Story from the Jin Dynasty: Zhou Chu Reforms Himself

By Li Jian

(Clearwisdom.net) "Zhou Chu's Self Reform" is a famous story from the Chinese Jin Dynasty. Zhou Chu did not receive proper childhood discipline from his father. Zhou was a careless, hot-tempered person with rude manners who always did things his own way and didn't care about others. His infamous behavior made him a hazard in his home village. People hated and feared him. They avoided him like a plague. No one wanted to have anything to do with him.

As he grew up, Zhou Chu realized that his fellow countrymen hated him! He wanted to change that. Once he saw people were not happy, he asked, "Our times are peaceful; the environment is pleasant, the harvests are abundant, everything is smooth; why are you so unhappy?" The people replied, "We have three hazards in this area. How can we be happy?" "Which three?" he asked. "A white-faced tiger in the South Mountains harms many lives; that is one. A violent dragon in the river also causes people and cattle much trouble; that's the other. The third hazard, I am afraid, is you!"

This was very hard for Zhou Chu to hear. After a long and deep silence he said, "I can get rid of the three hazards!"

Zhou Chu first went to the mountain armed with a knife. After a fierce fight, he killed the tiger. Then he jumped into the river to look for the dragon. The dragon fought him for three days without any sign of slowing down, but Zhou Chu was even more energetic. After three days he finally killed the dragon.

Not seeing him for three days, his countrymen thought Zhou Chu was dead. They started a celebration to cheer for the elimination of the three hazards. Right then Zhou Chu returned and saw the festivities. He realized just how much people hated him and felt ashamed. This incident made him even more determined to reform himself and to live a new life.

Zhou Chu decided to take action to reach his goal. He learned that Lu Ji and Lu Yun (grandsons of General Lu Xun) were intelligent and educated people. He traveled to their home and met with Lu Yun. After he told Lu Yun his own story he asked, "I really want to change, but I am not young anymore. Do I still have time?"

Lu Yun encouraged him saying, "Ancient people said that if you realized a mistake in the morning, you can correct it in the evening. You have a long future. You should worry about not having a clear goal; why worry about your reputation?"

Zhou Chu took great confidence from Lu's advice. He learned the principle, "If there is will, there is a way." He began to study hard and pay attention to his own conduct.

Within one year his reputation had completely turned around. Many county and city level officials recommended that he become an official.

Soon Zhou Chu became an official. For the next thirty years he held many positions and was a diligent and accomplished official. As governor of Xinping, he managed good relationships with the ethnic minority population there. When he was governor of Guanghan, he cleared up many historic matters left over from his predecessors. When he was Yu-Shi-Zhong-Cheng (a high ranking disciplinary officer), he would hold on to principles and remained ethical. His ethics and morally upright conduct offended some bad, powerful people.

When Qi Wannian later started to rebel, Zhou Chu's enemies wanted him to fight the rebel forces, hoping to get rid of him in the process. His friends knew of this vicious plan and tried to persuade Zhou Chu to dodge the assignment. Zhou Chu said firmly, "I said good-bye to my parents and am working for the emperor. No parents can treat their son as private property. Today is my time to give my life." Later Zhou Chu died in battle and fulfilled his commitment to defend the nation with his life.

Zhou Chu had the courage to change himself and dedicated his life to the country. He went from being a bad young man to a loyal, un-corruptible official and general. His story has inspired people throughout history. The message of the story goes something like this: if someone made a mistake, if he truly wants to change and follow good advice, he will have a bright future. Where there is a will, there is a way, as long as the person is determined and starts to do the right thing.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses financial interest as leverage to push others to join its evil persecution of Falun Dafa. They brainwashed all the Chinese people with lies, innuendo and propaganda. As a result, huge numbers of Chinese people have committed crimes against Falun Dafa. This has put their future in jeopardy. Dafa, however, is compassionate and offers people many opportunities to awaken. Dafa practitioners unselfishly show people a way out of their dilemma through their tireless, thorough truth-clarification efforts; more and more people have realized their own crime and discontinued their involvement in the persecution.

On October 9, 2005, the Falun Dafa Association published an announcement stating, "The CCP regime is against heaven's will and is about to collapse. It is now having difficulty sustaining the persecution. Heaven's final judgment of these evil criminals is imminent. One of the Fa's sacred purposes (of Falun Gong) is to save people's souls, including people of any social status. Even for those who have committed wrongdoings, there is still an opportunity for them to abandon the evil path and choose to be ethical and morally upright. For all those who have committed crimes against Falun Dafa but now want to correct their mistakes they can submit, under safe circumstances, a guarantee statement or letter of regret to Minghui [Chinese version of Clearwisdom] website, or to any regional Falun Dafa Association, to be archived. We will not investigate the various crimes of those who are determined to correct their mistakes. We will, however, continue to monitor their actions."

Recently, the Minghui website published some solemn announcements by people who have done bad things to Dafa but now felt remorse. These people, like the historic Zhou Chu, will have a good future if they correct their mistakes and continue to do good things. On the other hand, Dafa is also serious. From the day the announcement was published, for anyone who continues to persecute Falun Gong and commits new crimes, then the force of justice in human society, as well as heavenly retribution, are waiting for him.

January 1, 2006

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2006/1/2/117797.html

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