Lu Kun, governor of Jiangxi during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), defined the code of gentlemen in his book, Groanings. The following are some of his suggestions:

He should hide a large portion of whatever goodness he might have and thus cultivate his "ethical profoundness." Likewise he should conceal to a great extent the shortcomings of others and thus enlarge his "magnanimity." Patience is essential to planning, and a peaceful mind is a prerequisite to the management of affairs. Modesty is the most important item in the preservation of one's life, and tolerance and forgiveness should be the basic attitude towards others. To cultivate his mind; a gentleman should not be unduly concerned with such things as affluence or poverty, life or death, constancy or change.

Every event has its reality, every word its abode of beatitude, and every object the...