Not long ago, when I visited Fuliang County, which is about 8 kilometers away from the suburb of Jingdezhen, I visited Wu Pin County, the county government with the highest level in ancient times. After returning to China, I slowly sorted out the photos taken during my visit, recorded couplets, briefs and other written materials, and wrote this travel note with emotion.

Brief introduction of Fuliang county government

Historically, Jingdezhen, the world-famous porcelain capital, once belonged to Fuliang County and has a long and splendid porcelain tea culture. According to historical records, Fuliang, which was built in the 12th year of Tang and Yuan Dynasties (AD 8 17), is an ancient city. It has been the seat of Fuliang County governance in the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Jingdezhen, formerly known as Changnan Town, burned imperial porcelain for the imperial palace in past dynasties, and the court often sent senior officials here to supervise the firing of porcelain. For example, the county has followed the seven ranks of the ancient county magistrate, and the Fuliang county magistrate is not qualified to see Governor Tao. Therefore, the ranking of county magistrate in Fuliang County is higher than other counties, ranking fifth.

The restored Fuliang Ancient Fairy Cliff was built in Daoguang period of Qing Dynasty more than 170 years ago, covering an area of about 95 mu, with a large scale. The Yard completely retains the original features of the county government, such as Zhaobi, Toumen, Yimen, Lobby, Ertang and Tangsan on the central axis. Sitting in the brick and wood structure of most government offices facing south, connected by cloisters, it is seamless, solemn and relaxed, heavy and elegant. Ancient drums, official uniforms, instruments of torture, sticks, eighteen weapons, official sedan chairs and so on are displayed in the yamen. The courtyard is spacious and empty, with towering old trees, and there is a 40-meter-long ancient paved tunnel leading directly to the lobby.

2. Inscriptions and couplets of the official residence

Judging from the inscriptions on the wall, the legal system of ancient dynasties was relatively sound and the institutions were relatively fine. Its officials are few and far between, and it is estimated that there are not as many cadres as we taxpayers now support in a wealthy township. Compared with the N sets of leading bodies needed by many idle county-level governments in socialist China today, as well as the frightening managers of bureaus, institutes, departments and stocks, the ancient officials are nine times out of ten, and one person is the crowd. (see photo)

There are many epigrams and couplets on the doorpost of the yamen, warning officials to be diligent, close to the people and be an official. Many of them are worth reading carefully by those unelected lifelong officials at all levels in our government today:

Fuliang County Department Head Door Association: "Governing Fuliang, a pillar of the sky is heavy; Love the whole city and never leave the ground for ten years. "

Yimen couplet: "Work can be compared to an official axe and a sharp blade, which can be carried around and used according to materials;" Medical treatment can be compared to how to treat doctors and sometimes use nitrosulfame. "

Lobby (People's Hall): The couplets on the big columns on both sides are "Reasonable and legal feelings, no unjust imprisonment; Diligence and prudence are good officials. Under the big plaque hanging high above the main wall, there is a brightly colored "Christina Day Banquet". The couplets on both sides of the picture are better written. "Honest and selfless loyalty, officials are most afraid of mourning; Hard work is the duty, and refusing gifts is a clean and honest style. " The couplet on the back porch of the lobby reads: "Don't talk about politics, but let's settle things." To be an official is to be ordinary, thinking that everything is related to the national economy and people's livelihood. "

The couplets of Ertang have such words: "Reward only doubts, punish only doubts lightly;" Law has no relatives, and law makes no sense. Another link is: "It is not honorable to get an official, and it is not shameful to lose an official. Don't say that an official is useless, and the place depends on an official; Eat people's food and wear people's clothes. Don't say that people can be bullied. They are also human beings. " "The hearts of the people are in my heart, and it is not easy to believe. Respect the public and be cautious first; State affairs are often like home affairs, do what you can, take care of it, and take care of it. "

Three halls (Shen Qing Tang Qin) couplet: "Being alone and worrying about the people;" The sideways world is more pregnant with you. " The central government and the "Lotus Map" really complement each other.

3. The rule of law and the rule of man in complaints.

When I came to the main entrance of the typical eight-shaped ancient yamen, I immediately remembered the famous saying that "the eight-shaped yamen opens inward, and no money can enter", which was instilled in us when I was a child. It said that in the old feudal society, officials were unfair and unfair in handling cases and engaged in power and money transactions. But before I entered the yamen, I saw a huge eye-catching red-edged and white-faced drum on a wooden frame in the right corridor of the head door. I couldn't help wondering? This kind of drum is specially designed for ordinary people to beat drums in the county government when they meet the injustice of the squire and the petty official and can't see the superior official.

From the establishment of this special "green channel" where ordinary people can go beyond normal procedures and rehabilitate grievances, it shows that not all the top-level officials in feudal society are bad kings and mediocre officials. In order to maintain the stability of its political power, they also pay attention to people's livelihood and prevent some officials who "only allow state officials to set fires and forbid people to light lamps" from doing evil and killing people. The well-known tea-picking drama "Spring Grass Rushing Hall" in Nanchang tells the story that Buyi, in desperation, went to the Yamen Rushing Hall to beat the drums and sing injustice. According to the old code, the county magistrate could not find an excuse to suppress or delay the drummer's grievances, but must immediately go to court to judge the case for the people.

In order to prevent the vulgarization of this special channel from being misused, two stone tablets, "Over the litigation stick 50" and "False accusation plus third class", were erected on the left side of the county government gate to remind the parties not to read the complaint at will and not to make false accusations. The main idea of the inscription is that drumming is used in a very urgent situation, and drummers and people who write complaints must first get dozens of boards when county officials go to court. This is to prevent some people from going to court at will.

In ancient times, the legal system of responsibility, power and benefit of officials was also very strict. If the superior yamen finds that the judge is negligent in judging the case unfairly, the county magistrate is in danger of losing his official position. If corrupt officials are found, the punishment is even more severe. Corrupt officials in the Ming dynasty will be skinned, and officials in the Qing dynasty will face the ground if they embezzle a little money.

In ancient times, this green channel of "complaining" and the supervision of the government and the people restricted each other, so that ordinary people could complain without being suppressed by local officials. I wonder if China's public security, procuratorial, legal and petition departments can learn from it.