Section Two Xin: Other-referring Imperative
The written records of xin信（trustworthiness）emerged earlier than cheng 诚（honesty）. It first appeared in the inscriptions on ancient bronze utensils made in the late Shang Dynasty（1600B. C. -1100 B. C.）. For instance, characters like "I know his zhongxin忠信（loyalty and good faith）" were casted on the Emperor Zhongshan Tripod made in the Warring States Period（475B. C. -221B. C.）. A great many records concerning the term xin（trustworthiness）can be found in the Four Books and Five Classics, for example, "He gave me a solemn promise" in a poem entitled "A Cloth Peddler" in the Airs of Wei in The Book of Songs, "sincerity even affects pigs and fishes" in "Mutual Sincerity" in The Book of Changes, and "They chose the virtuous and capable as leaders, promoted xin and established good neighborly relations" in "The Rise and Reform of Rites" in The Book of Rites. Xin was also commonly used in the daily expressions of the ancient Chinese. For instance, there are xinwu（a token of faith）, yinxin（ancient official stamps, probably like the official seal today）, xinfeng（the wind rises as expected）, xinyong（credit）and xinshi（objective and authentic historical records）, so on and so forth.
Xin involving one's words and deeds as well as interpersonal influence exists only in the relation at least between two persons. The focus of cheng is on oneself, while the focus of xin is on others, especially on the influence of one's words and deeds on others. Hence, xin, as an ethical code based on inter-subjectivity, is not just related to the honesty of an individual.
Like cheng, the notion of xin is also embodied in people's attitude towards deities. During the Pre-Qin period（the period before 221B. C.）, against a cultural background heavily colored by the theory of fatality, the oaths of alliance of states originated from primitive curses or spells were no more than promises and pledges made to deities. For instance, "The Records of the Events in the 1st Year of Duke Yin of Lu" in Zuo's Commentary notes, "...Smearing the mouth with the blood of a sacrifice and vowing to the deity to make an alliance means to invite the deity to punish anyone who goes back on his words and condemn him as a beast slaughtered for sacrifice. " Resorting to gods for confirming the oaths of alliance is the ancient way of guaranteeing the achievement the goal of making a covenant by combing moral power with religious power. Later, such a notion of xin has developed into a fundamental norm disciplining interpersonal relationship.
Further reading
Story 1: Granting a Fiefdom with a Leaf of a Chinese Parasol Tree
Translation: In the Western Zhou Dynasty（1045B. C. -771B. C.）, Emperor Cheng（1042B. C. -1006B. C.）once amused himself with his younger brother, Shuyu. He cut a leaf of a Chinese parasol tree into the shape of an elongated pointed jade tablet and handed it to Shuyu, saying, "Hereby we confer a fiefdom on you. " The court recorder（or maybe the Duke of Zhou）then petitioned Emperor Cheng to pick an auspicious day to confer Shuyu a fiefdom. Emperor Cheng said, "We are joking. We are playing games. " But the recorder insisted, "An Emperor's words always carry weight. Once uttered, they will be recorded in the history and echoed by rites and music. How can they be trifled with? " Thereupon, the emperor granted his brother the fiefdom of Tang（in the area of today's Yicheng of Shanxi Province）.
Comments: The granting of a fiefdom with a leaf of a Chinese parasol tree took place when Emperor Cheng was twelve or thirteen years old. It was meant to be a common game or joke among children. The recorder, however, pointed out in time that an emperor should not be perfidious and that he must suit his action to his words. He also helped Emperor Cheng realize that an emperor who couldn't live up to his words would be mocked by the people and hence lose his prestige. Upholding chengxin（integrity）is the foundation of the social status of an individual and the stability of a country. Internalization of the admonishment enabled Emperor Cheng to usher in the Golden Years in the Reigns of Emperor Cheng &Emperor Cheng Kang after he took over the reins of government at the age of twenty.
