By Qin Shan
Thriftiness is a virtue. For a family or a nation, indulging in extravagance and luxury often leads to heavy losses or disaster, while being thrifty is often associated with prosperity.

Below are three examples from Chinese history.

Emperor Wendi of the Han Dynasty (180–157 BC)


Wendi was an emperor during the Han Dynasty for 23 years in total, but he hardly expanded a palace or a garden. Nor did he add furniture to the palace or buy extravagant clothing for the royal family. He was considering building a terrace once, but after doing some calculations, he discovered that the cost would be close to the sum of 10 families' assets, so he dropped the idea.

In addition to wearing plain clothing himself, Wendi also restricted the queen from wearing luxurious clothing. When he died, his tomb was filled with ceramic cookware, and no gold, silver, or copper ornaments were permitted. His tomb was also relatively small compared to other emperors.

Despite his thriftiness, Wendi was very generous with people who needed assistance, such as widows, orphans and poor families. He instructed his administration to distribute rice, meat, and wine to seniors who were 80 years or older. In addition, anyone older than 90 was to be provided with clothing and quilts. He ordered his government officials to implement these policies, and any official who did not comply was punished.
Because of his thriftiness and hardworking attitude, the period of Wendi is well recognized and respected in Chinese history.

Zhuge Liang (181 – 234)


One of the most well-known sages in Chinese history, Zhuge Liang lived during the Three Kingdoms period. As chancellor, or prime minister, of Shu Han, he had great power and privileges. He did not use his privileges to make a fortune, but instead lived an ordinary life. When elaborate funerals were held for high ranking officials or wealthy people, Zhuge Liang told his subordinates to bury him in a small mountain tomb that could only hold a coffin. Other than his regular clothing, no other items were to be put in his tomb.

In a letter to his son, Zhuge Liang wrote, “One should calm his mind to improve himself, and live a modest life to establish his virtue.” “By paying little attention to material interests, one would be clear on his mission; by remaining calm without pursuit, one would be able to achieve great things.”

Sima Guang (1019 – 1086)


Sima Guang was a high-ranking official, scholar, and historian during the Song Dynasty, and was well known for his high standing in society. Despite his privileged position, he always led a simple life. When the emperor bestowed him and other officials with valuable jewelry and gold as gifts, he gave the items to his relatives. When his wife died, Sima Guang had to sell some of his land to pay for her funeral.
In one communication with his son, Sima Guang wrote, “Virtue starts from being thrifty.” On the other hand, indulging in luxury leads to greed, disasters, and even the loss of life – both for the poor and rich alike.

克制贪欲

秦山　整理

《群书治要》卷四十七的《政要论》中记载，「修身治国也，要莫大于节欲。传曰：『欲不可纵。』历观有家有国，其得之也，莫不阶于俭约；其失之也，莫不由于奢侈。俭者节欲，奢者放情。放情者危，节欲者安。」

这段话的大意是讲，修身和治国，没有比节制欲望更重要的了。《礼记》上说：「欲望不可放纵。」纵观古往今来有家有国的领导者，取得成功，无一不是凭借勤俭节约；亡国败家，无一不是由于奢侈纵欲。勤俭的人节制欲望，奢侈的人放纵欲望。放纵欲望的人危险，节制欲望的人安全。

克制贪欲是一种美德，这对于修身、齐家、治国都是必要的。对个人而言，克勤克俭、不攀比奢华，不但修养自身，也是持家的方法。「一粥一饭，当思来处不易。半 丝半缕，恒念物力维艰。」对于国家而言，生存发展都需要节俭，这才是长富之道。「历览前贤国与家，成由勤俭破由奢。」浩如烟海的史籍中关于节俭的例子非常 多，仅选以下三例与读者共享。

汉文帝勤俭爱民 「以德化民」

汉文帝从代国来到都城，在位二十三年，宫室、苑 囿、狗马、服饰、用具，没有增加过甚么，有对百姓不方便的地方，就进行改易，以利百姓。曾经打算修建露台，叫工匠计算费用，需要黄金一百斤。汉文帝说： 「一百斤黄金相当于中等百姓十家的产业，我奉守先帝的宫室，常常担心给它带来羞辱，修建这露台干甚么呢！」汉文帝经常穿着粗丝衣服，他所宠爱的慎夫人，也不准衣服拖至地面，帏帐不得织文绣锦，以此来表示敦厚质朴，为天下先做出一个表率。修建霸陵全部采用瓦器，不许使用金、银、铜、锡作装饰，不修高大的坟 墓，想要节省一些，不去烦扰百姓。


汉文帝对待百姓却很宽厚。文帝曾下诏救济鳏、寡、孤、独和穷困的人。文帝还下令：「年龄八十岁以上者，每 月赐给米、肉、酒若干；年龄九十岁以上的老人，另外再赐给帛和絮。凡是应当赐给米的，各县的县令要亲自检查，由县丞或县尉送米上门；赐给不满九十岁的老人 的东西，由啬夫、令史给他们送去；郡国二千石长官要派出负责监察的都吏，循环监察所属各县，发现不按诏书办理者给以责罚督促。」

