(Minghui.org) Many of us look up to role models who guide us through life’s many ups and downs. For me, George Washington stands out as a role model owing to his integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment.
While reading history recently, I noticed some similarities between George Washington, Father of America, and Emperor Wu of Han, one of the most influential emperors in Chinese history. Beyond their vision, talent, and resilience, both appear to have received blessings from the divine at critical moments in their lives.
Washington faced many challenges during his childhood. He lost both his father and his beloved elder brother, Lawrence, at a young age. The death of his father also deprived him of any formal education beyond elementary school. However, despite these hardships, he persevered and, as a teenager, compiled more than 100 rules for social interaction known as The Rules of Civility, adapted from an English translation of a French guidebook.
Built on this moral foundation, Washington learned how to write well, became a talented draftsman, and gained practical knowledge in land surveying. At age 19, Washington kindly accompanied Lawrence to Barbados in the Caribbean, hoping the climate would cure his brother’s tuberculosis. His kindness was rewarded because this trip not only exposed him to the plantation society, but also revealed one of the most heavily fortified colonies in the British Empire. Further interactions with high-ranking military officials solidified his aspiration in the military. Smallpox, a deadly disease he contracted during the trip, also proved to be a blessing in disguise, as his recovery from the illness provided lifetime immunity—otherwise he might have died as the disease repeatedly swept through his army during the Revolutionary War.
This was evident during the Battle of Island in August 1776, the first major battle after independence was declared. The ongoing, pandemic-level disease ravaged American troops and contributed to their defeat. Following this setback, Washington and his troops of 9,000 Continentals were forced to evacuate Long Island, retreating across the East River on boats back to Manhattan. The evacuation began under the cover of darkness and continued into the next day, which seemed an almost impossible feat, given the overwhelming size of the British army. A miracle then unfolded. “As the sun came up, a fog miraculously descended on the remaining men crossing the river. According to eyewitnesses, George Washington was the last man to leave Brooklyn,” wrote historian Mary Stockwell.
Standing at 6’4,” Washington was an easy target among soldiers who were 5’8” on average. Back during the Battle of the Monongahela in 1775, part of the French and Indian War—an Indian sachem (chief) ordered his men to kill Washington. However, Washington survived, and he was thankful. “By the All-Powerful Dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me,” he wrote.
When meeting Washington again in 1770, the Indian sachem believed “a power far mightier than we shielded [Washington] from harm.” He also predicted that Washington would “become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn, will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire.”
Washington’s resilience was critical for the success of the American Revolutionary War. A good example occurred in Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. “The lack of proper clothing was a significant problem. While Washington knew most of his men were fit for duty, he calculated that at least a third of them had no shoes. Many did not have a decent coat to protect against the constant rain that plagued the camp,” wrote Stockwell.
While ordering soldiers to build wooden huts to keep warm, Washington gained support from Congress on supplies, and received support from officers like Baron Friedrich von Steuben, to train the soldiers. All these would have been impossible for Washington to achieve without his deep faith. “I saw a man on his knees, praying most fervently in the snow... such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man,” recalled Isaac Potts, a Quaker who witnessed Washington in prayer.
The outcome is well documented in history. “Here the Continental Army, still largely made up of a collection of disparate colonial militias supported by hundreds of camp followers and allies, emerged under Washington’s leadership as a cohesive and disciplined fighting force,” explained an article from the National Historical Park.
Such vision, perseverance, miracles, and faith were also observed with Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. As the seventh emperor of the dynasty, he elevated his era to a golden age in Chinese history. With nine elder brothers, his chances of becoming an emperor were low at the beginning. His mother’s generosity had won the favor of the preceding Emperor Jing, as well as his own intelligence. As a result, he became the crown prince at the age of seven.
Fairness is a critical quality for a leader, and here is a story of the prince who tested this principle when he was 14. At that time, the Court of Justice was faced with a case related to a farmer called Fang Nian. After witnessing his stepmother murder his own father, Fang killed his stepmother. The Court of Justice considered this an act of treason, but Emperor Jing was not sure and asked the prince for his opinion.
“People claim that a stepmother is similar to a birth mother, but this highlights that the two are indeed different,” the prince explained. “The woman became Fang’s stepmother because she married his father; with the first killing, the family tie was essentially severed. Therefore, Fang should be sentenced as a regular murderer, not as a traitor.” Both Emperor Jing and the Court of Justice were thus persuaded.
