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The Story of Honest Yan Shu
By Jing Yan
(Clearwisdom.net) Yan Shu, who lived in the Song Dynasty, was kind and
honest from the time he was very young. He was also bright and eager to learn.
When he was only seven years old, he was able to write excellent articles. By 15
years old, he was honored as a genius and recommended to the Emperor by the
county governor due to his extreme intelligence. Yan Shu could have been interviewed or examined by the Emperor directly, but
he insisted on attending the formal imperial examination for provincial
governor's selection. He considered that the result obtained from the imperial
examination would actually reflect his true knowledge and talents. The main
examiner approved his request and let him participate in the exam. The exam began. When Yan Shu received the exam paper, he found that the
question was the one he had just practiced. He picked up his writing brush and
thought for a while. He then raised his hand and said to the main examiner:
"Sir, I have practiced this question at home already. If I do it again,
isn't that cheating? Would you please prepare another question for me?" The examiner heard his words and agreed to give him a different question. When Yan Shu got his new question, he read it several times and thought for a
moment. Then he picked up his brush and wrote the essay without stopping. The
examiner was shocked. He thought that this student was so quick and brilliant
and was a genius. Yan Shu's requests to participate in the formal exam and receive a new test
question gained people's respect because he was so honest. The news spread among
the students who attended the exam and even to the Emperor's ears. The Emperor,
Song Zhengzong, immediately asked to see Yan Shu himself. He praised him:
"You have solid knowledge and intelligence. But more importantly, you are
an honest person and don't cheat. This high moral standard is more
precious." In ancient China, the number one criterion for assigning a person to a
position was to gauge that person's moral quality. It did not matter if it was
to the court, as a provincial governor, to a county office or for a store or
business, if a person had great capability and intelligence but poor moral
standards, no one wanted to offer that person a position. Yan Shu was honored
with a high level official position in the court because of his honesty. |