Dizi Gui (弟子规) (Standards for Being a Good Student and Child) is an ancient Chinese text for children that teaches moral values and etiquette. It was written during the Qing Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (康熙帝) (1661-1722) by Li Yuxiu.
Beneath the conservative, “old-school” verbose of this ancient classic, one can still find gems of wisdom that remain surprisingly relevant to our modern society. A new lesson is covered in each issue.
‘If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals. ‘
J. K. Rowling
We may not all have worked for a boss before, but from the time we’re born, we’ve all been in situations where we are placed in the charge of someone—including our parents and teachers.
Some of these “bosses” are people we admire and would gladly follow. Others, however, were awful “bosses” that we couldn’t wait to get away from!
With this wealth of experience, most of us have an idea of what makes a good boss… and a bad one.
And learning from other bosses’ examples is important because, at some point in our lives, we could be “the boss” of others as well—it could be the team we’re leading, or even the foreign domestic helper who works with our family.
Dizi Gui sheds some light on this issue: “When I am directing maids and servants, I will act honourably and properly. I will also treat them kindly and generously.”
Some people treat their employees and domestic helpers as “lowly servants”. But nothing can justify treating a fellow human with insolence, superciliousness, and cruelty. All it reflects is that person’s true poverty of character. “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals,” wrote J.K. Rowling.
Here are a few stories of good and bad bosses in ancient China:
The Tyrant King Li of Zhou
King Li of Zhou （周厉王） (died 828 BC) was the tenth king of the Western Zhou Dynasty. He was a ruthless and corrupt monarch who imposed heavy taxes on the people to pay for his decadent lifestyle.
During his reign, the Western Zhou Dynasty was struck by six years of drought. Coupled by King Li’s exorbitant taxes, the people were pushed to starvation.
When the drought finally ended, the people needed to recuperate. But the cruel king made living conditions even worse. He repossessed all the forested land and bodies of water as his own, and banned the people from cutting firewood, hunting, and fishing.
King Li’s actions angered the people, who already had so little. As mutterings of unhappiness spread amongst the people, the king hired secret agents to eavesdrop on the people.
Those who were caught criticising him were arrested and put to death without mercy. No one dared to speak a word against the king; all they could do was simmer in silent rage.
King Li was very proud of his achievement, and bragged to his minister Zhao Gong, “I am able to stop my people from talking!”
Zhao Gong replied, “Your Majesty, you have only managed to stopper the people’s mouths. One day they will tolerate their silence no longer.” King Li, however, ignored Zhao Gong’s words of advice.
Three years later, the people rebelled against King Li. Even the king’s soldiers refused to protect him. The disgraced king fled and died a fugitive.
Herein lies an important principle from Dizi Gui: “If I use my influence to make people submissive, their hearts will not be with me. If I can convince them with sound reasoning, they will have nothing to object to.”
A good boss doesn’t command his employees with coercion. He earns their respect, goodwill, and cooperation with good communication and rational decisions.
Helping an Official Save Face
King Zhuang of Chu（楚庄王） was a monarch of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period. He was known as an effective ruler who earned his officials’ loyalty through kindness and fairness.
Legend goes that one day, King Zhuang held a grand banquet for his officials. Everyone drank liberally and celebrated well into the night.
Just then, a strong wind blew out the candles in the banquet hall, plunging it into darkness. The king’s favourite concubine felt someone pull at her clothes, and in the dark she pulled off the sash of the perpetrator’s hat.
Quickly, the concubine went to the king and told him what had happened. She wanted the king to have the candles lighted immediately, to identify the official without a hat sash.
King Zhuang sighed, “I was the one who plied my officials with wine, which made them drunk and behave in an indecent manner. I’m the one in the wrong. Now, your modesty has been violated. How can I make the official lose face when it is entirely my fault?”
The king then announced, “Any official who fails to remove his hat sash is sending me a message that he is not having a good time.” With that, the 100 officials present all removed their hat sashes. The candles were then lighted, and the celebration continued.
Two years later, the Chu State engaged in a fierce war with the Jin State, and King Zhuang personally led his troops to battle. He noticed that during each battle, one particular general was always at the frontline, fearlessly plunging into the enemy fray and scattering the enemy troops with his ferocity.
King Zhuang called the general to him and said, “I’ve done nothing for you, yet you fearlessly lay down your life for me at every battle! Why do you do so?”
The general replied, “Your Majesty, I was the official who lost his hat sash at the banquet two years ago. I committed a crime punishable by death, but you spared my life and my dignity. From then on, I have sworn to give my life to you in return for your kindness.”
Encouraged by this, King Zhuang went on the defeat the Jin troops and win the war.
A good boss doesn’t jump on his subordinate’s transgressions. Instead, he understands that mistakes happen, and he considers the situation carefully before dealing with it. People recognise good bosses who treat them properly and kindly—and they are more likely to reciprocate with loyalty and diligence.
When King Zhuang came to power, the small state of Chu was in disarray, yet he managed to expand it to a large kingdom. The king had the wisdom and foresight to treat his subordinates with kindness and fairness. In return, they helped their king to reach greater heights.