Story 2: Making Fun of the Dukes with the Beacon Fire
Translation: Emperor You（795B. C. -771B. C.）of the Western Zhou Dynasty（1100B. C. -771B. C.）doted on a most beautiful concubine named Baosi（that is, Si from the State of Bao）. Baosi was melancholic and seldom smiled. In order to coax a smile from her, Emperor You racked his brains, but all in vain. At that time, the Western Zhou Dynasty set up a beacon-fire alarm system to prevent the invasion of the minorities such as the Quanrong nomads. As soon as the enemy was spotted, the beacon fire would be lit to alert nearby vassal states, urging them to send troops to the aid of Zhou. Hoping to amuse Baosi, Emperor You had the beacon fire lit when there was no enemy. Baosi laughed heartily when she saw the dukes cut a sorry figure. Since then, Emperor Zhou pleased Baosi like this again and again and lost the trust of the nobles. One day, when Zhou was under attack from the Quanrong, the emperor had the beacon fire lit in a hurry. But the neighboring vassals did not come to his rescue for fear of being fooled again. As a result, Emperor Zhou was killed by the Quanrong at the foot of the Lishan Mountain, Baosi was reduced to a captive, and the Kingdom of Zhou was despoiled of all its treasures.
Comments: The Western Zhou Dynasty drew to an end with the death of Emperor Zhou. He ruled the kingdom for eleven years, but achieved nothing for his debauchery. "Making Fun of the Dukes with the Beacon Fire" was the most notorious thing he did. Doubtlessly, this is an upgraded version of the story of "Crying Wolf". A shepherd boy who lost the trust of neighbors ended with losing a flock of sheep, while an emperor who lost the trust of his subjects suffered more terribly and tragically. Nowadays, the internet transmits miscellaneous information in double-quick time. Given the circumstances, maintaining credibility of its government has become a hot issue, for which each nation has to actively seek for a solution.
Story 3: A Covenant of Chrysanthemum
Translation: In the reign of Emperor Ming（28A. D. -75A. D.）of the Eastern Han Dynasty（25A. D. -220A. D.）, there was a scholar called Fan Juqing. He was seriously ill and was confined to bed in an inn on his way to Luoyang to take the imperial examination. The owner of the inn did nothing for him for fear that his disease was infectious. Fortunately, Zhang Yuanbo, another scholar in the inn who was also on his way to take the imperial examination took care of Fan willingly, saying, "Our life and death are in the hand of Heaven. How can this disease be infectious? " Zhang gave medical treatment to Fan and nursed him most carefully. Fan recovered before long. Since both of them had missed the exam, Fan felt very sorry for Zhang and made him his sworn brother.
Fan bade Zhang farewell to return home afterwards on the Double Ninth Day. This charming autumn festival full of yellow chrysanthemums and red leaves inspired them to appoint the next Double Ninth Day as the date of their reunion. They agreed to meet at Zhang Yuanbo's home to enjoy wine and chrysanthemums together.
In the twinkling of an eye, the Double Ninth Day arrived again. Fan Yuanbo got up early in the morning to clean his strawthatched house, decorated it with chrysanthemums and prepared chicken and wine. His family tried to persuade him to take his time, saying Fan living afar might not show up on time. Zhang turned a deaf ear to them, and kept waiting for Fan from morning till noon, then to the afternoon. However, Fan had not turned up at sunset. Disbelieving that Fan would keep his promise, his family urged him to dine and rest. Zhang wouldn't give up his hope.
At midnight, Fan did turn up at last. They were very glad for the reunion, but Fan did not eat or speak, which surprised Zhang. Fan explained, "Brother, to tell you the truth, I am a ghost now. After returned home last year, I started a business since I had missed the imperial examination. I was buried in business every day to such an extent that I forgot our appointment. It crossed my mind today, but it was too late for me to meet you on time. The ancients said that a human alive couldn't travel a thousand li a day, but his ghost could. So, I cut my own throat with a sword and, riding on a ghostly wind, arrived here according to our appointment. " （Quoted from "A Chicken-andMillet Dinner for Fan Juqing, a Friend in Life and Death" in Simple Stories to Enlighten the World.）
Comments: To keep his words, Fan Juqing took his life willingly. His ghost was still concerned about the appointment with his friend, which proved him to be the most faithful man in all ages.