都御史刚峰海公卒于官舍，同乡宦南京者，惟户部苏怀民一人。苏点其宦囊，竹笼中俸金八两、葛布一端、旧衣数件而已。如此都御史，那可多得！王司寇风洲评之云：“不怕死，不爱钱，不立党。”此九字断尽海公生平，即千万言谀之，能加于此评乎？
Hai Rui’s
Possessions and Property
Zhou Hui (1546-1623)
Mr. Hai Gangfeng, 1
the highest-ranking official of the Central Censorate, 2 passed away
in his official residence. The only person from his hometown in Nanjing was an
official called Su Huaimin in the Ministry of Revenue. 3 When Su
checked the possessions and property Mr. Hai had left behind, he found nothing
except eight taels of silver (his salary), several meters of plain cloth and a
few pieces of some worn-out clothes in a bamboo container. Where can people find
one more such Grand Censor? Wang Shizhen, Minister of Justice of his time, made
his comment by saying, “He did not fear death, nor did he take a fancy to
money, or from a clique with anyone.” Wang’s words properly summarized Hai Rui’s
life. Even if thousands of words could be used to praise him, no other comments
could surpass this one.
1.
Hai Gangfeng (1514-87), better known as Hai Rui, was a famous Chinese official
during the Ming Dynasty. His name has come down in history as a model of
upright morality, scrupulous honesty, fairness and integrity in office. 2.
It pinyin is Ducha Yuan, the top-level central supervisory agency in ancient
China. Officials working there were known as censors. They were directly
accountable to the emperors and served as the “eyes and ears” to check the
top-level officials to prevent corruption. 3.
It is equivalent to today’s Ministry of Finance.
（王宏、张顺生 译） |
