THE LAST WISH OF LEE WEI LING, LEE KUAN YEW AND CHINESE EMPERORS OF YORE

百善孝为先

Among all virtues, filial piety is the most important

It's no surprise the recent passing of Lee Wei Ling brings back the issue of the fate of the late Lee Kuan Yew's residence to hit social media again. LKY had wished that after his death, and after his daughter Wei Ling no longer resides there, 38 Oxley Road is to be demolished. Singaporeans understood, and respected LKY's well-known disdain for any monument or memorial of any kind in his name. The government of Singapore, under the premiership of Lee Hsien Loong, had made the decision to retain the house as a heritage site against the wishes of LKY. An acrimonius sibling fued arose with elder son Hsien Loong standing with the government decision, and Wei Ling and younger son Lee Hsien Yang adamant on honouring their father's dying wish. The disagreement has torn apart the family of Singapore's first Prime Minister. But I wonder in every Singaporean houshold where they have younger ones, how do they explain to their children. 

I wish for them the matter can be resolved and the surviving brothers can find closure. It is really sad that the matter has to come to the stage that a daughter had to speak from the grave through a request to her younger brother Hsien Yang to include in his eulogy an appeal to Singaporeans to help honour their father's wish for the demolition of the house. Try to wrap your mind around this. In the last couple of years battling progressive supranuclear palsy (a Parkinson-like illness) when death was imminent and with a ravaged body, her thought was on the fulfillment of her father's final wish for the demolition of the house. Some folks may be asking why is this such a big deal. Unless one appreciates Chinese culture, the point is lost. This has been a dagger at the heart of one of the highest moral values of Chinese culture - filial piety.

In ancient Chinese history, many emperors had their last wishes granted posthumously. Most of these wishes involved burial arrangements, succession plans, or political instructions. Some last wishes shaped the actions of their successors and affected the course of Chinese history. I thought it might be interesting to take a look at some of these.

Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE)

The first emperor of a unified China and founder of the Qin Dynasty, Shi Huang Ti wished to be buried with a vast army of terracotta warriors to protect him in the afterlife. His wish was granted, and the Terracotta Army was constructed in his tomb near Xi'an. This army of life-sized figures, consisting of soldiers, horses, and chariots, was discovered in 1974 and stands as one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in history. It must have cost the Treasury significantly, but the fiscal spending must also have increased their GDP as hordes of workers must have increased domestic consumption with their wages.

Emperor Wen of Han (203–157 BCE):

Emperor Wen of Han was known for his benevolence and frugal rule. His final wish left in a will was for a simple burial. He emphasized that there should be no extravagant funerary goods or large-scale constructions for his tomb. His son, Emperor Jing of Han, honored this request by ensuring a modest tomb with fewer adornments, aligning with his father's Confucian ideals of simplicity and restraint. Hmmm I hear an echo here somewhere.

Emperor Wu of Han (156–87 BCE)

Wu, one of the longest-reigning emperors of the Han Dynasty, was remorseful for certain military campaigns and extravagant spending toward the end of his reign. In his final years, he issued an edict to limit the power of court officials and reduce the financial burden on the people. His successor, Emperor Zhao of Han, honored this wish by implementing reforms that stabilized the economy, reduced military campaigns, and reduced taxes on the population.

Emperor Xian of Han (181–234 CE):

During the Three Kingdoms era, the last emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xian, was a puppet ruler under the power behind the throne, warlord Cao Cao. He was eventually forced to abdicate and the throne given to Cao Cao's son Cao Pi.. Xian was allowed to live as a noble. Not quite sure if that was due to the magnanmity of Cao Cao or a matter of appeasement to the remaining loyal officials. Emperor Xian’s request was to be buried with honor after his death.  Even though the Han Dynasty had ended, Cao Pi ensured that Xian was given a respectful posthumous title and burial.

Emperor Taizong of Tang (598–649 CE)

Taizong, one of the greatest emperors of the Tang Dynasty. He had a wish for his favorite general, Li Shiji, to help his son and successor, Emperor Gaozong, in matters of state after his death. After Taizong's death, Li Shiji faithfully served under Gaozong, fulfilling his former emperor's last request, helping the young Gaozong stabilise the empire.

Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1638–1661 CE)

Shunzhi's deathbed wish was for his third son, the young Kangxi Emperor, to succeed him under the regency of trusted officials, including his own uncle, Oboi. The regents placed Kangxi on the throne at the age of 7 and helped him ride the throes of palace intriques and power struggles during his youth, thus maintaining stability till Kangxi eventually took control and became one of the most successful emperors in Chinese history.

Emperor Yongle of Ming (1360–1424 CE)

Yongle was one of the most influential emperors of the Ming Dynasty. he wanted his massive naval expeditions, led by Admiral Zheng He, continue after his death to project Chinese power and expand trade routes. For several years after Yongle's death, his successors continued his wish, allowing Zheng He to complete further voyages, although the expeditions were eventually halted by later emperors.

Emperor Hongzhi of Ming (1470–1505 CE)

Hongzhi was a careful and competent emperor. His dying wish was for his son, Zhengde, to maintain his reformist policies, reduce corruption, and care for the people. Emperor Zhengde respected his father’s legacy for a while. Unfortunately, he later turned dishonourable and became extravagant and irresponsible. So Hongzhi's wish was partially honoured

Emperor Guangxu of Qing (1871–1908 CE)

The hated Empress Dowager Cixi casted a powerful shadow over the last years of the Qing Empire. She was the effective power behind the throne. Emperor Guangxu was  largely controlled by her. Guanxi expressed a wish for reform and modernization having actively pushed for the Hundred Days’ Reform in 1898, seeking to modernize China’s political and educational systems. During his lifetime, Cixi stifled many of the emperor's reforms. After his death, honourable officials were the late reformers who eventually implemented several of his reforms whcih continued into the early Republican era. The shift toward modern governance and institutions aligned with his wishes.

THE EMPEROR IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR

Baring no malice and within confines of legality, our sense of decency demands the dying wish of someone dear to be carried out as best we can. It is not just a matter of honouring the dead, but a message to the living of what encompasses responsibility and discipline. 

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