汉文帝珍惜 民力，作为一代帝王，黄金一百斤应该并不是很大的数目，但是为了百姓着想，最终取消了修建露台的想法。相反，汉文帝能够体谅百姓的疾苦，需要花费用度的地 方，合理调配，让老百姓得到实惠。司马迁称赞汉文帝，「专务以德化民，是以海内殷富，兴于礼义。」（译文大意，皇帝一心一意地致力于用道德教化百姓，因 此，四海之内，殷实富足，兴起了讲究礼义的风气。）汉文帝与其子汉景帝的时期合称为「文景之治」，成为中国古代史上公认的一个盛世，汉文帝被奉为贤明帝王 的一个典范。

诸葛亮戒子要「静以修身，俭以养德」

诸葛亮曾向蜀后主表明自己心愿：「臣在成都有桑树八百棵，薄 田十五顷，子孙们的日常衣食费用已有宽余。至于臣在外任职，没有额外的花费安排，随身衣服饮食全有国家供应，无需再治其它产业，来增添家财。待臣离开人世 时，不让家有多余衣物，外有多余钱财，使自己辜负陛下的恩宠和信任。」及至去世，果如前言。诸葛亮遗言命令部下将自己葬在汉中定军山，依山势修建坟墓，墓 穴仅能容纳下棺材，穿平时的衣服入殓，不必用其它器物殉葬。

诸葛亮晚年给他八岁的儿子诸葛瞻的一封家书中写道，「夫君子之行，静以修身，俭 以养德。非澹泊无以明志，非宁静无以致远。」（译文大意，君子的行为操守，从宁静来提高自身的修养，以节俭来培养自己的品德。不恬静寡欲无法明确志向，不 排除外来干扰无法达到远大目标。）这封书信就是流传后世的著名《戒子书》，「静以修身，俭以养德」亦成千古名句为后人所称道。

诸葛亮是中国家喻户晓的著名历史人物，是中国传统文化中忠臣与智者的代表人物之一，和他的许多其它高贵品格一样，他勤俭的美名载入青史，千古流传。

司马光崇尚节俭 淡泊物质

司 马光对物质淡泊无所喜好。司马光在洛阳有田三顷，妻子死时，卖掉田产来办丧事，他一直到死都是粗衣薄食。据《宋史》记载，仁宗遗赐钱物价值一百余万，司马 光带领同僚们多次上奏章，认为：「国家有大忧患，中外困窘贫乏，不可以专用乾兴故事。如果遗赐不可以辞谢，应当允许侍从向上进献金钱以佐助山陵之用。」朝 廷没有允许。司马光于是用他所得的珠宝作为谏院的公使钱，把黄金赠送给舅氏，意思是家不藏财。

司马光写给其子司马康，教导他应该崇尚节俭的 一篇家训中写道，「有德行的人都是从节俭做起的。因为，如果节俭就少贪欲，有地位的人如果少贪欲就不被外物役使，可以走正直的路。没有地位的人如果少贪欲 就能约束自己，节约费用，避免犯罪，使家室富裕，所以说：‘节俭，是各种好的品德共有的特点。’如果奢侈就多贪欲，有地位的人如果多贪欲就会贪恋爱慕富 贵，不循正道而行，招致祸患，没有地位的人多贪欲就会多方营求，随意挥霍，败坏家庭，丧失生命，因此，做官的人如果奢侈必然贪污受贿，平民百姓如果奢侈必 然盗窃别人的钱财。所以说：『奢侈，是最大的恶行。』」

司马光为人恭敬、节俭、正直，他对儿子的教育也很严格，他担心社会奢靡的风气影响年轻人，所以撰写了这篇家训，希望后人发扬俭朴的家风，不要奢侈腐化。这封家训就是《训俭示康》，为后世津津乐道，经常被人们引用作为训诫。

结语

有德行的人会努力实践勤俭节约，它是一种美好的品行，自古就为圣贤所尊崇；奢侈挥霍无度，会招致德损家败。正所谓「奢者狼藉俭者安，一凶一吉在眼前。」

许 多古人相信，人一生的财富用度是上天早已赋予规定的，这一切都是有定数的，「一饮一啄，莫非前定」。拥有再多家产的富人，如果奢靡浪费，会遭人怨恨，终有 一日会败光财富；享有财富而又有美好的德行，财富才能长久。并不富有的穷人，努力勤俭节约、克制贪欲、多行善事好事，生活会留得余裕，赢得尊重，也会为自 己奠定美好的未来。正所谓「克俭节用，实弘道之源；崇侈恣情，乃败德之本。」