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Five Dynasties and Liao-Song-Xia-Jin-Yuan

Bao, the Upright Judge

Bao

Many stories have been handed down among Chinese about a judge known for his fearless espousal of justice. He was known as "Clear Sky Bao" or "Clear Sky Bao Milord", meaning that no wrongdoing could be hidden from his impartial eye and that he gave justice to the common people. Indeed, there was a virtuous official in history during Song Dynasty named Bao Zheng.

Bao Zheng (999 - 1062) was from Hefei, in today's Anhui province. He served in the local government as well as in the court. When he was a county magistrate, his uncle once violated the law. Bao Zheng showed no partiality for friends or relatives, and he treated him according to the law. He sent runners to take his uncle to the local official, and even sentenced his uncle to death. Many relatives pleaded for his uncle, but Bao Zheng said, "It is not because I am ruthless, it is he who violated the law."

When Lord Bao became a court official, he upheld the law firmly. One year, there occurred a flood in the capital, Keifeng, which threatened to engulf the poorer quarters of the city. Bao Zheng found that the flood had been caused by the instrusion of waterside gardens and pavilions built for the pleasure of senior officials. For the safety of Kaifeng, without any hesitation, he ordered that these constructions be removed. Whoever violated the law, even if they were relatives of the emperor, Bao Zheng did not show any mercy. He kept proposing his opinion to the emperor till those people were punished.

Bao Zheng had great sympathy for those who were unjustly convicted. He would determinedly carry out detailed investigations and bring justice to the victims. People admired his character so much that they praised him as the "Clear Sky Bao".

Although Bao was a highranking official, there was little change in his house and he lived a simple and frugal life just like commoners. His will declared that if his descendants were to be corrupted officials, the would be forbidden to return home and they would be denied the right to be buried in the family graveyard.

Bao was well respected by people because of his righteousness, and his legend was spread among the regions. Since people were used to calling him Lord Bao, his real name was rarely mentioned.

Reference data

Lord Bao and Inkstones
Bao Zheng was incorruptible and never received a bribe in all his life. He had been the magistrate of Duanzhou (today's Zhaoqing in Guangdong province) for almost three years. Duanzhou was famous for its Duan inkstones. Writing brush, ink, paper and inkstones are altogether called "the Four Tresures of Study", and Hu writing brush, Hui ink, Xuan paper and Duan inkstones are the best of all. The stone of Duan inkstone is hard as well as smooth, and its texture is fine. As Duan inkstone is easy to grind the ink with and takes longer time to dry out, writing used with the ink ground by it is rather smooth and convenient. These inkstones were so fine that they were even presented as tribute to emperors since Tang Dynasty. Bao Zheng's predecessors had often extorted instones from people and used them to bribe court officials. But when Bao Zheng governed there he did not extort any Duan inkstones and refused to stoop to flattery. In fact, although he was a keen calligrapher himself, he did not take a single inkstone with him when he left Duanzhou.
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