Correcting One's Mistakes With Courage and Improving Oneself Without Delay
 
"To err is human," is an ancient Chinese proverb. It implies that even a gentleman is bound to make mistakes. In contrast to an ordinary person, a wise person is more apt to look inward, correct one’s mistakes, and improve oneself. That is how one could be great and wise.
 
Past ancient sages advised that we should "accept advice gladly." Emperor Tang Taizong (January 23, 599 AD – July 10, 649 AD) was the Tang Dynasty's second emperor. His given name was Li Shimin, which means "serving the country and bringing peace to the people." Of all the emperors from ancient Chinese history, he was remembered as the best at accepting advice, and he thereby set a good example for future emperors. He encouraged his officials to offer advice and forgave those who criticized him for wrong reasons. When officials offered their opinions or pointed out his mistakes, he sincerely replied, "What you said is reasonable. It was I who was not thinking carefully." When people criticized Emperor Tang Taizong incorrectly, some officials suggested that he punish them. Tang Taizong replied, "I cannot do that. If I punish them, no one would ever dare to point out my mistakes." Because the Tang Dynasty had a wise emperor and many virtuous officials, the government was not corrupt, the country was stable, and the people lived peaceful lives. It was one of the most prosperous eras in history.
 
With regards to offering or accepting suggestions, one should do it without fear, and place the good of the people above all else. King Xuan of Qi (about 350 – 301 BC, given name Tian Bijiang) was the King of Qi (one of the Seven Warring States). He ordered that the palace be rebuilt. After three years the work was still not complete, but not one official offered advice to the king. An academic named Chun Ju was concerned that the construction could drain the country's resources. He risked his life to offer advice to the king and said, "If the king of a nation does not consider the people's capacity to forbear, is the king virtuous?" King Xuan replied, "No, the king is not virtuous." Chun Ju asked another question, "You are now rebuilding a large palace on more than one hundred acres of land, with three hundred gates. A country as big as Qi cannot even complete the construction of a palace in three years, and yet no official dares to offer any advice. Does your highness truly have officials?" King Xuan hesitated for a moment and replied, "It’s as if I don't." Chun Ju asked for permission to leave, then turned around and left. The king suddenly understood, so he got up quickly and called out, "Mr. Chun, please come back! Why did you take so long to advise me? I will issue an order to immediately stop construction." He then told his officials, "Please record this in the historical records that I wanted to remodel the palace and that I was not being virtuous. It was Mr. Chun who stopped me."
 
In order to correct one's mistakes and improve, one must also possess a broad and open mind. During the era of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1661 – 1722 AD), Zhang Ying from Tongcheng City was an official at the Wenhua Palace and Secretary of the Ministry of Rites and Education. Zhang Ying's neighbor was the prominent Ye family. Mr. Ye worked as an assistant in the imperial palace. On one occasion, the two families had a dispute over the courtyard wall. Zhang Ying's wife immediately sent a letter to her husband. After reading the letter, Zhang Ying became worried. He sent a letter back to his wife saying, "You wrote me a letter from thousands of miles away about a piece of wall. It would not hurt to concede three feet. The Great Wall of China is still standing, but Emperor Qin is no longer around." Therefore, Ms. Zhang ordered the workers to back up the wall by three feet. The Ye family was very touched by this gesture and ordered their servants to back up their wall three feet as well. The two families became good neighbors since the incident.
 
In fact, when a person is capable of correcting his mistakes and improving himself, he is truly in charge of his own life. To be able to accomplish that, one should not fret over one's mistakes. Similarly, one should not cover up mistakes. One should remember, follow, and carry out the principles of improving oneself at all times and under all circumstances. For those who have committed serious mistakes, the implication is far more significant. There is an ancient saying: "No matter how big an accomplishment one has achieved, it does not rival an ounce of self-boasting. No matter how serious the crime one has committed, it cannot be compared to a tinge of remorse." Once a person has a sense of shame and remorse, it is a sign of wisdom. On the contrary, if a person continues to be conceited, is unable to step out of "self" and "selfishness," and continues to look for justifications for his behavior, then he is bound to be lonely and will reap what he sowed.
 
King Li of Zhou (? – 828 BC, personal name Ji Hu) was the tenth Emperor of the Western Zhou Dynasty and reigned for almost sixteen years. He was a despotic and domineering ruler and was quite proud of his ability to "forestall criticism." Although people had many complaints, King Li would not let them speak up and monitored those who criticized him. As soon as someone was heard criticizing him, whether an official or an ordinary citizen, he was sentenced to death. People did not dare to talk to each other on the street or, even less, have a discussion on the state. King Li was more concerned about "preventing people from criticizing than preventing the river from flooding." Three years later, the earth began to obstruct the flow of the river and caused it to flood. The people could no longer tolerate it. They gathered around the palace and wanted to kill the king. The soldiers were not willing to protect him, either. King Li was deserted by his allies, his family, and was exiled to a place called Zhi.
 
