Politics and Government

Abstract

This chapter presents a representative selection of Zhu’s writings on issues such as the management of the state bureaucracy, public education, rules and regulations, foreign affairs, and the selection and appointment of officials. Zhu’s vision of good governance serves as a kind of regulative ideal for his ethics. The character traits that he most esteems and wants for educated men are those that position them to be righteous, discerning, and caring advisors and administrators, and the fact that they make for capable advisors and officers of state is part of what justifies the Confucian virtues as Zhu understands them. Zhu lived up to his theoretical account of the political life; several times, he risked his career to take positions against the corruption of officials and the Southern Song’s policy of appeasement toward the Jurchens and other neighboring states.