Li Hang (947-1004) was a pillar of the Song dynasty and enjoyed the reputation of being a “holy minister” in later times. In addition to the records of the official history, Li Hang’s stories were also recorded in the literary collections of different generations.
Li fang’s political achievements and virtues were also praised by later generations. In some collections, his generosity to others is recorded as an elder. The generosity and virtue of Li Hang was admired and admired.
Li fang treated Li fang respectfully when he was rebuked by a scholar
One day, when he was the chancellor, he met a young scholar who was very angry. The scholar stopped Li’s horse and offered him a letter detailing Li’s shortcomings in his administration.
Li Kang humbly thanked him, “I’ll read it in detail when I get home!” The scholar was furious and immediately scolded him in public, saying, “You are in a high official position, but you can’t properly help the people, and you don’t resign so that you can give your position to others. Don’t you feel ashamed of yourself for hindering the way of the sages to serve the country for so long?”
Li fang sat on his horse and said respectfully and uneasily, “I have asked for resignation several times, but the emperor did not allow it, so I did not dare to leave!” Li fang talked with the young scholar, always without anger or impatience.
The servant fled and Li fang raised his daughter for him
There was a servant in Li fang’s house who owed him tens of thousands of dollars for his room. One day, the servant and his wife fled without telling him and quietly escaped.
The servant had a daughter who was almost ten years old and had a beautiful face. She wrote a bond herself and tied it on her belt, willing to sell herself to the ministerial house to pay the debt her parents owed.
Li fang took pity on her and said to his wife, “We should treat her like our own child, as if she were our own. I hope you will educate her with maternal virtues, and when she grows up, we will find a good son-in-law for her. When she grows up, we will find her a good son-in-law and ask your wife to marry her and officiate at the wedding.”
The lady treated the servant’s daughter well, just as Li Huo had said. When she came of age, she personally chose a good husband for her, and prepared a dowry for her and sent her off to be married. The servant’s daughter was also very virtuous and kept her virtue well, and helped her husband’s family.
Later, her biological parents came back and heard about this incident, and they took Li Hang’s kindness to heart. After Li Hang died, the couple kept mourning for him for three years to repay his kindness.
When Li Hang was the prime minister, he took special care to curb the impetuous atmosphere by being serious and generous, and did not like people to elevate themselves by discussing the rights and wrongs of others. He was diligent in repairing his inner world and got along well with his brothers at home. Emperor Taizong of Song praised Li Hang for his “dignified and dignified manner, which is really a precious person.”
There is a saying in the Book of Shang Shu that says, “If there is tolerance, virtue will be great. There must be patience, and things will be helpful.” If one can tolerate the faults of others and appreciate the merits of others, one can achieve the virtue of generosity. A person can endure the setbacks in adversity, broaden the capacity of the heart and the ability to bear burdens, in order to achieve great things. Li Hang’s generosity and tolerance, whether he treated a strange scholar or a servant who owed him a debt, can be a model for future generations.
According to “Deyugujian – Sexual Behavior” and “Houde Lu” Volume 2
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