The Root of Poverty Is Not Lack of Money, But Lack of the Tao
Before we delve into history, let us reflect on a real question: why do some people work desperately for money yet only grow poorer? In truth, weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival — arrogance is. Poverty and lack of ability are not excuses for standing still — your mindset is.
Money and the Tao are like the yin and yang of Tai Chi: behind tangible wealth lie intangible laws, trends, and human hearts. Short-sighted people fixate only on immediate gains, only to find themselves rushing faster yet earning less, even falling deep into debt. The real code of wealth lies in seeing through the rules of the world and understanding human nature.
Emperor Ling of Han's "Commercial Empire": From Selling Official Titles to Building Palace Markets (I) Natural and Man-Made Disasters in the 4th Year of Guanghe
In 181 AD, the Eastern Han Dynasty was already in decline.
In the first lunar month, the court created a special official post to manage fine horses, but powerful local clans monopolized the supply, causing horse prices to surge a hundredfold. In the fourth lunar month, the Wuhu tribes in Jiaozhi (present-day northern Vietnam) rebelled. Zhu Jun, magistrate of Lanling, took command in crisis and suppressed the revolt within a month, earning the title Marquis of Duting. In the sixth lunar month, hailstones as big as chicken eggs fell in Luoyang. On the first day of the ninth lunar month, a solar eclipse occurred.
Frequent natural disasters foretold the dynasty's impending collapse.
(II) The Emperor's "Talent for Business"
Emperor Liu Hong built imitation streets and markets inside the imperial harem, ordering palace maids to dress as vendors and sell goods. He indulged himself in watching the maids quarrel and brawl over trivial profits.
This all-powerful ruler not only sold government titles at fixed prices but also turned the palace into a "street market." He even placed civil official hats on dogs and drove a four-donkey carriage wildly through the palace grounds, causing donkey prices in the capital to skyrocket to match fine horses.
A Gallery of Emperor-Merchants: From the Crown Prince of Western Jin to Qianlong's "Shopping Streets"
Many emperors in history were obsessed with running businesses.
Sima Yu, eldest son of Emperor Hui of Western Jin, opened a butcher shop in the Eastern Palace and mastered the skill of cutting meat perfectly on the first try. Emperor Zhongzong of Tang set up a market at Xuanwu Gate, letting chancellors trade with palace maids for amusement. He was poisoned by his empress the next year. Ming emperors went even further: they opened "imperial shops" to monopolize trade and even lent money at high interest to fill the private imperial treasury. Qianlong built a "buy-sell street" in the Garden of Perfect Bliss, ordering ministers to act as vendors so he could experience common life. This custom continued until the 4th year of Jiaqing's reign.
The Code of Dynastic Rise and Fall: When the Emperor Becomes a "Businessman"
In feudal dynasties, the basic rule was to separate the imperial public treasury from the emperor's private purse. Yet emperors could never resist hoarding personal wealth.
Emperor Ling of Han's private savings were fuller than the state treasury, yet his greed led to rampant official corruption and mass suffering among the people.
After Tanshihuai, leader of the Xianbei tribe, died, his son Helian was shot dead for his greed and lust, throwing the tribe into civil war and division. This indirectly proves the truth: Virtue is the root; talent is the branch. Wealth without virtue will eventually bring disaster.
History Reflects Reality: The Ultimate Wisdom of Making Money
The story of Emperor Ling teaches us: To pursue wealth, you must first understand the Tao.
Whether emperor or ordinary person, fixating only on short-term gains will exact a heavy price. Genuine wealth comes from seeing the laws of the world, following trends, and holding fast to moral principles.
Like Fan Li, the Sage of Merchants, who gave away his entire fortune three times yet always rose again — his success came not from speculation, but from a profound understanding of the Tao.