1. Overview
Ning Cheng (寗成Níng ChéngChinese, died 2nd or 1st century BC) was a prominent Chinese official who served during the reigns of Emperor Jing and Emperor Wu of the Western Han dynasty. He gained a notorious reputation as a `kùlì` (harsh official) due to his severe and unyielding application of the law. His administrative style instilled widespread fear among the imperial family, nobility, and the general populace, leading to the saying, "Better to face a nursing tigress than the wrath of Ning Cheng!" Beyond his official duties, Ning Cheng was also known for his immense ambition and his successful accumulation of vast wealth, which further solidified his influence and power outside the formal government structure. His life and career illustrate the precariousness of power and the consequences of an overly strict approach to governance in the Han dynasty.
2. Life
Ning Cheng's life was marked by a series of appointments and dismissals, characterized by his ruthless ambition and the fear he inspired, ultimately leading to significant wealth accumulation and a dramatic downfall.
2.1. Early Life and Career under Emperor Jing
Ning Cheng, originally from Rang County in Nanyang Commandery (modern Dengzhou City, Nanyang City, Henan Province), began his career during the reign of Emperor Jing.
2.1.1. Jinan Commandant and Zhi Du
He initially served as a palace attendant (謁者yèzhěChinese) and master of guests. Known for his cunning and cruel disposition, Ning Cheng skillfully suppressed his superiors and manipulated his subordinates. He was subsequently appointed as the Jinan Commandant. At the time, Zhi Du, who would later be known as the "Azure Hawk," served as the Governor of Jinan. While previous commandants had approached Zhi Du with deference, treating him as if they were mere county officials due to their fear, Ning Cheng regarded Zhi Du as an equal and sought to outdo him. Having heard of Ning Cheng's reputation, Zhi Du treated him with respect and befriended him. Years later, following Zhi Du's death, Emperor Jing appointed Ning Cheng as a military commander in Chang'an in an effort to curb the rampant crimes committed by imperial relatives. Ning Cheng emulated Zhi Du's strict style of governance, quickly becoming an object of terror to everyone within the imperial family.
2.2. Career under Emperor Wu
With the ascension of Emperor Wu, Ning Cheng continued his career, holding significant positions, though his harshness eventually led to his conviction and escape.
2.2.1. Zhongwei and Neishi Appointments
Upon Emperor Wu's accession to the throne, Ning Cheng was appointed Prefect of the Capital (中尉zhōngwèiChinese). His tenure as Zhongwei reportedly lasted from approximately 144 BC to 142 BC or 140 BC. In this role, he continued to apply a governance style similar to Zhi Du's, but he was less incorruptible. His inherent cunning led him to deliver excessively harsh judgments, which terrified the imperial family, the empress's relatives, and the nobility. In 140 BC, the first year of the Jian Yuan era, Ning Cheng was transferred and appointed as Neishi (Changan County Magistrate), a position he held for that year.
2.2.2. Conviction and Escape
Once Ning Cheng was transferred from his position as Zhongwei and was no longer present in the imperial court, those who had feared him began to accuse him of misconduct. He was eventually impeached, convicted, and sentenced to the `kun` (shaving hair) and `qian` (shaving beard) punishments, subsequently being imprisoned. It was customary for high officials of that era, especially those who had reached the rank of `Nine Ministers`, to commit suicide when charged with a capital offense to avoid the indignity of punishment. However, Ning Cheng, having abandoned his aspirations for further official advancement, submitted to even the most severe punishments. He eventually escaped from prison, forged travel documents, and passed through Hangu Pass to return to his hometown.
2.3. Post-Retirement Activities and Wealth Accumulation
After his escape, Ning Cheng embarked on a new path, focusing on accumulating immense wealth and establishing significant local influence.
He famously declared, "An official who can't advance to a salary of 2,000 piculs or a merchant who can't make at least 10,000,000 cash is not fit to be called a man!" Driven by this philosophy, Ning Cheng borrowed money and acquired over 1,000 `qing` of farmland on credit, which is equivalent to approximately 600.00 M ft2. He then leased this land to poor families, employing several thousand households as tenant farmers. By the time a general amnesty was declared years later, forgiving his past crimes, Ning Cheng had amassed several thousand pieces of gold, making him a millionaire. During this period, he also acted as a `xiake` (knight-errant or powerful local figure), uncovering and exploiting the weaknesses and illicit activities of local officials to manipulate them. When he ventured out, he was accompanied by dozens of retainers, and his authority over the populace was so great that residents respected him more than the regional governor.
