Liu Yi, courtesy name Zixiang, lived in Yingyin during the East Han Dynasty (25 – 220 AD). He was a person of justice and integrity. His family was prosperous for generations, and he often provided relief to other people, but sought nothing in return.

Once when Mr. Liu was traveling in Runan County, he came across a person named Zhang Jili who was hurrying on his way to a funeral a great distance away. When he unexpectedly encountered icy conditions, his wagon broke down, and he was stuck. When Mr. Liu saw this, he immediately got out of his wagon and gave it to Zhang. He himself took off on horseback, without leaving his name. Zhang figured he must be the renowned and benevolent Liu Yi. After the funeral, Zhang made a special trip to pay Mr. Liu a visit in Yingyin to return the wagon. When Liu learned that Zhang was coming, he closed the door and left a message that he was out, so as to avoid meeting Zhang.

Liu Yi held fast to his own ideals and was not willing to submit to the imperial government's appointments. Later, he accepted an appointment by Chong Fu, the prefect of the Ying District, as a merit officer. Because he helped Chong Fu on a life and death matter, Chong Fu wanted to recommend him to the imperial court as an official. But the upright Liu Yi refused, feeling it shameful to use such matters as a springboard to a higher rank.

Later, a war broke out that led to a famine in the region. Mr. Liu expended much effort to provide relief to those without grain. Several hundred people survived because of him. In short, so long as people in the village needed help, he would go all out to provide relief.

When Emperor Hanxian (Liu Xie) relocated the capital west, Mr. Liu was recommended to be a finance officer. Because of Mr. Liu's meritorious service, the emperor issued a special imperial order to appoint him as court attendant, and he was transferred to Chenliu to the post of prefect. Mr. Liu gave away all his treasure and jewels. He only had his wagon when he went to Chenliu to take up the post.

On the way, several hundred miles past Hangu Pass, Liu Yi discovered that an official had died of illness by the roadside. Mr. Liu thereupon traded his horse for a coffin and took off his own clothes to wrap the corpse and place it in the coffin.

As he continued on his journey, he met a person he had known in the past, destitute and hungry. Mr. Liu could not bear to leave the person like that, so he gave orders to kill the oxen that pulled the wagon to provide food for him. Everybody urged him not to do it, but Mr. Liu said, "If a man sees somebody in dire straits and does nothing, he is hardly a gentleman with aspirations." Later, Mr. Liu died of hunger.

Helping people in difficulty without selfish intentions, with everything available including one's own life, is probably what is referred to as "Dying for a just cause."
Mr. Liu did good deeds, but he did not brag about it or use it for fame or to achieve a high rank. What he did, however, was in plain sight of the Heaven above. Mr. Liu would have accrued much virtue for himself and thus laid a good foundation for his future life. Sooner or later, Heaven would reward him handsomely.


刘翊，字子相，东汉颖阴人，为人重义守德，家中世代产业丰足，经常救济他人而不愿接受他人报答。

刘翊有一次在汝南旅行，有位叫张季礼的人要到远方赶赴丧礼，不料遇上寒冰，车子坏了，所以停滞在道路上。刘翊见到后，立即下车，将自己的车子给了张季礼，而且没有说自己的名字，骑上马便走了。张季礼猜想他可能就是传闻中重德重义的刘翊，事后他专程来到颖阴，想要将车子还给刘翊，可刘翊知道后关上门，让人说自己出去了，不去同张季礼相见。

刘翊坚守自己的志向，一直不肯屈从朝廷的任命。后来接受了颖川太守种拂的任命，担任功曹，因为在一件关系种拂生死福祸的事情上帮了大忙，所以种拂要举荐刘翊为孝廉，但刘翊推辞了，正直的他耻于利用这种事来获取功名。

后来发生战乱，当地的郡县发生饥荒，刘翊努力救济那些缺粮断粮的人，靠他而活下来的有几百人。总之，乡里宗族中只要有人需要帮助和救济，他总是全力帮助救济。

汉献帝（刘协）迁都西京后，刘翊被举荐为计掾，后来因为立了功而被皇帝特地下诏任命为议郎，调任陈留太守。刘翊将自己手上持有的珍宝全部分给了他人，自己仅留下车马赴任去了。

出了函谷关几百里地后，刘翊发现一位士大夫病死在路旁，刘翊于是用自己的马换了棺材，脱下自己的衣服将死者收殓了。

走了一段路，又遇到以前认识的一个人在路上窘困饥饿，刘翊不忍心丢下他，便将驾车的牛又杀了，用来解除这人的困乏。大家都曾劝阻他，刘翊说：「见死不救，这可不是有志之士。」后来，刘翊竟然饥饿而死。

见人有难，能够没有私心，倾其所有予以帮助救济，即使失去性命也在所不惜，这就是我们神传文化中讲的「舍生取义」吧！

刘翊做了好事而不喜欢让人知道，不沽名钓誉，但上天对人世间的一切可是历历在目，刘翊这是为自己积下德了，为自己将来的生命打下了非常好的基础，早晚会得到上天赐予的善报，这世没得到，下世也会得到，因为这是天理。