Two years later, the prince became Emperor Wu at age 16 in 140 BC. He immediately appointed talented Confucian scholars such as Dong Zhongshu to high positions. His grandmother, Empress Dowager Dou, still wielded power and opposed these new ideas, hoping to continue the policy from previous emperors. Rather than argue, the young emperor demonstrated resilience and waited for the right moment. But he did not simply remain idle. Instead, he took numerous initiatives consistent with his vision, including sending Zhang Qian as an envoy to the Western Regions. This proved to be pivotal since Zhang’s talents not only helped to expand their territory but also opened the Silk Road to Central Asia and West Asia.
After his grandmother passed away in 135 BC, Emperor Wu rejuvenated Confucianism by assigning such scholars to key positions, improving the Imperial Academy, and collecting missing documents from previous dynasties to enrich the culture. He also established a system of selecting officials based on their knowledge of classical texts. All these factors contributed to the unprecedented prosperity of the Han Dynasty and laid a solid foundation for future dynasties.
Emperor Wu’s biggest achievement was defeating the Xiongnu (Huns), a dream of six emperors before him that had never materialized. Because Emperor Wu was searching for talented individuals, the divine most likely presented him with two gifted generals—Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. Despite their lowly birth, the Emperor trusted them, and their continued unusual successes became an unparalleled legacy. Impressed by Huo’s accomplishments, the Emperor planned to build a mansion for him to start a family. “The Xiongnu have not been destroyed; how can I think of [starting a] family?” Huo replied. This saying also became a well-known phrase passed down from generation to generation in history, illustrating the devotion to a larger good cause instead of self-interest.
As a result, during Emperor Wu’s era, China reached a peak during those hundreds of years in economy, territory, politics, and art. All these were coherently connected with his deep faith. In fact, Emperor Wu was said to have encountered divine beings on numerous occasions. In 110 BC, he met the legendary Queen Mother of the West and Lady Shangyuan. To cultivate the Tao, one must rid oneself of the five vices, explained Lady Shangyuan. Furthermore, one should treat others with kindness, remain observant, redress grievances, show compassion, abstain from licentiousness, avoid extravagance, and honor the divine.
Two years prior to his death in 89 BC, Emperor Wu reflected on the lessons learned in life and issued the Repenting Edict of Luntai, one of the first repenting edicts issued by emperors in Chinese history. “Earlier, I received a proposal suggesting that every person pay an extra tax of 30 coins to support the border defense. This would add burden upon people, especially the elderly, weak, or those who nobody looks after,” he wrote. “The most important task at the moment is to strictly prohibit officials at all levels from being harsh and cruel to the people and stop them from increasing taxes without authorization. By doing so, we will make ways to greatly enhance agricultural production.”
This document from the Emperor of Wu is another testimony to the theme of Chinese civilization—constantly looking within and improving oneself. Similarly, Washington also emphasized sincerity and integrity. “I hold the maxim to be less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy.”
Living in the secular world, I am often fascinated by these stories and even dream of such divine connections. But it always ended in vain until I watched a performance of Shen Yun. By bringing the ancient civilization alive on stage, Shen Yun explains not only where we originally come from, but also a path of return.
Many other audience members have also had the same experience. Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein saw Shen Yun in Vienna on January 23, 2026. Princess Marie said the spiritual meaning conveyed through the music was especially touching. She pointed out a song performed by the soprano, saying, “I really liked the lyrics sung by the soprano. They spoke about God—the Creator—as truly being the center of all life.” When reflecting on this further, she added, “When everything seems to be lost, when people lose their faith, one should think about something higher. That’s how I understood it.”
Both agreed that Shen Yun carries profound significance for contemporary society. Prince Gundakar stated, “I believe this is extremely important. The connection between the divine and humanity is conveyed with extraordinary beauty in these dance pieces. This is truly the central message of these works—to express beauty, transcendence, and everything that comes from the divine. It left a deep and lasting impression on me.”
“It’s about empowerment and people coming together,” said Mayra Martinez, an architectural designer who watched the performance on March 6 in Phoenix, Arizona. She said one of the final segments in the program was “about turning to a higher power to help you get through dark times.”
I hold these values dear near my heart because they connect us with the past, present, and future. They help us to find our true selves and give us hope.