David Dennard
Memorial 2
There is a great danger in our midst. It threatens the very order of our families, our government, and our society. The mandate of heaven is in danger. I refer to the Grand Secretary’s poisoning of our sovereign’s morality. Why does the son of the most high show interest in Lady Zheng and his illegitimate son? Why does he ignore his rightful heir? It is because our worthy sovereign has been taught incorrectly, or worse our Grand Secretary is some manipulating him. How can there be any doubt to the correct action? If the Grand Secretary had done the correct job of tutoring our benevolent Wanli he would surely act according to tradition. Our benevolent leader must be reminded of the teachings of the master since it appears the Grand Secretary is not of the moral quality to do so. Our duty as members of the bureaucracy is to remind the son of the most high of the correct action. The correct action is to recognize the legitimate heir, and to remove the immoral influence.
The master teaches deep reverence for honoring one’s superior. Son to father, wife to husband, younger to older brother, and subject to emperor is the order the master taught. This is how things have been for generations. Without this order society would cease to function. The master says, “As your father and elder brothers are still alive you are hardly in a position to put into practice what you have heard.”(11:22) This line from the master illustrates how a younger brother is corrected in his wish to take over the role of his superiors. As long as the father and older brother live the younger brother must respect their position of superiority. If the Grand Secretary had given correct counsel our benevolent Wanli would have already realized this. The master chastises a young man who, “presumes to take a seat and walk abreast his seniors.”(14:44) He reminds us that those who try and ignore the order of things are only looking for quick advancement. They have no benevolence, or understanding of the way. Our son of the most high must come to understand what the master has taught. The bureaucracy must teach morality since the Grand Secretary is unable, or unwilling to do so.
I fear for the consequences if we do not act. If a third born son could be named heir by the son of the most high then what will occur across the empire? First born sons will be murdered by their younger brothers! Younger brothers will be murdered to ensure the eldest son’s position! The tradition respecting the legitimacy of the first born will deteriorate. Violence will plague the countryside!
This is not all that will happen if something does not change. If the first wife can lose her position in the emperor’s household than anywhere the first wife can be replaced. Who will lead the household, or participate in ancestor worship? Soon concubines will be overseeing the rites of ancestor worship! Wives conniving and scheming will increase to unseen proportions. A second wife will take this example as justification for removing the first wife, or even removing the male head of the household. Family will fall apart. All family order and stability will cease without Wanli’s correct example. It is integral to the mandate of heaven to set the example of the master. Ignoring this will bring ruin for us all. The time for action is now. Send away the false manipulative counsel! Remove the conniving woman who is only interested in power. Lady Zheng only cares for her son. Wanli has a duty to care for his subjects. When the duty is ignored the mandate is gone. Honorable son of the most high you must act to save the empire. I trust our son of the most high is indeed benevolent. The empire will soon see if this is true.
Memorial 2
There is a great danger in our midst. It threatens the very order of our families, our government, and our society. The mandate of heaven is in danger. I refer to the Grand Secretary’s poisoning of our sovereign’s morality. Why does the son of the most high show interest in Lady Zheng and his illegitimate son? Why does he ignore his rightful heir? It is because our worthy sovereign has been taught incorrectly, or worse our Grand Secretary is some manipulating him. How can there be any doubt to the correct action? If the Grand Secretary had done the correct job of tutoring our benevolent Wanli he would surely act according to tradition. Our benevolent leader must be reminded of the teachings of the master since it appears the Grand Secretary is not of the moral quality to do so. Our duty as members of the bureaucracy is to remind the son of the most high of the correct action. The correct action is to recognize the legitimate heir, and to remove the immoral influence.
The master teaches deep reverence for honoring one’s superior. Son to father, wife to husband, younger to older brother, and subject to emperor is the order the master taught. This is how things have been for generations. Without this order society would cease to function. The master says, “As your father and elder brothers are still alive you are hardly in a position to put into practice what you have heard.”(11:22) This line from the master illustrates how a younger brother is corrected in his wish to take over the role of his superiors. As long as the father and older brother live the younger brother must respect their position of superiority. If the Grand Secretary had given correct counsel our benevolent Wanli would have already realized this. The master chastises a young man who, “presumes to take a seat and walk abreast his seniors.”(14:44) He reminds us that those who try and ignore the order of things are only looking for quick advancement. They have no benevolence, or understanding of the way. Our son of the most high must come to understand what the master has taught. The bureaucracy must teach morality since the Grand Secretary is unable, or unwilling to do so.
I fear for the consequences if we do not act. If a third born son could be named heir by the son of the most high then what will occur across the empire? First born sons will be murdered by their younger brothers! Younger brothers will be murdered to ensure the eldest son’s position! The tradition respecting the legitimacy of the first born will deteriorate. Violence will plague the countryside!
This is not all that will happen if something does not change. If the first wife can lose her position in the emperor’s household than anywhere the first wife can be replaced. Who will lead the household, or participate in ancestor worship? Soon concubines will be overseeing the rites of ancestor worship! Wives conniving and scheming will increase to unseen proportions. A second wife will take this example as justification for removing the first wife, or even removing the male head of the household. Family will fall apart. All family order and stability will cease without Wanli’s correct example. It is integral to the mandate of heaven to set the example of the master. Ignoring this will bring ruin for us all. The time for action is now. Send away the false manipulative counsel! Remove the conniving woman who is only interested in power. Lady Zheng only cares for her son. Wanli has a duty to care for his subjects. When the duty is ignored the mandate is gone. Honorable son of the most high you must act to save the empire. I trust our son of the most high is indeed benevolent. The empire will soon see if this is true.
posted by Anonymous | 10:37 AM
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