Following the suppression of his younger brother Duan’s rebellion – abetted by their mother, Lady Jiang – Duke Zhuang of Zheng discovered incriminating letters exchanged between them.
The oath of estrangement
Enraged by her betrayal, he sent the correspondence back to Lady Jiang with a bitter message and ordered Minister Zhai Zu to exile her to Chengying (in modern-day Linying, Henan). In a fit of anger and grief, he swore an irrevocable oath:
“Until we meet beneath the Yellow Springs, we shall never see each other again.”
In ancient Chinese belief, “the Yellow Springs” referred to the underworld – the realm of the dead. Thus, Duke Zhuang vowed never to see his mother in this life.
The weight of public opinion
Soon after returning to the capital Xinzheng, Duke Zhuang found himself victorious over his enemies – but not at peace. Though the rebellion was crushed, public sentiment turned against him. Rumors spread that his treatment of his own mother was unforgivably cruel.
As ruler of Zheng during the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Zhuang relied on the Confucian ideal of filial piety as the moral foundation of governance. A ruler who failed to honor his mother would be seen as unworthy of loyalty. Yet, having sworn a solemn oath, he could not simply reverse course without undermining his own authority. He was trapped between duty to family and the sanctity of his word.
The clever counsel of Ying Kaoshu
Amid this inner turmoil, a minor official from Chengying named Ying Kaoshu arrived at court bearing tribute – a peculiar bird. When Duke Zhuang asked its name, Ying Kaoshu replied:
“This is an owl. By day it sees nothing; by night it sees all – truly confused about right and wrong. When young, it is fed by its mother, who sacrifices for it tirelessly. But once grown, it devours her. It is the very image of unfilial ingratitude – so I have brought it for Your Grace to punish.”
Duke Zhuang recognized the veiled reproach but remained silent.
At the banquet that followed, Duke Zhuang offered Ying Kaoshu choice mutton. To everyone’s surprise, Ying Kaoshu wrapped the finest portion and set it aside. When questioned, he explained:
“My aged mother has never tasted such fine meat. How could I eat it while she goes without?”
Touched, Duke Zhuang sighed:
“You are truly filial. I, though a ruler, cannot care for my own mother.”
Ying Kaoshu feigned astonishment:
“Is the Grand Dowager unwell? Why does Your Grace say you cannot serve her?”
Seizing the opening, Duke Zhuang confessed the whole story – Lady Jiang’s conspiracy, his oath, and his regret.
A loophole beneath the earth
Ying Kaoshu then proposed a brilliant solution:
“Your Grace longs for your mother, and she surely longs for you. Yet you swore not to meet until the Yellow Springs. But must one die to reach them? If we dig a tunnel deep enough to strike groundwater – that is the Yellow Springs! Build a chamber underground, seat the Grand Dowager within, and enter yourself. Thus, you fulfill your oath and restore harmony.”
Delighted, Duke Zhuang commissioned Ying Kaoshu to carry out the plan.
Reconciliation in the underworld chamber
With five hundred laborers, Ying Kaoshu excavated a deep tunnel and constructed an underground hall. Lady Jiang was escorted into this subterranean chamber. Duke Zhuang descended through the tunnel, knelt before her, and wept:
“Your son has been unfilial. Please forgive me!”
Overcome with shame and sorrow, Lady Jiang lifted him up:
“The fault is mine – how can I blame you?”
Mother and son embraced, tears washing away years of estrangement. Emerging together, they rode through the streets of Xinzheng in full view of the people – publicly restoring both familial and political legitimacy – before returning to the palace.
Reward for wisdom and loyalty
Grateful for Ying Kaoshu’s ingenuity and virtue, Duke Zhuang appointed him as a grand minister (dafu). Recognizing his martial prowess as well, the duke placed him in joint command of the army alongside Generals Gongzi Lü and Gongsun Zidu.
Thus, through wisdom and symbolic ritual, a fractured family – and a fragile state – was healed without breaking either oath or ethics.
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