The Ruler’s Health as a Reflection of the State: Ancient Chinese Wisdom and the Statecraft
During the period from the pre-Qin Dynasty to the early Han Dynasty, there was a group of wise men who specialized in the practice of medicine and the art of longevity. The practice of longevity and the Chinese version of alchemy are closely related to Traditional Chinese Medicine. The role of medicine in China is not only to cure illness but also to promote the holistic well-being and longevity of a person. Furthermore, these wise men also studied how such art and wisdom could be extended to the political conditions of the state. In Chinese cosmology, everything is connected, so holistic perspectives are always adopted in observing natural and human affairs.
These health-wise men developed a principle known as “studying the ruler’s sickness as an extension to the state.” What this means is that if we diagnose the sickness of a ruler carefully, we can determine how the actual cause of his illness is related to the political condition of the state. There is a historical record of an example involving a noble known as Duke Ping of Jing (557–532 BCE).
Duke Ping suffered from illness on two occasions and consulted officials from different disciplines. Influenced by the legacy of the health-wise men, these officials analyzed the Duke’s sickness using the above principle. According to their diagnosis, the Duke’s illness was due to the blockage of Qi or vital force inside his body. This blockage was entirely caused by the Duke’s own misconduct.
Firstly, the Duke had not acted according to institutions shaped by the regularities of nature. For example, certain activities should be done during the day rather than at night, or in summer rather than in winter. If a person does not follow these natural rhythms, both the leader’s health and governance in the state could suffer.
Secondly, the Duke married women from his own surname family, violating the moral customs of that time. Apart from the health problems this could cause for offspring, such marriages could lead to tribal disharmony and even the collapse of the regime. The real issue was that the Duke had used political pressure to force another tribe to surrender beautiful women for marriage. This severely damaged the Duke’s authority and provoked widespread anger.
The third cause of his sickness was the mismatch between a person’s virtues and their possessions. In Chinese ethics, if a person’s virtue is not great enough but insists on accumulating excessive possessions, it harms both health and leadership. In this case, the Duke had wasted money by recruiting too many attendants to serve him in the palace, causing discontent among his officials.
According to the health wisdom of ancient China, the ruler, health, and state form a very subtle triangular relationship. A factor that causes a ruler’s sickness can also lead to political problems in the state. A ruler’s misconduct may certainly create chaos in governance, which in turn can lead to illness. On the other hand, a ruler’s illness may reflect deeper political and governance issues. Overall, the universe, the state, the ruler, and his body form an interdependent whole. The Duke’s case was just an illustration. Can we apply this principle to contemporary politics?
In a modern setting, we may not have easy access to the health conditions of world leaders. However, by observing their appearances in the media, I believe intelligence officials with medical or psychological expertise may be able to infer something about their physical and mental well-being. Judging from these profiles, we may attempt to relate a leader’s health to their leadership style and political actions.
As far as I know, the Democrats engaged psychologists to analyze Donald Trump during the election campaign. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly brings his own portable toilet during official visits abroad for security reasons. Furthermore, physical symptoms may reflect a politician’s attitude and behavior. A leader suffering from allergies may become easily irritated and overly sensitive to misinformation, leading to distorted judgment and decision-making.
Finally, the connection between ethics and illness is often ignored. A leader’s sickness may stem from unethical actions, which, if left unchecked, can spread into politics and governance, leading to potential crises. In a nutshell, this principle can be further explored to study the relationship between the ruler, health, and the state, ultimately enhancing political analysis and governance skills.
The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Spine Times.
Prof. Dr. h.c. Hei Sing Tso
The writer is a distinguished Hong Kong scholar and expert in geopolitics, diplomacy, and Traditional Chinese Stratagem. He is renowned for his work on Chinese foreign policy, and his influential book I Ching and 36 Tricks.