2.4. Re-appointment and Conflict with Yi Zong
Despite his past conviction and escape, Ning Cheng's formidable reputation and influence did not escape Emperor Wu's notice.
Emperor Wu considered re-appointing him as a provincial governor. However, Gongsun Hong, the Grandee Secretary, strongly opposed this, arguing that Ning Cheng was like a "wolf driving a flock of sheep," implying his harshness would terrorize the people. Despite Gongsun Hong's protests, Emperor Wu disregarded the advice and appointed Ning Cheng as the Chief Commandant of Hangu Pass. As Gongsun Hong had warned, Ning Cheng's harsh administration became a source of great suffering for the people in Nanyang and Hangu Pass, who lamented, "Better to face a nursing tigress than the wrath of Ning Cheng!"
Later, when Yi Zong was traveling from Henei to Nanyang to assume his new post as governor, Ning Cheng, who had retired again and was living in Nanyang, went to Hangu Pass to humbly greet and escort him. However, Yi Zong responded with disdain, ignoring Ning Cheng's courtesy. Yi Zong immediately launched an investigation into the Ning family, pressing charges against them and utterly demolishing their homes. As a result, Ning Cheng was once again convicted of an offense. Fearing the consequences, Ning Cheng fled from Nanyang along with the powerful local families of Kong and Bao, and his ultimate whereabouts became unknown.
3. Governance Style and Personal Philosophy
Ning Cheng's administrative approach was characterized by extreme severity, reflecting a personal philosophy driven by ambition and a desire for wealth.
3.1. Harshness and Law Enforcement
Ning Cheng's governance was marked by a strict and often ruthless application of the law. He was known for his cunning and his ability to instill fear in those under his jurisdiction. While he emulated the strict methods of Zhi Du, he lacked Zhi Du's reputation for incorruptibility. His harsh judgments and relentless pursuit of perceived wrongdoings made him a figure of terror for the imperial family, the empress's relatives, the nobility, and the general populace. The widespread fear he inspired is encapsulated in the saying, "Better to face a nursing tigress than the wrath of Ning Cheng!" This fear was a primary tool in his administration, ensuring compliance through intimidation rather than justice or benevolence.
3.2. Ambition and Wealth
Ning Cheng's personal philosophy was overtly materialistic and ambitious. His famous declaration, "An official who can't advance to a salary of 2,000 piculs or a merchant who can't make at least 10,000,000 cash is not fit to be called a man!", clearly articulated his dual aspirations for high office and vast wealth. After his escape from prison, he channeled his cunning and drive into accumulating significant financial assets. He strategically invested in large tracts of farmland, employing thousands of tenant farmers, and leveraged his knowledge of local officials' weaknesses to further his influence and wealth. This pursuit of personal gain, alongside his official duties, highlights a pragmatic and self-serving approach to life and power.
4. Evaluation and Impact
Ning Cheng's career left a lasting impression, primarily defining him as a figure of extreme authority and fear in historical accounts.
4.1. Reputation as a Harsh Official (酷吏)
Ning Cheng is consistently labeled as a `kùlì`, or "harsh official," in historical records. This designation stems from his unyielding and often cruel enforcement of laws, which prioritized strict adherence over leniency or compassion. Incidents such as his terrifying impact on the imperial family, his severe judgments, and the public's widespread fear, as expressed in the proverb "Better to face a nursing tigress than the wrath of Ning Cheng!", cemented this reputation. His actions were seen as embodying the extreme end of legalistic governance, where fear was the primary motivator for order.
4.2. Historical and Cultural Impact
Ning Cheng's life and career are documented in significant historical texts of the Han dynasty. He is featured in Sima Qian's `Records of the Grand Historian` (Shiji) in the "Biographies of Harsh Officials" (Kuli Liezhuan) and in Ban Gu's `Book of Han` (Hanshu) in the "Biographies of Harsh Officials" (Kuli Zhuan). These accounts solidify his place in Chinese history as a quintessential example of a `kùlì`. His story has also transcended historical texts into popular culture, notably being featured as "Ambitious Ning Cheng" in Yokoyama Mitsuteru's manga adaptation of the Records of the Grand Historian, which concludes with his flight from Yi Zong and his unknown fate.
5. Final Fate
The historical records do not provide a definitive account of Ning Cheng's death or his ultimate end. After his second conviction and flight from Nanyang following the conflict with Yi Zong, his whereabouts became unknown, leaving a gap in the historical narrative of his final years.