Jie Zhitui Claimed No Reward 介子推不言禄

The following is a story found in Zuo Zhuan about Jie Zhitui who lived in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). It shows that in ancient China, a willingness to die rather than compromise one's integrity came to be upheld as an admirable action and the ultimate sign of sincerity or virtue, and that dying to uphold one's beliefs was not gender specific.
Duke Wen of Jin dispensed rewards to his followers who adhered to him during his exile. Jie Zhitui made no claim of reward and, anyway, he was not considered for any reward.
Jie said, ‘Of the nine sons of Duke Xian only my lord has survived. Duke Hui and Duke Huai aliented themselves from people at home and abroad and were deserted by them. But Heaven did not mean to annihilate the State of Jin and must institute over it a sovereign. Who but my lord is worthy to wield power in this country? It was in fact the dispensation of Heaven. But a handful of followers regard the enthronement of the Duke as the result of their own efforts. Is it not ludicrous? The theft of other people’s property is called larceny, not to mention the attribution of Heaven’s working to one’s individual’s merits! Since their sins are justified by the common herd and rewarded by the Sovereign, with mutual deception between the Monarch and his subjects, I would find myself awkwardly situated if I associate with those people.’
‘Why not seek some reward?’ asked his mother. ‘And who is to blame if you die without His Highness knowing your probity?’
‘To imitate what one knows to be wrong,’ rejoined he, ‘is to aggravate one’s sin. And then I have complained against the Duke, I will not eat his food.’
‘Why not let him know?’
‘Language is used to decorate our body.’ he said. ‘Since I shall hide my body by going into seclusion, what is the point of talking to him? It would show clearly I am seeking fame and exaltation.’
The good woman then said, ‘Can you really behave like that? Then I will go with you to live in seclusion.’ Finally they died in seclusion.
The Duke searched for him, but to no purpose. So Mainshang was consecrated as a sacrificial ground in memory of him with the following dedication: ‘For the purpose of recording my fault and distinguishing a man of integrity.’
.
以下是《左传》关于生活于春秋时代(770-476BC)的介之推的故事。它显示古代中国，宁愿死而不是对廉正妥协是更值得追求的行动，也是虔诚与道德的最佳表现；拥护理念是不分性别的。
晋侯赏从亡者，介之推不言禄，禄亦弗及。
推曰：“献公之子九人，唯君在矣。惠、怀无亲，外内弃之。天未绝晋，必将有主。主晋祀者，非君而谁？天实置之，而二三子以为己力，不亦诬乎？窃人之财，犹谓之盗，况贪天之功以为己力乎？下义其罪，上赏其奸，上下相蒙，难与处矣。”
其母曰：“盍亦求之？以死，谁怼？”
对曰：“尤而效之，罪又甚焉。且出怨言，不食其食。”
其母曰：“亦使知之，若何？”
对曰：“言，身之文也。身将隐，焉用文之？是求显也。”
其母曰：“能如是乎？与汝偕隐。”遂隐而死。

晋文公求之不获，以绵上为之田，曰：“以志吾过，且旌善人。”