Peace and Stability Come from Faith in Gods and Respect for Heaven
 
In the traditional culture of China, protecting people and respecting nature are well-established virtues. In ancient China, from the emperor down to the common people, a respect for the will of Heaven was widely accepted. It was believed that Heaven protected morally good and benevolent people. "The way of Heaven does not depend on relationships. It often surrounds morally good people." If there is danger, good people will get through it safely. If humankind violates the law of Heaven, calamity will befall as caution. However, if people return quickly to righteousness, and make amends for the mistakes, the calamity will subside naturally. Hence, it is most important that a man's thinking be always on the right path. History has many examples to illustrate this point. Below are examples from some of China's ancient dynasties.
 
There was a story documented in the History of Shang Dynasty: One year during the reign of Emperor Cheng Tang (1675 – 1646 BC), there was a serious drought. The emperor went to the forest to pray for rain. He blamed himself for not doing well in six areas. He said, "The public suffering is due to errors in my administration, and my extravagant lifestyle. Oversights in my administration have led to corruption and allowed unqualified people to be officials…" Before he finished listing his mistakes, it began to rain over a very wide area. This story illustrates how the lifestyle of politicians in ancient times reflected on the environment of the whole country. What is more important is that an open-minded and enlightened emperor is capable of blaming himself and taking advice from others. Confucius referred to such officials as having "officials' morals". When there is a natural disaster or an occurrence of an unusual phenomenon, the emperor and his ministers will reflect upon their own conduct and profess virtues upon the population, all in the hopes of receiving pardon and protection from the Heaven.

King Tang of Shang Dynasty

In the History of Han Dynasty, there was a record: During the reign of Emperor Han Yuandi (75 – 33 BC), there was an earthquake and a solar eclipse near the capital city, Chang’an. Yuandi was deeply worried and asked his ministers about possible problems in his administration. One of his ministers, Kuang Heng, said, "Everyone including the emperor must have a high regard for morality. The government should establish and carry out benevolent policies in order to benefit the public. The expenditures of the palace should be reduced and an emphasis put on promoting honesty and righteousness. Ministers should be humble and charitable, in addition to upholding the law, serious about justice, and should be role models of morality for the public. Then emphasize morality, kindness and harmony to the general public. When the leadership is setting a good example, the public will follow. As a result, the country will prosper and people can live in peace and prosperity." The emperor, other ministers, and the public supported what Kuang Heng proposed in terms of improvement measures.
 
During ancient times, every royal government held a formal ceremony to worship Heaven each year. People also worshipped gods that looked after the land and crops. When government officials arrived at a new post, the first thing they did was head to local shrines to pay their respects. When officials completed their post, they would also perform a ritual of gratitude and bid farewell before leaving. For example, when Liu Kezhuang (1187 – 1269 AD) became an official of Guangdong during the Song Dynasty, he headed to a famous local shrine to pray. He prayed to the gods that as an official, he would promote the benevolence of a gentleman to the people and that the gods would respond with favorable weather and no disasters. When Liu’s term was complete and before he went to Fujian for his next post, he wrote a farewell letter to the gods, “I did not have extraordinary accomplishments, nor do I have regrets. During the three years I was in office, the jails were empty and lawsuits rare. My people did not face drought or famine. This is all given by the gods. Now that my term is over, how can I not inform of you of my departure?” This showed Liu’s respect and gratitude for the gods, which is very inspirational.
 
During the Ming Dynasty in the ninth year of Emperor Zhengde (1514 AD), Huang Tingxuan was appointed Commissioner of Taicang County in Jiangsu Province. At that time, there was a prolonged drought in the area and famine was widespread in that province. Upon his arrival in Taicang, Huang immediately opened government warehouses to provide relief from hunger. He requested that the emperor reduce taxes and replaced corrupt officials with venerable people. He was sincere in praying for rain, and heavy rain came to his county, but other areas remained in drought. The public said that this was because Huang implemented virtuous policies, benefited the people and hence rewarded by Heaven.
 
信神敬天　保民安民
 
在我国悠久的传统文化中，敬天保民是人们一直传承的美德。古代中国，上自天子大臣，下至黎民百姓，对“天意”从来持敬畏的心态。认为重德向善最能够得到上苍的眷顾与保护，因为“天道无亲，常与善人”，纵使是在危难关头，也能够化险为夷。人如果做了违背天理的事，天将降灾异警告。若能及时纠正错误，弥补过失，那么天谴就会自行消退，因此改变人心是解决问题的最根本办法。史书中这样的记载比比皆是，以下为其中几例。
 
据《商史》记载：成汤在位时，年久无雨大旱，成汤于是来到桑林之野诚恳地向上天祈祷，他以六件事自责说：“是因为我政令不当使百姓失业，或是我的宫室奢侈、生活腐化，或是我管理不善使贿赂风行、小人得势？”话还没有说完，方圆数千里便下起了大雨。成汤祷雨故事，是古代国家政治生活的真实写照，更为重要的是，反映了古代开明帝君注重修身和善于纳谏、勇于自责的精神。故儒家将其列为“圣德芳规”，成为古代官场的一种道德精神，亦称之为“官德”。当国家遭受了大的天灾或有一些异常现象出现时，君王或官吏就要检查自己的过失并以德化民，归正不正，希望以此得到上天的原谅和护佑。
 
《汉史》记载：汉元帝时，京城长安一带发生了日蚀、地震等灾变，元帝深感震惊和忧虑，于是向群臣问以政治上的得失。当时担任“给事中”的著名经学家匡衡按照儒家经典予以了答对，他说：“自君王以至黎庶，皆要敬天崇善。君王要秉承天意以行仁政、做善事、为百姓祈福。应减宫室之度，修内外，近忠正，远奸佞。公卿大夫要循礼恭让、好仁乐施、重义轻利，作民众的道德表率。然后再在百姓中推广道德教化，弘扬仁和之风。上行而下效，这样国家可以兴旺，百姓可以安居乐业。”匡衡针对时弊提出的改良措施，得到了元帝、大臣们和百姓的拥护和赞赏。
 
古时朝廷每年都要定期举行隆重的“祀天”礼仪大典。人们也祭拜由土地、谷物而来的“社稷神”等。郡县长官到任，必先至诸庙拜谒，离职时亦行拜辞之礼。如南宋名臣刘克庄出任广东提举时，到南海广利王庙拜谒，其祝文说：“徼（求）福于神。维粤之南，去天尤远。民生今日，凋弊可哀。某当推君之仁泽，而致之于民；神当为民请命于帝，使风调雨顺，灾害不作。既矢诸心，复质诸神。”刘克庄任满后又到福建任职，在离任前他写了《辞诸庙》：“某来无异绩，去无遗爱。然三年之内，圄（监狱）空讼少，吾民不识水旱，神之赐也。今时秩满，一旦别神而去，敢不告乎？”表达了对神的敬意，对神的赐福表示感谢。古人这种敬奉天地、为民请命的精神令人感动。
 
明朝正德九年，黄廷宣出任太仓（今属江苏）知州时，“吴中旱已经年，千里赤地，百姓遭大饥荒。廷宣立即开仓赈饥，奏减税赋，罢贪官，任贤人，行善政。积诚露祷，风雨立至，大雨沛太仓境，他邑焦土如故。”人们都说这是黄廷宣推行德政、爱民惠民，上天给予的甘霖之报。