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In the long history of China, Bao Zheng has remained in the hearts of the people with his upright and selfless judicial image. However, in the context of the rapidly changing society of modern times, a direct descendant, Bao Xianliang, chose a different path.
While the tide of urbanization has eroded the boundaries of ancient traditions, high-rise buildings have gradually replaced blue brick houses, but the Bao ancestral hall, a historical building that has witnessed hundreds of years of wind and rain, is still standing under the protection of Bao Xianliang.
Every day, from dawn to nightfall, Bao Xianliang is busy in this ancestral land, not for money, not for fame and fortune, but to protect this inheritance and memory. What does such a choice mean? Why did he insist on this seemingly outdated way of life?
Rectification and reform of Kaifeng Prefecture
During the Northern Song Dynasty, Bao Zheng, as the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, adopted a series of rigid and effective measures to reform and rectify in the face of the chaotic judicial and administrative environment at that time. Before he took office, Kaifeng's litigation system was riddled with loopholes, the biggest of which was the original pleadings submission process.
According to the old system, any citizen who came to file a complaint first had to hand over the written pleadings to the government officials standing guard. These officials usually receive the papers at the gate of the house, and then compile them and submit them to the higher officials in the house in a certain order. This process may seem simple, but it actually hides a lot of room for manipulation and provides a breeding ground for corruption.
Under this system, the officials had a great deal of freedom to decide which papers would be delivered in a timely manner and which might be deliberately delayed or even lost. Once the paper was in the hands of the officials, the people lost control of their demands.
Officials often use this power to solicit bribes from complainants in order to expedite the delivery of their pleadings to their superiors, or to deliberately delay the handling of cases by those who fail to meet their demands. This has led to a large number of wrongful convictions and litigation holds, often leaving ordinary people feeling helpless and angry.
After Bao Zheng became the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, he carried out rapid and effective reforms to this corrupt behavior. He clearly saw the excessive power of the government officials in the process of passing the papers, which was extremely detrimental to the common people.
In order to eradicate this chaos, Bao Zheng took a bold step: the main gate of Kaifeng Mansion was opened, and all complainants were allowed to enter the court directly, hand over their pleadings to officials, and state their grievances face to face.
The implementation of this reform immediately changed the litigation environment in Kaifeng Prefecture. The gates of Kaifeng Prefecture are open from morning to night every day, and everyone, rich or poor, has the right to submit a complaint directly to the prefect or other trial officials. The common people no longer need to use the officials as intermediaries, thus effectively reducing the opportunities for the officials to manipulate the complaint.
After the reform of Kaifeng Mansion, the people came to the court with various forms of paper. They lined up neatly in front of the courtroom, and each had the opportunity to speak directly to the trial officer and explain his situation. Because of this direct contact, officials can more accurately grasp the true situation of the case, and improve the accuracy and fairness of the verdict.
In addition, this reform has greatly improved mutual trust between the government and the people. Seeing that their demands can be presented directly to officials, people feel that the government is more open and transparent, and their trust in the judiciary is growing.
Enforce the law and contend with the powerful
In Tokyo (present-day Kaifeng), the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, there were many imperial relatives and dignitaries, and the social relations were complex and the interests were intertwined, which made local governance challenging. Despite this, Bao Zheng demonstrated his extraordinary governing ability and iron-fisted methods during his tenure as the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture.
Tokyo's political environment is unique, and the tug-of-war and exchange of various powers often affect the fairness of the judiciary and administration. In such an environment, Bao Zheng insisted on his principles and integrity, and did not allow any personal relationship to interfere in his judicial and administrative decisions.
This was a very rare and strict practice at the time, as it was often the case that powerful people tried to influence the decisions of officials through private connections. Bao Zheng's strict management and uncompromising attitude allowed him to achieve remarkable results in the governance of Tokyo.
He not only refused private requests, but also insisted on justice in public, showing no mercy to those who tried to use his power to influence justice. In doing so, he gradually established his reputation as "ordering and prohibiting", which means that his orders must be strictly enforced, and the prohibitions must be strictly observed, and no one can disobey them.
When he served as the governor of Tianzhang Pavilion, Bao Zheng's prestige reached its peak. In this position, he was not only responsible for reviewing policies and decrees, but also for monitoring other officials, including those of the magnates and eunuchs.
In this role, Bao Zheng shows his strict supervision of the powerful and his determination to defy the powerful. He regularly impeached abusive and corrupt officials, regardless of their status and background. His insistence made many originally unscrupulous nobles and eunuchs have to restrain and even "hold their hands for it".
This resolute law enforcement and impartial administration made Bao Zheng extremely influential in Tokyo's politics and society. His fame and authority not only frightened those who tried to interfere with the administration of justice with their power, but also won the admiration and support of ordinary people.
Under Bao Zheng's rule, order in the city of Tokyo was greatly improved, and fairness and justice became the basic principles in every matter.
