Shame Leads to Self-Discipline

King Wen of the State of Chu, named Xiong Zi, was the son of King Wu of Chu (? – 690 BC), the "First King of Chu State in the Spring and Autumn Time (722 - 481 B.C.)." When King Wu was old and frail, he still put down a Sui State rebellion near modern day Hubei Province that put the alliance of states in jeopardy. Alas, he died on the journey with his army. Fortunately, he had named Xiong Zi, his son, to be crowned King. Xiong became the new King of Chu in 689 B.C. Like his father before him, King Wen of Chu was very ambitious.

Although King Wen is remembered in history as a fine ruler, during his first year as ruler of Chu, King Wen neglected the affairs of the state. He was more interested in being entertained than ruling the land and thus rarely held court.

Once, King Wen was given a hunting dog named Ruhuang and a type of long, straight bamboo sticks called Wanlu. He fashioned arrows out of the bamboo and then went on a three month hunt with his dog to Yunmenze, one of the largest freshwater lakes in China. Later, he met a beautiful woman from the State of Danyang. Enjoying time with the woman, King Wen did not hold court for a full year. People gossiped that King Wen’s three loves: his dog, sharp arrows and the Danyang beauty are the three evils restraining him.

Senior government ministers who had been appointed by King Wu were breaking their heads to turn King Wen into a ruler. Nothing they said or did turned King Wu's lifestyle around. Finally, Minister Shen and General Yuquan asked for an audience with King Wen to admonish him despite facing the possibility of death. Minister Shen said to King Wen, "Your departed father, King Wu, consulted the heavens and appointed me as your caretaker. Before he passed away, he asked all of us to assist you exhaustively so that you can become a famed ruler. Yet, once you were crowned King, you gained Ruhuang and Wanlu, then went on a three month hunt. Then, you took fancy to a beauty from Danyang and neglected affairs of state for a year. We have tried all in our power to turn you around, but were unsuccessful. Your father, Chu's previous King, ruled that if you neglected your duty to the Kingdom, you should be flogged."

King Wen said, "I was nobility since the day I was born. Would you please choose another way to dispense my punishment?"

Minister Shen knelt in front of King Wen and said "I have to follow orders as directed by our previous King and I dare not violate your father's trust in me. I rather offend you then violate the rules of this country." King Wen responded, "I will submit to my punishment."

Minister Shen put a straw mat on the floor and asked King Wen to lay down on it. He raised the whip given to him by King Wu up high and brought it down lightly a few times. Then he said to King Wen, "I have done my duty. Please get up!"

King Wen said, "Now, since I have been flogged in name, please flog me as intended!"

Minister Shen said, "I heard that a gentleman only needs to feel ashamed while villains need to feel physical pain. When a gentleman feels ashamed and refuses to change, then what good will the physical pain do?" Then he left and went into exile asking King Wen for a death sentence.

King Wen said, "I have brought it to this. What crime did Minister Shen commit?" With these words he mended his ways, sent his "three loves" on their way and began to focus on the nation's affairs. He asked Minister Shen to return to his side. Now, the nation's affairs became King Wen's priority and he ruled his people wisely. Within a few years, Chu conquered thirty additional states, expanding the Chu territory. Chu became a strong kingdom, the people of Chu became prosperous and lived happily during King Wen's rule.

知耻自律

楚文王是「春秋荆楚第一王」楚武王的儿子，名熊赀，于公元前六百八十九年即位。当时，楚武王为平定汉阳诸姬之首随国的叛盟，不顾年老体衰，带病亲征，病逝于征途。按楚武王临终之言，熊赀被拥立为楚王。楚文王与他的父亲一样，同样是一位具有远大抱负的国君。

楚文王虽名垂青史，但立位之初却不务正业，整天寻欢作乐，贪图安逸，不理朝政。

一次，楚文王得到一只名叫茹黄的猎狗和一种叫宛路的长而直的竹子。他用这些竹子做箭杆，带着猎狗到云梦泽打猎，一去三个月不回来。后来又得到了丹阳美女，从此纵情声色，整整一年不上朝听政。人们都说楚文王的「三宠」：良犬、利弓和丹阳美女，是羁绊他的「三害」。

几位辅政老臣为此大伤脑筋，多次规观，但他却并不以为然，仍是我行我素。不得已，太保申和大将鬻拳只有冒死进入内宫进谏，太保申说：「先王占卜让我做太保，卦象吉利，临终前要求我等竭力辅佐大王，以使大王成一代明君。可大王即位以来，得到茹黄之狗和宛路之箭，前去打猎，一去三个月不回来；得到丹阳国美女，纵情声色，一年不上朝听政，臣等多次苦劝都不济于事。按照先王时制定的法度，您不履行君王的职责，您的罪应该施以鞭刑。」

文王说：「我从离开襁褓时起就列位于诸侯，请您换一种刑法，不要鞭打我。」

太保申跪下道：「我敬受先生之命，不敢辜负先王的重托。您不接受鞭刑，这是让我违背先王之命。我宁可获罪于您，也不敢废弃国家法度。」文王说：「遵命。」

于是太保申拉过席子，让文王伏在上面，将楚武王赐的长鞭高高的挥起，轻轻的落下。打了几下，然后对文王说：「请您起来吧！」

文王说：「我反正有了受鞭的名声，索性真的打我一顿吧！」

太保申说：「我听说，对于君子，要使他心里感到羞耻；对于小人，要让他皮肉觉得疼痛。如果让君子感到羞耻仍不能改正，那么让他觉得疼痛又有甚么用处？」太保申说完，快步离开了朝廷，自行流放到深渊边上，请求文王治自己死罪。

文王说：「这是我的过错，太保申有甚么罪？」于是改弦更张，罢黜三宠，治理国政，召回了太保申，将所有的心思全部放在了勤政爱民、励精图治上，几年兼并了三十多个国家，扩大了楚国的疆土。楚国日益强盛，楚国人欢欣鼓舞。