do not want danger, I shall bring them stability; if the people are afraid of extinction, I shall allow them to live and start families.

Source: Guanzi: Mu Min

Explanation: Complying with the aspirations of the people will bring prosperity to a nation; going against the aspirations of the people will bring destruction to a nation.

Author: Guan Zhong (719–645 BC), clan name Guan, ancestral name Ji, also known as Guanzi, Guan Yiwu, and Guan Jingzhong, was a Legalist chancellor during the Spring and Autumn period. Born in Yingshang (now known as Yingshang County, Anhui Province), Guan Zhong was a Han and the descendent of King Mu of Zhou. He was a famous militarist and reformer of ancient China, honored as the teacher of saints and the protector of Chinese civilization.

ANALYSIS

According to the theory of political power of ancient China, the world is never governed by one family permanently. Only the virtuous emperor can succeed and only the one with the support of the people can win the world. To determine if a political power is virtuous and if it has the support of the people, the standard is to see if the current political ruler follows the will of the people and if the people live and work in peace and contentment. The water supporting a ship can also upset it shares the same idea. In the pre-Qin period, Guan Zhong had already realized that policies meeting the wishes of the people are required to stabilize and prolong political power.

General Secretary Xi Jinping quoted the sentence to stress that the ruling party should think about the interests of the people and enact policies aligning with the aspirations of the people. The principle of the Party is to serve the people wholeheartedly. It is the cornerstone for our governance and the source of our power. We shall never go against the people’s wishes and separate ourselves from the crowd.

4.

The people living in a house know better if the house is leaking; the bottom of society knows better if a policy is improper.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

The bottom of society knows better if a policy is improper. The future and destiny of any party is determined by the feelings of the people.

Xi Jinping, Speech at the Forum Commemorating the 120th Birthday of Mao Zedong (Dec. 26, 2013), People’s Daily, Dec. 27, 2013.

SOURCE TEXT

Hence, books of the philosophers are the trunk and Confucian classics are the branches, while the trunk is imbued with the essence of Taoism. The people living in a house know better if the house is leaking; the bottom of society knows better if a policy is improper, and the philosophers know better if Confucian classics are mistaken. The writings of the philosophers are clear and true. The ones who interpreted the Confucian classics didn’t try to ask and comprehend thoroughly. If they still interpret Confucian classics like this, they won’t be the ones who understand the past and the present.

Source: Lun Heng

Explanation: The people living in a house know better if the house is leaking; the bottom of society knows better if a policy is improper.

Author: Wang Chong (27–c. 97), courtesy name Zhongren, born in Shangyu, Kuaiji (now under the jurisdiction of Zhejiang Province), was an excellent writer and philosopher during the Eastern Han dynasty. Wang became an orphan when he was still young. Later he moved to the capital to study in Taixue (the highest educational institution) under the tutoring of Ban Biao, a native of Fufeng. Based on the Taoist principle of natural non-action, Wang considered heaven as the highest scope of the concept of natural law. He applied facts to prove his theories, which filled in the gaps of the open-ended phrasings of Taoism and made him a significant heir of Taoism during the Han dynasty. As a representative work of Wang, Lun Heng is a masterpiece of atheism in Chinese history.

ANALYSIS

The people living in a house know better if the house is leaking; the bottom of society knows better if a policy is improper. Quoting a famous saying of Wang Chong, General Secretary Xi Jinping aimed to instruct Party leaders and cadres to lower their heads and pay attention to the grassroots, to communicate with the masses and solve their problems wholeheartedly, and to consider doing practical things for the masses as their responsibility and duty. To serve the people better, Party leaders and cadres must be rooted in the needs of the people, understand their troubles, and listen to their voices. Only in this way, will they be able to make proper decisions and earn trust and support from the people.

5.

To promote upright behaviors among officials, the imperial court should eliminate vice and exalt virtue.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

Gu Yanwu, ideologist of the Qing dynasty, said in Yu Gong Su Sheng Shu that to promote upright behaviors among officials, the imperial court should eliminate vice and exalt virtue. That is to say, to rejuvenate and stabilize a country and bring prosperity to its people, it is necessary to praise virtue and punish vice, strengthen the right and expel evil, and promote righteousness.

Xi Jinping, Eliminate vice and exalt virtue, Zhi Jiang Xin Yu²

SOURCE TEXT

To promote upright behaviors among officials, the imperial court should eliminate vice and exalt virtue.

Source: Yu Gong Su Sheng Shu

Explanation: To promote upright behaviors among officials, the imperial court should take the lead and focus on praising virtue and punishing vice, strengthening the right and expeling evil, and promoting righteousness.

