A corrupt official wanted to show that he was pure and honest. So, before assuming office, he took an oath in public, saying, “If my right hand accepts bribes, let it fester; if my left hand accepts bribes, let it fester, too.”
After some time, a person offered him a hundred taels of silver as a bribe. He wanted to accept but feared that the oath might take effect.
To help him out of his quandary, his underlings said, ”Why not place the money in Your Honour’s sleeve so that it, and it only, will rot, if rot it must!”
The official thought it was a sound idea and accepted the money.
Allegorical Meaning
The Hypocrisy of Performative Integrity:
The official’s initial public vow (swearing to rot hands for bribery) is pure theater — a calculated display to appear virtuous while harboring corrupt intent. This satirizes leaders who use grand pronouncements of integrity to mask greed.
Moral Casuistry and Self-Deception:
The core irony lies in the twisted logic used to justify corruption. Redefining “taking money” as merely “stuffing the sleeve” allows the official to technically evade his vow (“rot hands”) while committing the sin. This exposes how easily moral principles are perverted by self-serving wordplay and mental gymnastics.
Systemic Corruption Enabled by Complicity:
The entourage aren’t bystanders; they actively facilitate the corruption by inventing the “sleeve loophole.” This highlights how corruption thrives not just in individuals, but within systems where underlings enable and normalize the wrongdoing of superiors.
The Futility of Symbolic Solutions:
The story mocks attempts to “solve” corruption through superficial gestures (like dramatic vows) without addressing the underlying greed and lack of accountability. Loopholes will always be found.
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