Drops of Water Wears Hole in Stone
September 8th 2008 15:12
Category: Oriental Thoughts
Zhang Guai Ya was an honest judge very well known in his time as a figure who was totally against corruption that was literally spreading everywhere during Song Dynasty (960-1279). One day, when Zhang Guai Ya was patrolling, he saw a civil servant walking out from an office suspiciously and hastily. Smelling such suspicious nature, Zhang Guai Ya immediately stopped him and interrogated him what he did. However, the man did not pay much attention to him.
Zhang Guai Ya then inspected him and found a piece of coin slipped by his ear. When asked where did he get it from, at last the man confessed that he stole it from the office.
With the evidence, the judge, Zhang Guai Ya dragged him to the court. In the court, the civil servant justified himself saying, "I only stole a piece of coin, and it is not reasonable to bring me this far to the court." He even continued, "Even so, you can at best only prison me for one or two days only."
"Do you think you would be able to put death-sentence on me just because i steal a piece of coin?" Hearing such provocative harsh response, the judge replied, "Yes, i would put you to death sentence not because of the value of the coin, but for your action. Even though it is just one coin, but if it is continuously done again and again for 1000 days, how much would be stolen? Constant dripping of water wears hole in the stone." With that, he executed the stealing man.
Zhang Guai Ya then inspected him and found a piece of coin slipped by his ear. When asked where did he get it from, at last the man confessed that he stole it from the office.
"Do you think you would be able to put death-sentence on me just because i steal a piece of coin?" Hearing such provocative harsh response, the judge replied, "Yes, i would put you to death sentence not because of the value of the coin, but for your action. Even though it is just one coin, but if it is continuously done again and again for 1000 days, how much would be stolen? Constant dripping of water wears hole in the stone." With that, he executed the stealing man.
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Despite of his brutal act of punishment, there is one thing about the judge that deserve admiration, which is not underestimating the smallest act of evil. He understood that even the smallest act of evil left undone would grow into big evil deeds. Besides, wiping out corruption requires full and constant continuous effort or else it'd all be in vain.
Despite of his brutal act of punishment, there is one thing about the judge that deserve admiration, which is not underestimating the smallest act of evil. He understood that even the smallest act of evil left undone would grow into big evil deeds. Besides, wiping out corruption requires full and constant continuous effort or else it'd all be in vain.
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