Since ancient times, the Chinese have promoted the concepts of cultivating the self, regulating the family, governing the nation, and pacifying the world. Therefore, early on, they developed these rules of conduct: "filiality" towards parents; "brotherly love" towards siblings; "loyalty" towards rulers; and "honesty" in word.
Legislator Wu Yen-huan recently wrote a set of books for children with 36 examples of each of these four virtues taken from history. Starting this month, Sinorama will publish one of these examples every month.
Ying Kao-shu lived in the kingdom of Cheng during the Spring and Autumn Period of the Chou Dynasty. Ying treated his mother with great filiality in everyday affairs and always asked her to partake of their meals before him.
In 722 BC, the ruler of Cheng, Duke Chuang, sent his mother off into exile at Cheng Ying after she had helped his brother in rebellion. At the time Duke Chuang vowed, "Until we have gone below, we will never meet again."
Ying Kao-shu was the head administrator of the area around Yingku, and one day Duke Chuang invited him to eat. Ying Kao-shu was served a most fragrant dish of meat, yet he did not move at all to eat. The Duke asked him why and Ying replied, "I have an old mother, and whenever we eat, I always ask her to taste everything first. Although you have served me this lovely meal, I still have not eaten. I was hoping to give this dish to my mother."
Duke Chuang heard this and was very moved. Besides giving Ying the meat, he also asked Ying Kao-shu to help him devise a plan whereby he could meet with his mother without breaking his oath. Ying Kao-shu suggested digging a tunnel and meeting there. Duke Chuang followed his advice and thereafter, got along well with his mother as before.
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