Abide by Tao, Promote Kindness, Use Virtue to Administer the Country (Part 1 of 2)
 
The ancient Chinese believed that "Tao" generated everything and endowed everything with virtue. They respected Tao, valued virtue, and promoted abiding by the heavenly law with virtue and running the country with virtue. In Chinese history, there were several famous eras where the virtuous rules of the imperial government brought peace to the world. Emperors Wen (202 – 157 BC) and Jing (188 – 141 BC) were two such emperors during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). Their administrations promoted kindness, and they governed the country with virtue. The government was orderly and upright. The society was prosperous, and its citizens lived happy and peaceful lives.
 
Administrating with fair policies that comfort and nurture the country's citizens
 
At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, due to years of turmoil and war at the end of the Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BC), the economy was impoverished throughout the land. According to historical archives, "The farmers were not able to farm, and starvation was widespread." When Emperor Wen took the throne, he sent out many imperial edicts promoting farming and reducing by half, or even eliminating, taxes on farmers. He imposed policies to eliminate unfair punishment of third parties who were involved or implicated in criminal cases and pacified surrounding minorities by aiding and comforting them.
 
Emperor Jing inherited the policies of his father, Emperor Wen, to allow citizens to prosper and recuperate. He also sent out an imperial edict, stating, "Farming is the important fundament for all else. Gold, silver, jade and jewelry cannot be eaten to appease hunger and cannot be worn for warmth. They cannot compare with grains, corn, silk, and linen." Emperor Jing also established schools on a large scale and taught etiquette, while instilling virtue and morality. The citizens were simple, honest, and advocated virtue.
 
Initiating a policy of thrift
 
Emperor Wen was famous for thriftiness and self-restraint. He proposed, "The imperial government needs to govern the country and abide by the heavenly law, treat the citizens as they would their own, practice careful saving, and forbid squandering, while making certain not to disturb or harm the citizens.” During the twenty-three years he was in power, there were no additions to his palace, garden, clothes, or other personal property. In order to lessen the taxes, he decreased his expenditures by downsizing the imperial bodyguards and moderating the country's financial expenditures. It was recorded in the Chapter on Discipline in Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian) that Emperor Wen said, "The citizens lived peacefully without invasion from outside or excessive taxation from within. They were able to farm and live prosperous lives. The price of rice dropped to historic lows. Signs of prosperity such as the sounds of chickens and dogs, and smoke from cooking meals, could be seen for thousands of miles. "
 

Emperor Jing sent out an imperial edict forbidding local officials from dedicating brocade and luxury items. He also forbade local officials from purchasing gold, silver, jade, or jewels. Anyone who did would be charged with theft. This way, the aristocrats and officials did not dare to engage in extortion or indulge in luxury. A citizen's income was thus protected, and the burden was thereby lessened. The drifters settled down, and the population grew. In turn, the nation’s power increased.

崇善尊道　修身治平 (上)
 
古人认为，“道”生万物而赋予万物具备了“德”，故道尊而德贵，倡导“以德配天”、“以德治世”等。中国历史上出现了许多有名的“治世”，“文景之治”就是其中之一。文景，就是汉文帝和汉景帝，文景时期，仁风德政，国家政治清明，社会繁荣，百姓祥和而太平。
 
仁政安民。西汉初年时，由于秦末以来连年战乱，使社会经济非常贫困。史书上记载当时的情况是：百姓无法在田地上生产，到处是饥荒。文帝即位后多次下诏劝课农桑，设置三老、孝悌、力田若干员，并给予他们赏赐；减免田租，把原来的十五税一，改为“三十而税一”，有时还“全部免去民田之税”；减轻刑罚，废止不合理的连坐、株连律令；对周边少数民族采取安抚友好的政策。景帝继承了父亲文帝的与民休养生息政策，也曾下诏说，农业是天下的根本，黄金珠玉，饿了不能吃，冷了不能穿，都不如谷物和丝麻。景帝还广兴办学，实施仁义和礼仪教化，使民风淳朴，崇尚道德。
 
倡导俭约。文帝以俭约节欲自持，提出朝廷要顺天而治，以民为本，厉行节约，禁止浪费，决不做扰民、伤民、害民之事。他在位二十三年，宫室苑囿、车骑服御之物都没有增添。为了减免人民税负，他还减少自己的开支，裁减侍卫人马。对国家的财政开支进行节制和缩减。《史记﹒律书》记载文帝时，“百姓无内外之徭，得息肩于田亩，天下殷富，米至十余钱，鸣鸡吠狗，烟火万里”。景帝时下诏不接受地方贡献的锦绣等奢侈物品，并禁止地方官员购买黄金珠玉，否则以盗窃论罪。贵族官僚因此不敢滥事搜括，奢侈无度。这样百姓的收入有所保障，负担也减轻了。流民还归田园，户口迅速繁息，国力继续得到增强。