Author: Gu Yanwu (1613–1682), a native of Kunshan, Suzhou, born as Gu Jiang, courtesy name Zhongqing, was a famous philosopher, historian, and philologist, known as one of the top three scholars of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, together with Huang Zongxi and Wang Fuzhi. After the failure of Nandu, Gu changed his given name to Yanwu and courtesy name to Ningren due to his admiration of Wang Yanwu, a student of Wen Tianxiang. He also answered to the name Jiang Shanyong and scholars call him Mr. Tinglin out of respect. When he was young, he studied hard for the purpose of application and joined the volunteer army to fight against the Qing government. After he failed, he traveled around the country, visited the Ming tombs ten times, and died in Quwo in his later years. He was a knowledgeable scholar who studied laws and institutions, counties and their histories, astronomy, the river system, various schools of thoughts, and phonology. In his later years, his study of classics focused on textual research, which developed the trend of down-to-earth learning.

ANALYSIS

To achieve national security and prosperity and social stability and happiness, we must establish righteousness and eliminate evil, and praise virtue and punish vice from the central to local governments. When Xi Jinping was taking the post of Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, he proposed such a requirement to Party leaders and cadres. After he was appointed General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Xi’s democratic actions, courage to take on burdens, strict official governance, anti-corruption with a strong hand, and embodiment of the maxim taking down tigers and sparing no flies were praised inside and outside the Party. We are currently going through an economic and social transformation with all manner of deep-seated problems surfacing and societal relationships growing complicated. The ability of Party leaders and cadres to be fair and decent, handle matters impartially, eliminate vice and exalt virtue, and strengthen morality and expel evil is directly related to the safety and survival of the Party and the country.

6.

A country cannot survive without a sense of propriety, justice, honesty, and honor.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

Each era has its own spirit and understanding of values. A country should have four senses: propriety, justice, honesty, and honor. Lacking any one of these, a country is doomed to fail. This is the core value of the ancient Chinese. In contemporary China, what kinds of core values should our nation and our country uphold? This is a theoretical as well as a practical problem.

Youth should consciously practice socialist core values (May 4, 2014), People’s Daily, May 5, 2014.

SOURCE TEXT

Propriety, justice, honesty, and honor are collectively referred to as the four senses of a country; lacking any one of these, a country is doomed to fail.

Source: Guanzi: Mu Min

Explanation: Propriety, justice, honesty, and honor are collectively referred to as four senses in ancient China. That is to say, if a country cannot promote a sense of propriety, justice, honesty, and honor, if its social order and law are failing, and if government orders are not obeyed, the country is doomed to fail.

Author: Guan Zhong

ANALYSIS

This was the first suggestion that Guan Zhong proposed to Duke Huan of Qi. Propriety and justice are the basic principles of a society; honesty and honor are the basic principles of humanity. Guan Zhong considered propriety, justice, honesty, and honor as the four basic elements of maintaining state power. He believed that they are the four pillars to support a country. If one of them breaks, state power will be at stake. Later, Duke Huan of Qi took his advice and made the State of Qi powerful and prosperous via reform and legislation, and became the head of the Five Hegemonies of the Spring and Autumn period.

However, in recent years, propriety has become a shortcut for pulling strings and making connections; justice has become a method of connivance and forming cliques; honesty has become the empty talk of some leaders and cadres; honor has been distorted by many people and some are even proud of shame, which led to a national decline in moral quality and stubborn corruption. These unhealthy phenomena deserve close attention from the whole Party and society. By emphasizing this idea, President Xi Jinping intends to rouse people’s awareness of the core values of propriety, justice, honesty, and honor, and to ensure progress of the Party and lasting political stability of the country.

7.

For luxuriant trees to grow, they must be deeply rooted in the ground; for a river to flow far, its source must be dredged.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

Sustainability secures long-lasting safety by laying equal stress on development and security. For luxuriant trees to grow, they must be deeply rooted in the ground; for a river to flow far, its source must be dredged. Development is the basis of security; security is the condition of development. A barren land can never grow a great tree of peace; the fruit of development cannot be borne under constant flames of war. For most Asian countries, development is the best security and the key to solving regional safety issues.

Xi Jinping, Actively building a security concept in Asia and creating a new situation in security cooperation: Speech at the 4th Summit Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (May 21, 2014), People’s Daily, May 22, 2014.

SOURCE TEXT

I have heard that to grow luxuriant trees, they must be deeply rooted into the ground; for a river to flow far, its source must be dredged; to stabilize a country, it must conform to the common aspiration of the people. Though I may not be very smart, I do understand that it is impossible for a river to flow far without a deep source, for a tree to grow tall without stable roots, and for a country to be stabilized without profound mortality, let alone a wise man like His Majesty. Holding great power and being on the top of the world, an emperor should always be vigilant in peacetime and thrifty rather than extravagant; otherwise, it is no better than wishing for luxuriant trees by cutting their roots and a long river without dredging its source.

Source: Jian Tai Zong Shi Si Shu

Explanation: For luxuriant trees to grow, they must be deeply rooted into the ground; for a river to flow far, its source must be dredged.

Author: Wei Zheng (580–643), ethnic Han, courtesy name Xuancheng, formally Duke Wenzhen of Zheng, was a native of Julu, Hebei Province (now known as Julu County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province). Being a well-known politician who served as a chancellor of the Tang dynasty, Wei Zheng was one of the 24 meritorious statesmen of Lingyan Pavilion. He was well known for his courage to advise frankly, which made him a loyal official and adviser with a great reputation in Chinese history.

