Chinese Idiom: 公正无私 (Gong Zheng Wu Si)
English Translation: Fair and Unbiased
pīn yīn: gōng zhèng wú sī
Idiom Meaning: Huainanzi (《淮南子·修务训》)
Historical Source: Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of the Marquis of Huaiyin (史记·淮阴侯列传)
Idiom Story:
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a scholar named Su Zhang from Pingling, Fufeng (now northwest of Xianyang, Shaanxi). Known for his scholarship and talent from a young age, Su Zhang served as a magistrate during the reign of Emperor An and later as the governor of Jizhou during Emperor Shun’s time.
One year, a severe famine struck, and Su Zhang opened the granaries to provide relief to the starving people, showing his dedication to justice and compassion. His reputation for fairness and impartiality was well-established.
However, an ethical challenge arose when Su Zhang discovered that the Governor of Qinghe, a man who was once his closest friend, had committed serious offenses of bribery and corruption. According to the law, the governor deserved to be punished. The dilemma was how to handle this situation given their past friendship.
After careful consideration, Su Zhang decided to invite his old friend to his home for a dinner. They enjoyed the evening together, reminiscing about old times and drinking wine, without mentioning the ongoing legal case. The former governor, relieved that Su Zhang had not mentioned the charges, felt secure and boastfully commented, “Everyone has one sky over their head, but I have two,” implying he had double protection.
Upon hearing this, Su Zhang put down his wine glass and responded with seriousness: “Tonight, I invited you for old friendship’s sake; tomorrow, as the governor, I must administer justice according to the law.”
The next day, Su Zhang presided over the trial impartially and the governor was duly punished according to the law, demonstrating Su Zhang’s unwavering commitment to fairness and integrity.
