Memorial on Peace and Order

海瑞Jun 2024

4.2

Word count: 12K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early intellectual forms are distinctive: religious theology, classical Chinese medical texts, ancient military strategy, Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist and Hundred Schools thought, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—all profound and extensive.

This "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture Original Texts" series preserves the original appearance of the texts, with emphasis on preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate character and quietly absorb the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

The Memorial on State Security is a famous memorial submitted by Hai Rui to the Jiajing Emperor in the Ming dynasty, known for its blunt remonstrance and its indictment of contemporary abuses; it holds landmark significance in the history of Chinese political thought and in anti-corruption culture. This book is included in the "Essence of Classic Chinese Culture Original Texts" series, which preserves the original appearance of the texts and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture; it serves as an introductory text for understanding the ancient remonstrance tradition and the integrity of scholar-officials. Its value lies not in polished literary diction but in the moral force of confronting reality and daring to take responsibility; readers can sense the ethical orientation of traditional scholar-officials who took the world as their own duty. It should be read against the political background of the mid-to-late Ming, with attention to the memorial genre's mode of expression—"taking events as the outline and principle as the basis"—and with care to distinguish the historical context from contemporary values. The book is short and suitable for thematic reading or for reading alongside Ming historical works, and also as reference material in discussions of clean-governance culture and traditional political ethics.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Ming history and political institutions
Culture enthusiasts concerned with the ancient remonstrance tradition and the integrity of scholar-officials
Learners seeking material on clean-governance culture or traditional political ethics
Readers hoping to enter classical Chinese learning through a short original text

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic general history of the Ming or detailed background annotations
Readers who prefer literary prose and a relaxed reading experience
Readers seeking modern scholarly annotations and in-depth textual research

Reading tips

First learn the political background of the Jiajing reign, then read the full text to grasp the layers of the memorial's argument.
Read alongside the relevant records in the History of Ming to understand the historical context in which the memorial was produced.
Excerpt key sentences criticizing contemporary abuses and take reading notes connecting them to contemporary clean-governance topics.
The text is short; read it through in one sitting, then return to sort out its argumentative logic and the measure of its wording.

版权信息
治安疏
一
二注释

FAQ

What is the Memorial on State Security mainly about?

It is Hai Rui's memorial to the Jiajing Emperor, directly stating the abuses of court governance and the sovereign's faults, touching on official administration, finance and people's livelihood, and is known for blunt remonstrance. When reading, focus on its structure of argument and remonstrance strategy rather than treating it as a comprehensive, systematic political treatise.

Can readers without a foundation in classical Chinese understand this book?

This book preserves the original appearance of the text and focuses on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture; it may not include detailed vernacular annotations. Readers with a weak foundation in classical Chinese may first use reference books or consult a modern translation to grasp the general meaning, then return to the original to appreciate the memorial's tone and logic.

Is this book suitable for learning about Ming history?

It can serve as an entry point for understanding the Ming remonstrance tradition and scholar-official politics, but it is limited in length and should not be read as a general history of the Ming. It is best used together with Ming historical works or relevant scholarly studies to form a fuller background understanding.

What is the significance of reading the Memorial on State Security today?

It embodies the spirit of traditional scholars who confronted reality and dared to take responsibility, and has reference value for understanding ancient political ethics and clean-governance culture. When reading, pay attention to the historical context and avoid simply equating it with contemporary institutions and real-world issues.

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About the author

海瑞 Author

Hai Rui is known in Chinese history for his uprightness and integrity, and his writings have been passed down widely. This site holds four of his works, including the Memorial on Ordering the State (Zhian Shu), the Complete Works of Lord Hai Zhongjie in twelve volumes, and the Collected Works of Lord Hai Zhongjie. The memorial directly sets out the abuses of the time in frank and blunt language, reflecting a writing orientation that cares about state affairs and dares to offer remonstrance; the collected works bring together various texts, covering political discussion, official documents, and miscellaneous writings, in a plain and severe style that does not rely on ornate diction. Because public information is limited, details of his life and his exact identity still require further verification. Existing classifications place him under social sciences, culture, and literary appreciation, showing that readers study him both for his thought and for his prose. Overall, Hai Rui's writings are characterized by direct political argument and practical advice, and they offer some reference value for understanding the political concerns and literary style of traditional scholars.