Zhang Tingyu Inhibits his Son In Order to Achieve Greater Virtue
 
Zhang Tingyu was an imperial scholar and the secretary of defense under Emperor Yongzheng (1722 – 1735 A.D.), who ruled during China's Qing Dynasty. Despite his high-level position in the royal court, Zhang Tingyu was modest and selfless. He also expected his children to be frugal, be content with what they had and value virtue.
 
Zhang Ruoai was his oldest son. After passing the township and provincial civil service examinations, Zhang Ruoai advanced to the final examination, which was held at the royal court. After the royal court officials who served as judges read the final candidates' essays, they affixed seals over the candidates' names before submitting the essays to Emperor Yongzheng, who held final responsibility for selection of the winners of the civil service examination.
 
When Emperor Yongzheng read the fifth essay, he was deeply impressed by several sentences. “When witnessing others' kind deeds, government officials should encourage each other to set similar examples. When witnessing others' faults, officials should try to discipline each other so one would not to repeat these faults. If we do not cheat, we don't need to guard against others. If we are sincere, we will be trusted. If we can achieve these things, all government officials at the central and local governments will work as one body.” Emperor Yongzheng felt very encouraged by this essay, for he thought it was full of sincerity and honesty. He commented that this candidate was as virtuous as government officials in ancient times. He decided to award third place at the A level to this candidate. When Emperor Yongzheng opened the seals, he discovered that it was written by the oldest son of Zhang Tingyu, the imperial scholar. He immediately sent a messenger with the news to Zhang Tingyu to bring him joy.
 
Emperor Yongzheng did not expect that Zhang Tingyu would immediately request a meeting. Zhang Tingyu said to the emperor, “I have a high office in the royal court, so it would be inappropriate to award my son, who is still very young, third place in the imperial civil service examination.” Yongzheng Emperor explained, “I was fair in my judgment. I did not give him third place because he is your son.” But Zhang Tingyu repeatedly asked the emperor to reconsider. He said, “There are many talented youngsters in China. The civil service examination runs every three years and everyone wishes to pass the examination. I already occupy a position in the royal court. If my son should be awarded the third place at the A level, he would practically steal a spot from other candidates from common families and I would feel guilty. If Your Majesty would kindly lower him to the B level, it would be more than enough honor for him.”
 
In the Qing Dynasty civil service examination system, nine winners were selected from the final examination. There were three levels of winners. Each level had three winners, but the level achieved would make a world of difference in the winners' career. “A” level candidates immediately began their careers in the royal court. Generally, they became editors at the imperial university, an important stepping stone to more prominent positions in the government. “B” and “C” level candidates were not allowed to work in the royal court until a few years later and they would usually start as officials at the county government.
 
Zhang Tingyu knew perfectly well what it meant for his son's career to be lowered to the B level, but he decided that it would not be beneficial for his son to reach uch success too early in his career. He believed that he ought to work twice as hard, learn to accept humility and be humble in order to accumulate his virtue. He decided that such an experience would temper his character and make him more reliable.
 
At first, Emperor Yongzheng thought Zhang Tingyu was merely trying to be modest, so he said to Zhang, “You have been most loyal and have accumulated a lot of virtue. No one will be jealous because your son achieved third place at the A level. He has earned it.” Zhang Tingyu was sitting on a chair while speaking to the emperor. When he realized that Emperor Yongzheng did not want to change his decision, he knelt before the emperor and begged again. “Your Majesty, my family has received a lot of honor. I beg Your Majesty to take pity on my sincerity to give the honor in the A level to another candidate. If Your Majesty wishes to look after my family, I beg you to save some good fortune for my son's career in the later time. It would benefit him greatly.”
 
When Emperor Yongzheng realized that Zhang Tingyu's meant exactly what he was saying, he decided to award Zhang Ruoai first place in the B level. When Emperor Yongzheng announced the examination results, he made the story known to the public and proclaimed Zhang Tingyu's modesty.
 
Zhang Ruoai was fully aware of his father's reasoning and he did not let him down. He continued to study diligently and made great progress. Later when he advanced to the royal court and worked in the defense department, he always fulfilled his responsibilities. Like his father, he was very modest.
 
There are several Chinese proverbs, including “A man must not use all of his power; a man must not deplete all of his good fortune,” and “Loyalty and kindness will sustain a family; modesty and prudence will extend one's life.” These proverbs are precious advice and will help fashion a person's conduct and the values they will pass on to the next generation. Zhang Tingyu and his son took these values to heart and followed them at all times. They were truly wise people.
 
张廷玉抑子
 
张廷玉是清朝雍正年间的大学士，兼任军机大臣。其身居高位，却深明谦虚抑让之道，要求子女简朴重德，知足为诫。
 
张廷玉的长子张若霭，经过乡试、会试之后，进入朝廷的殿试阶段。诸大臣阅卷后，把密封的试卷，呈给雍正帝亲自审阅定夺。雍正帝审阅第五份试卷时，读到「善则相劝，过则相规，无诈无虞，必诚必信，则同官一体也，内外亦一体也。」使他精神为之一振，认为言辞恳切，「颇得古大臣之风」，便将此考生定为一甲中的第三名，即探花。后来雍正帝拆开密封试卷，才知道是大学士张廷玉之子张若霭，便立即派人告知张廷玉，让他高兴。
 
不料张廷玉立刻求见雍正帝，认为自己身为朝廷大臣，儿子还年轻，登上一甲三名，实为不妥。雍正帝说：「朕实出于至公，非因大臣之子，而有意提拔。」张廷玉再三恳辞说：「天下人才众多，三年一次大考，个个都盼鼎甲。臣本人现居高位，而臣子又登一甲的第三名，占天下寒士之先，于心实有不安。请列二甲，已为荣幸。」
 
这里介绍一下清代的科举制度：殿试后按三甲取士，一甲只取三人，即状元、榜眼、探花，称进士及第；二甲取若干人，称进士出身；三甲取若干人，称同进士出身。虽然选中的一、二、三甲，可以统称进士，但三者的待遇实有不同。中一甲者，可立即授官，成为翰林院的修撰或编修，这是未来高升的重要台阶。而二甲和三甲，则需选庶吉士，几年以后才会授官，并且只是任州县级的官。
 
张廷玉深知此中规则，但他认为儿子还年轻，不可过早飞黄腾达，应该加倍磨砺，积攒福德，这样才踏实可靠。
 
雍正帝以为张廷玉只是一般的谦让，便对他讲：「你家尽忠积德，有此优秀子弟，高中一甲，人所共服，当之无愧。」张廷玉原是坐着讲话的，他见雍正帝不愿接受自己的恳求，便扑通一下，跪到皇帝面前，再次恳求：「皇上至公。但臣家已备受恩荣，求皇上怜臣一片真心，愿让出一甲之荣，给予天下寒士。若君恩祖德，佑护臣子，给我儿留些福份，以为将来上进之资，更为美事。」雍正帝见张廷玉「陈奏之时，情词恳切之至」，不得不勉从其请，把张若霭改为二甲第一名。不久，在张榜公布的同时，雍正帝还为此事，颁旨表彰张廷玉代子谦让的美德，让天下读书人共知之。
 
张若霭十分理解父亲的做法，没有辜负父亲的厚望，不断磨练，在学术上不断长进，后在南书房、军机处任职时，都能尽职尽责，谦虚自处，颇有其父遗风。
 
「有权不可使尽，有福不可享尽。」「忠厚传家久，谦慎继世长。」这些都是做人处世的金玉良言，也是传家教子的重要规范。张廷玉父子都懂得这些道理，并且自觉自愿的去身体力行。他们是真正的聪明人。