ANALYSIS

Jian Tai Zong Shi Si Shu was a memorial to the throne as well as a remonstration letter illustrating the politics of national security. Under the governance of a wise emperor and capable officials, the Tang dynasty experienced social stability and harmony. However, Emperor Taizong of Tang was becoming extravagant and decadent in such a comfortable situation. At that time, Wei Zheng had already resigned his post, but he was hoping that the emperor would take his advice, being vigilant in peacetime and thrifty rather than extravagant and not wishing for luxuriant trees by cutting their roots and a long river without dredging its source, which is the reason we are still reading the famous Jian Tai Zong Shi Si Shu.

The significance of quoting this sentence on an Asian summit is self-evident. Using trees and rivers as an analogy, President Xi Jinping explained the foundation and cultivation of a country’s peaceful development and lasting political stability, which was not only self-encouragement, but also the contemplation of peace, development, and safety, leaving the audience refreshed and deeply impressed.

8.

Do not worry over poverty but instead over equal distribution of wealth.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

We need not only make the cake big, but also divide it evenly. The concept do not worry over poverty but instead over equal distribution of wealth was developed long ago in our society. We should promote social equality and justice on the basis of sustainable development, and do whatever we can to achieve new progress in terms of education, employment, healthcare, retirement pensions, and housing.

Xi Jinping, Seeking consensus on the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, (Dec. 31, 2013), People’s Daily, Jan. 1, 2014

SOURCE TEXT

I have heard that the heads of states or noble families do not worry over poverty but instead over equal distribution of wealth; they do not worry over underpopulation, but whether the people are insecure. Now, if there is equality in distribution there will be no poverty; if there is harmony in society there will be no underpopulation; and if there is security, there will be no subversion. If it is done like this, then if there are distant subjects who do not submit, you can attract them by cultivating refinement and virtue. Once they come, then you can give them security.

Source: The Analects of Confucius: Ji Shi

Explanation: Do not worry over poverty but instead over equal distribution of wealth.

Author: Confucius, (551–479 BC), personal name Qiu, courtesy name Zhongni, was a thinker, educator, and the founder of Confucianism. He was born in Changping (now known as Qufu, Shandong Province), Zouyi of the State of Lu in late Spring and Autumn period. The Analects of Confucius is a collection of writings of Confucius’ apprentices and of their apprentices compiled at the beginning of the Warring States period.

ANALYSIS

Zhu Xi, a Confucianist of the Southern Song dynasty, understood the quotation like this: Evenness means that everyone gets the share he or she deserves; stability means that no conflict has occurred between the superior and the inferior. Such thinking has had a great impact on later generations and has even become a kind of social mentality. As for today, although this ideology has the effect of equalitarianism and even distribution of wealth, it is positive in terms of social equality and justice. To maintain social harmony and stability, we must deal carefully with the relationship of justice and efficiency. If the gap between the rich and the poor is growing wider, it may cause social disintegration and instability.

By quoting this sentence, General Secretary Xi Jinping aimed to remind leaders and cadres that under rapid economic development, with the cake growing bigger, we should pay close attention to people’s sufferings and voices, take care of distribution issues, and adopt effective measures to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, to fully embody fairness and justice of socialism, to share the fruit of the reform and opening up and social and economic development with the masses, to improve the happiness of the people, and to maintain harmony and stability.

9.

Rocs cannot shoot into the sky with only one feather; horses cannot race with only one foot.

XI JINPING’S COMMENTARY

Wang Fu of the Han dynasty once said, Rocs cannot shoot into the sky with only one feather; horses cannot race with only one foot. To fly high and run fast, China is dependent on the strength of 1.3 billion people.

Xi Jinping, Seeking consensus on the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, (Dec. 31, 2013), People’s Daily, Jan. 1, 2014.

SOURCE TEXT

Qianfu said: Rocs cannot shoot into the sky with only one feather; horses cannot race with only one foot. Great achievements can only be done with the cooperation of numerous talents. I guess the same applies to Emperors Yao and Shun.

Source: Qianfu Lun: Shi Nan

Explanation: Rocs cannot shoot into the sky with only one feather; horses cannot race with only one foot.

Author: Wang Fu (c. 85–c. 163), ethnic Han, courtesy name Jiexin, was political commentator, writer, and philosopher during the Eastern Han dynasty. Born in Linjing, Anding (now known as Zhenyuan, Gansu Province), Wang Fu lived his life in seclusion to write books. He advocated thrift, avoided extravagance, and often commented on the success and failure of politics. He wanted to keep a low profile, and thus named his book Qianfu Lun (Critical Essays of Qianfu). His profound thinking, distinct viewpoints, and sharp style of writing are well reflected in the book, which is a pleasure to read.

ANALYSIS

By quoting this sentence, General Secretary Xi Jinping aimed to stress that although China is