History is like a mirror, and the end result depends on one's ability to accept criticism. We should understand the principle of "To err is human, but people respect those who are able to admit fault and are willing to change." We should not be afraid of making mistakes. The key is knowing what to do when we make mistakes. Some people are afraid of hearing unpleasant words. Once they hear something that hits a nerve, they become angry, and they even want to bully others and retaliate. This kind of behavior will not only hurt others but will eventually hurt themselves. We should keep a proper attitude and do what is right, while continuously upgrading our level of thinking. Then there is nothing that can stop us from progressing forward.
 
改过宜勇　迁善宜速
 
古语说：“人非圣贤，孰能无过？过而能改，善莫大焉”，即使君子，也难免有过。然而真正有智能的人比常人更善自省和改过迁善，所以他才伟大而英明。
 
首先对别人提意见持何种态度非常重要，“闻过则喜”是历代先贤们所推崇的。唐太宗是中国历史上最善于纳谏的君主，为后世做出了楷模。他鼓励进谏，而对于指责错了自己的人，也给予包容而不责备。在大臣们提出意见或指出其过失时，他总是诚恳的说“卿所言诚有理，是吾思之不熟。”当大臣们听到有人对皇帝的指责是错误的，就对唐太宗说：“他这个指责是错误的，应当要受惩罚。”唐太宗说：“不可以。”大臣们问：“为甚么？”他说：“如果我惩罚这个人，以后就没有人敢在我面前说我的过失了。”有圣君，有贤臣，使政治清明，国泰民安，开创出一代天朝盛世。
 
无论进谏还是纳谏，要宜勇宜速，要把百姓利益放在首位。齐宣王时修筑大宫殿，修了三年还没有建成，却没有一个大臣进谏。这时一个叫春居的士人恐长此下去于国力有伤，冒死进见齐宣王说：“如果国君做事不考虑百姓的承受能力，算的上贤德吗？”齐宣王说：“算不上。”春居又说：“现在您修建大宫殿，面积超过一百亩，宫殿有三百个门，凭齐国这么大一个国家，建了三年还建不成。群臣却没有一个人敢于进谏，请问大王算的上有臣子吗？”齐宣王沉吟片刻说：“等于没有臣子。”春居说：“我请求回避了。”说完掉头走了出去。齐宣王恍然大悟，急忙起身叫道：“春子，请回来！你为甚么这么晚才来劝阻我？我马上下令停止修建宫殿。”并转身对史官说：“把这件事写到史书上：我喜欢修建大宫殿，很不贤德，是春子阻止了我。”
 
改过迁善还要具备开阔的胸襟、豁达的心境。清朝康熙年间，桐城人张英官至文华殿大学士兼礼部尚书，邻居是桐城另一大户叶府，主人是张英同朝供职的叶侍郎。一次，两家因院墙发生纠纷，张英的夫人立即修书派人送给张英，张英见信深感忧虑，写信回复老夫人：“千里家书只为墙，让人三尺又何妨？万里长城今犹在，不见当年秦始皇。”于是，张老夫人令家丁后退三尺筑墙。叶府很受感动，命家人也把院墙后移三尺。从此，张、叶两府消除隔阂，成通家之好。
 
其实，一个人能够具备改过迁善的能力，才能够算是自己主宰自己。要真正做到，而不是停留在后悔烦恼上，更不能文过饰非。改过迁善，是任何人在任何时候都可以而且必须遵守和施行的原则。尤其对于铸成大错的人，意义更为重大。古人云：“盖世功劳，当不得一个矜字；弥天大罪，当不得一个悔字。”当一个人感觉到有愧于心时，是明智的体现。相反，如果自以为是，跳不出“私”和“自我”的圈子，总认为自己一贯正确，必将成为孤家寡人而自食其果。
 
如专权跋扈的周厉王，以“能止谤”自喜，天下之人满腹不平，他却要钳住万民之口，找人监视指责他的人。无论大臣还是平民，谁被告发，就置谁于死地。人们道路上见了面不敢说话，更没有敢议论的，“防民之口，甚于防川”。三年之后，土壅而川决，国人忍无可忍，联合起来围攻王宫要杀周厉王，卫士们也不愿保护他。周厉王众叛亲离，最后被流放到彘。
 
历史是一面镜子，对待意见的不同态度，得到的结果也截然相反。要懂的“过也，人皆见之，及其更也，人皆仰之”的道理。不怕有错误和过失，关键是怎样对待。怕听逆耳之言，一听到正中要害的话，就火冒三丈，甚至仗势凌人，打击报复，其结果害人害己。以正确的心态面对一切，从善如流，不断升华思想境界，那么前进路上就没有任何障碍能够阻挡的了。