Just and Selfless

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Jin Pinggong, the ruler of Jin State, once asked Qi Huangyang who was best qualified for the position when Nanyang county needed a magistrate.

Qi Huangyang answered without hesitation,“Xie Hu is suitable, Your Majesty.”

Hearing this, the ruler was greatly surprised, and asked,“But isn't he your personal enemy? How come you recommend him?”

Qi Huangyang smiled and said,“Your majesty, you are not asking me who my personal enemy is. You are asking who is best qualified for the magistrate's position.”

The ruler therefore appointed Xie Hu magistrate. After Xie Hu started his new job, his achievements won acclaim from both his colleagues and the local people.

Later, the court needed a personnel official. The ruler called in Qi Huangyang again to recommend a qualified person. Qi Huangyang answered that Qi Wu should be equal to this task.

The ruler was surprised, and said,“Isn't Qi Wu your son? Aren't you afraid of what other people will say?”

Qi Huangyang answered frankly,“Your majesty, you asked me to recommend who is best qualified for the position, but did not ask me who my son is.”

The ruler followed the advice and appointed Qi Wu the personnel official.

Finally, Qi Wu didn't miss others' trust and did a well job.

When Confucius heard these two events, he praised Qi Huangyang highly and sighed with emotion,“Qi Huangyang recommends only those who are best qualified, no matter whether they are his enemy or his son. He is not afraid of what other people might say about him. We can only say that man like him is really just and selfless.”

This idiom is used as a metaphor for a person who is very just and selfless.

We should learn the spirit from Qi Huangyang which means people should be down to the earth and do not let personal affairs affect work.