In ancient China, many literati and writers not only passed down their poems and books, but also won the respect of the common people with their wisdom and sense of justice. Zheng Banqiao, a famous calligrapher, painter and writer of the Qing Dynasty, is one of the best. He is famous for his good calligraphy and exquisite painting skills, and has won the reputation of "Itabashi Judgment" for his unique trial methods and ingenuity.
One day, Zheng Banqiao took office in Weixian County, Shandong Province, and ushered in a special plaintiff - a teaching gentleman. This gentleman complained to Zheng Banqiao, saying that he had worked hard in Ding's family for a year, and at the end of the year, not only did he not get the remuneration he deserved, but was unreasonably dismissed. He showed the contract he signed with the Ding family, which was written in black and white: teach for one year, pay an honorarium of eight yuan. After listening carefully to Mr. Teaching's statement, Zheng Banqiao decided to go out in person to seek justice for this gentleman. He did not directly order the arrest of the Ding family, but adopted a more ingenious way - to test the talents of the couplet. He invited Mr. Teach to use the lantern in the lobby as the title to make a couplet: "Four-sided lamps, single-layer paper, brilliant and brilliant, illuminating all over the east, west, north and south." This couplet both subtly describes the form of the lantern and implies sympathy for the plight of Mr. Teach. After a little contemplation, Mr. Teaching took his own experience as the title and made the following couplet: "One year of study, eight hanging money, hard work, all the spring, summer, autumn and winter." "The lower link not only complements the upper link, but also deeply reflects the hard work and injustice suffered by Mr. Teaching for a year. After listening to the next link, Zheng Banqiao was greatly appreciative, thinking that this teaching gentleman was quick to think, and he was by no means "sparse and shallow" as the Ding family said. He concluded that this must be the Ding family's evil act of bullying Mr. and deducting honorarium.
Therefore, he solemnly sentenced the Ding family to pay an honorarium of eight hangings, and rewarded two additional hangings to the teacher in recognition of his talent and morality. At the same time, he doubled the fine for the Ding family's deliberate attempt to make things difficult and deduct the teacher's one-year hard work fee, and collected the fine as state-owned as a punishment. This verdict not only reflects Zheng Banqiao's respect for talent and justice, but also demonstrates his superb trial skills and wisdom. He not only examined Mr. Teaching's talent by conducting a joint test, but also skillfully revealed the truth of the case. This kind of trial method not only made the parties happy and convinced, but also won the praise and respect of the people. The story of Zheng Banqiao's "Judgment Couplet" has been passed down to this day, not only becoming a good story praised by the people, but also becoming a model for future generations to study and reference. It teaches us that wisdom and fairness are equally important when dealing with disputes and cases. Only when we examine each case with a fair heart and a wise eye can we truly realize the fairness and justice of the law.
Recorded in 202402.23.