Perhaps one of the most famous sayings in China is, "Worry before all others worry; rejoice after all others have rejoiced." Written by Fan Zhongyan, this 11th century proverb provides a goal for all Chinese government officials to aspire to.
Fan Zhongyan (989-1052) himself was a good example of someone who lived by these words. When he was just one or two years old, his father died and his mother married another man, but he was always content with what he had.
From a very young age, he was very diligent in his schoolwork. In 1015, Fan passed the imperial examination （科举考试） and became a government official. While serving in Taizhou, he always had the people's best interest at heart, and he proposed building a sea wall to protect homes from flooding. Serving with distinction, he helped build up defenses when the country was threatened by war. Then, once the country was at peace again, he was promoted to a high-level position in the capital.
As an advisor to the emperor, Fan then tried to institute government reforms. However, many conservative officials opposed him, so the reforms were stopped and Fan was forced to go into exile （流放）. While in exile in 1045, Fan wrote an essay entitled Memorial to Yueyang Tower. In the essay, he wondered if it was possible to find government officials who would be firm in their desire to look after the needs of the common people, and not worry about their own personal welfare.
After retiring, he bought a farm and used it to provide jobs for local people. The profits from the farm were then used to pay for the education of poor children.
It is refreshing to think that there was once such a person who did not just speak wise words to live by, but who also put those words into practice during his own life.
①Fan built a sea wall in Taizhou. ②Fan wrote the essay Memorial to Yueyang Tower.
③Fan's father passed away. ④Fan retired and bought a farm.
