Most Worthy Emperor and Most Distinguished First Grand Secretary, thank you for granting me the opportunity to speak again and allowing me to present a memorial on a topic of my choosing. I humbly come before you and the members of the Grand Secretariat today: to speak of matters not only dear to me, but to the entirety of the Ming Empire. Over the past few meetings, we have been talking about corruption, what it takes to be a good, effective leader, and the many issues endangering the empire such as banditry and calls for tax reform. However, the biggest issue that we should prioritize is the succession crisis.
As I have previously declared in my first memorial, the issue is simple and is constantly emphasized in the Analects: the elder takes precedence over the younger and the younger show deference toward the elder. I fear for the sake of our great country because this has caused an riotous uproar in the empire. Illustrious Emperor, you have ignited distress in the people of China by refusing to name Changluo, your first-born son to be the next heir and successor.
“For from of old death has been the lost of all men; but a people that no longer trusts its ruler is lost indeed” ( Book 12 Analect 7). In this statement, I would like to emphasize how “when there is no trust, the common people will have nothing to stand on.” This empire needs trust because it is very important to our society, values, and culture. Furthermore, “In the usages of ritual it is harmony that is prized; the Way of the Former Kings from this got its beauty. Both small matters and great depend upon it. If things go amiss, he who knows the harmony will be able to attune them. But if harmony itself is not modulated by ritual, things will still go amiss” (Book 1 Analect 12). In any empire, a ruler strives for harmony and prosperity among his people. The Confucian Way informs us that by following ritual, harmony is ensured. Specifically, when Yen Hui asked about Goodness, in Book 12 Analect 1, The Master said, “He who can himself submit to ritual is Good.’ If (a ruler) could for one day ‘himself submit to ritual,’ everyone under Heaven would respond to his Goodness. For Goodness is something that must have its source in the ruler himself; it cannot be got from others. To look at nothing in defiance of ritual, to listen to nothing in defiance of ritual, to speak of nothing in defiance of ritual, never to stir hand or food in defiance of ritual.” Most Esteemed Emperor, I encourage you to revisit the teachings of Confucius. Only he who submits himself to ritual and observes the Way with unwavering …show more content…
However, maybe the behavior of your children is not a factor in deciding who is the next heir, but the mother of the child. It has come to my attention that the person who is the underlying cause to this problem is Lady Zheng. I am aware that Lady Zheng is said to be “intelligent, well-read, and strong-willed” (Huang 30), which enabled her to satisfy your emotional needs and caused you to favor Lady Zheng over Lady Wang. Yet, Lady Zheng was “frequently unhappy about your indecisiveness” (Huang 32), Emperor. In fact, Lady Zheng exclaimed to you that you are “an old lady!” several times (Huang
As I have previously declared in my first memorial, the issue is simple and is constantly emphasized in the Analects: the elder takes precedence over the younger and the younger show deference toward the elder. I fear for the sake of our great country because this has caused an riotous uproar in the empire. Illustrious Emperor, you have ignited distress in the people of China by refusing to name Changluo, your first-born son to be the next heir and successor.
“For from of old death has been the lost of all men; but a people that no longer trusts its ruler is lost indeed” ( Book 12 Analect 7). In this statement, I would like to emphasize how “when there is no trust, the common people will have nothing to stand on.” This empire needs trust because it is very important to our society, values, and culture. Furthermore, “In the usages of ritual it is harmony that is prized; the Way of the Former Kings from this got its beauty. Both small matters and great depend upon it. If things go amiss, he who knows the harmony will be able to attune them. But if harmony itself is not modulated by ritual, things will still go amiss” (Book 1 Analect 12). In any empire, a ruler strives for harmony and prosperity among his people. The Confucian Way informs us that by following ritual, harmony is ensured. Specifically, when Yen Hui asked about Goodness, in Book 12 Analect 1, The Master said, “He who can himself submit to ritual is Good.’ If (a ruler) could for one day ‘himself submit to ritual,’ everyone under Heaven would respond to his Goodness. For Goodness is something that must have its source in the ruler himself; it cannot be got from others. To look at nothing in defiance of ritual, to listen to nothing in defiance of ritual, to speak of nothing in defiance of ritual, never to stir hand or food in defiance of ritual.” Most Esteemed Emperor, I encourage you to revisit the teachings of Confucius. Only he who submits himself to ritual and observes the Way with unwavering …show more content…
However, maybe the behavior of your children is not a factor in deciding who is the next heir, but the mother of the child. It has come to my attention that the person who is the underlying cause to this problem is Lady Zheng. I am aware that Lady Zheng is said to be “intelligent, well-read, and strong-willed” (Huang 30), which enabled her to satisfy your emotional needs and caused you to favor Lady Zheng over Lady Wang. Yet, Lady Zheng was “frequently unhappy about your indecisiveness” (Huang 32), Emperor. In fact, Lady Zheng exclaimed to you that you are “an old lady!” several times (Huang