The persistence and inheritance of Bao Zheng's descendants
In 1488, Song Jian, the prefect of Luzhou in Hefei, Anhui Province, set out to establish the Bao Gong Ancestral Hall, in order to inherit and carry forward the "filial piety" and "strictness" of Bao Zheng's character. This monumental building has carried a heavy historical responsibility from the very beginning.
Dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty, Bao Zheng left strict admonitions to his children and grandchildren before his death. He warned future generations that if they abused their power or became corrupt in public office, they would not be allowed to return to their hometowns to worship their ancestors and should not be buried in their homeland. This admonition deeply influenced the Bao family, so that they have taken honesty and honesty as their family motto for generations, strictly abiding by the ancestral precepts, and not daring to exceed them.
Hundreds of years of inheritance and development have made Bao Zheng's descendants all over the country. According to rough estimates, the number of descendants has exceeded 100,000. Among these descendants, some have joined the officialdom and some have engaged in business, but no matter where they are, the spirit of Bao Zheng has always flowed in their blood.
Among the many descendants, there is one figure who is famous. He was not a wealthy merchant or a powerful official, but a farmer of ordinary status. This is Bao Xianliang, the thirty-fifth generation descendant after Bao Zheng. The story of Bao Xianliang is a microcosm of the spiritual inheritance of the Bao family.
With the passage of time and the changes in society, the wave of urbanization has gradually invaded many traditional places, including those with historical value. The Bao ancestral hall where Bao Zheng was before his death was not spared.
The ancestral hall, which was originally used as a center for family gatherings, commemorations, and worship activities, has gradually lost its former bustle and become deserted due to commercial development and the relocation of residents in the surrounding area.
In the face of such changes, Bao Xianliang did not choose to leave or give up. Instead, he decided to stick to the ancestral hall and protect this land full of historical memories. Every day, from the dawn of the day, Bao Xianliang began his daily work - cleaning the ancestral hall. He scrubbed every floor tile and every corner to ensure that the inside and outside of the ancestral hall were as clean as new.
Pao's daily routine is more than just simple cleaning. He was also responsible for maintaining the various facilities of the ancestral hall and repairing the damage caused by age. The wooden structure in the ancestral hall needs to be painted regularly to prevent corrosion, and the fallen leaves and dust accumulated on the tiles also need to be cleaned to prevent water leaks during the rainy season.
Bao Xianliang's attention to these details has enabled this old ancestral hall to maintain its original appearance and dignity in the wave of modernization.
Although the ancestral hall is becoming deserted, the reason why Bao Xianliang sticks to it is not simply conservative. For him, it is a deepest respect for his ancestors and the preservation of family traditions. Whenever the first rays of sunlight shine through the eaves of the morning on the stone steps of the ancestral hall, or the last rays of the evening shine on the ancestral shrine, these moments make Bao Xianliang feel connected to his ancestors.
Even though the outside world was constantly changing, Bao Xianliang never considered changing his lifestyle. He did not choose to go out to work, and he was not attracted by the fast pace of modern life.
Self-financed renovation and free access
Over time, the building, which is rich in historical and cultural value, has inevitably suffered from wear and tear and aging. Whether it is the loosening of the roof tiles or the aging and corrosion of the wooden structure, Bao Xianliang will personally supervise the restoration to ensure that all repairs meet the original style and structural standards of the ancestral hall.
Some of the ancestral halls, such as the frames of the doors and windows and the wood carvings under the eaves, have fallen into disrepair, so Bao Xianliang will seek out craftsmen skilled in traditional crafts to restore them. He insisted on using the same materials and techniques as the original building, striving to maintain the original style and texture of the restored parts.
During a roof renovation, he introduced traditional green tiles from afar, which perfectly matched the original tiles of the ancestral hall in terms of color and texture. Bao Xianliang always carried out these repairs at his own expense, and he never asked anyone for help or accepted sponsorship.
These expenses are often significant, but he sees them as a form of respect and maintenance for the ancestors and the values they represent. The intact nature of the ancestral hall is, for him, a kind of carrying and inheritance of history. As the Bao ancestral hall is increasingly revitalized, it is gradually known to more people.
Tourists come from far and wide, some for Bao Zheng's fame, and others for the architectural beauty and sense of history of this ancient ancestral hall. Many of them are full of respect for this place, and often leave sincere testimonials and small donations after the visit to express their recognition of Bao Xianliang's perseverance and efforts.
In the face of the increasing number of visitors to the ancestral hall, some local residents and visitors have suggested that the maintenance of the ancestral hall can be financially supported through admission fees. However, Bao Xianliang has a different view. He insisted that the Bao ancestral hall, as a place to pass on Bao Zheng's spirit of justice and selflessness, should be open to all without any cost.
Although Bao Xianliang's approach increased his burden financially, it more effectively conveyed Bao Zheng's insistence on fairness and justice. Visitors have a deep respect for this open-minded and selfless approach, and many share their experiences by word of mouth or online, which has led to the gradual expansion of the Bao Ancestral Hall's popularity and influence.
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Resources:
[1] Yin Qing. Forward,2014,0(11):62-63