Liu Ji (劉基)(1311-1375
AD)
His surname is (Liu), his parents called
him (Ji), his friends called him (Bo Wen) when he was growing up, and he was
born in Zhejiang Province, China.
|
劉 |
It means axe. It means to kill. It is
also one of the Chinese surnames. |
|
基 |
It means foundation. |
|
伯 |
The first born among brothers. It is also
a Chinese surname. |
|
溫 |
It means warm water. It is also one of
the Chinese surnames. |
Liu Ji was an eminent politician and a
famous writer. He was also a famous astronomer and soothsayer. His story is
recorded in history books.
The founding king of the Ming Dynasty was
called Zhu Yuanzhang, and Liu Ji was an important military adviser to Zhu
Yuanzhang.
Once Zhu Yuanzhang said to Liu Ji.
(Yang Xian) is your good friend. I want to
make him prime minister. What do you think?
He replied.
Although Yang Xian is my good friend and I
think he is very talented, I don't think he is suitable to be prime minister.
Yang Xian is too narrow-minded and is
easily influenced by his own subjective opinions when dealing with things.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked him.
What qualities do you think a good prime
minister should have?
He replied.
I think a good prime minister should have a
calm mind like water and handle things according to fairness and justice.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked him.
Do you think (Wang Guangyang) and (Hu
Weiyong) are fit to be prime ministers?
He replied.
I think they are even less suitable than
(Yang Xian). The premier is like a coachman driving a carriage, and the country
is like a carriage. If you make them chancellor, I think they'll upset the
carriage.
After hearing his answer, Zhu Yuanzhang
smiled and said to him.
Then I will appoint you as Prime Minister,
okay?
He replied.
I am even less fit to be prime minister
than them. I'm too upright, and I don't have the patience to deal with trivial
matters. I am a good adviser, but I will not be a good prime minister.
Another time, Zhu Yuanzhang said to him.
The current prime minister has made a
serious mistake, so I will punish him severely.
He said to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Although the current premier has made
serious mistakes, he has also made great contributions. I think his
contributions are enough to cover up his mistakes, so you should forgive the
Prime Minister.
Zhu Yuanzhang said to Liu Ji.
The current Prime Minister does not have a
good relationship with you, but you actually speak well of him. I think you
have a very noble character, and I would like to appoint you as Prime Minister.
He replied.
Please don't let me be Prime Minister. It
is a very important position. If a country is a house, then the Prime Minister
is the most important and thickest pillar in that house.
My talent is like a thin pillar. If you let
me be the Prime Minister, this house will be in danger of collapsing.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you get after listening to this story?
Why do you think he didn't want to be Prime
Minister? Do you think there are hidden dangers behind great power and high
status?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
劉基(西元1311年－西元1375年)
他的姓是(劉)，他的父母給他取的名字是(基)，長大後朋友稱呼他的名字是(伯溫)，他出生地位於在中國的浙江省。
劉 | It means axe. It means to kill. It is also one of the Chinese surnames. |
基 | 意思是斧頭的意思。意思是殺戮的意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
伯 | 兄弟中第一個出生的男子。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
溫 | 意思是溫水的意思。也是中國人的姓氏之一。 |
劉基是一位傑出的政治家也是一位著名的文學家，他還是一個著名的天文學家與占卜師，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
明朝的開國國王的名字叫做朱元璋，劉基是朱元璋重要的軍事參謀。
有一次朱元璋對劉基說。
(楊憲)是你的好朋友，我想要任命他成為宰相，你覺得如何?
他回答。
楊憲雖然是我的好朋友，我也認為他很有才能，但是我認為他不適合當宰相。
楊憲的度量太小，他在處理事情時容易被自己的主觀意見所影響。
朱元璋問他。
你認為好的宰相應該具備怎樣的特質呢。
他回答。
我認為一個好的宰相應該保持向水一樣的平靜的心態，應該照著公理與正義處理事情。
朱元璋問他。
那你認為(汪廣洋)與(胡惟庸)兩個大臣適合當宰相嗎?
他回答。
我認為他們兩個人比(楊憲)更不適合，宰相就像是駕駛一台馬車的馬車伕，國家就像是一輛馬車。如果你讓他們擔任宰相，我認為他們會因為把這輛馬車弄翻。
朱元璋聽完他的回答後笑著對他說。
那麼我聘請你擔任宰相好嗎?
他回答。
我比他們更不適合當宰相，我的個性太正直而且我沒有耐心去處理一些很瑣碎的事情，我是一個很好的參謀，但我不會是一個好的宰相。
另外還有一次，朱元璋對他說。
現任的宰相犯了嚴重的過錯，所以我要嚴厲的懲罰他。
他對朱元璋說。
現任的宰相雖然犯了嚴重的過錯，但是他也建立過很大的功勞，我認為他的功勞足以掩蓋他的過錯，所以你應該原諒宰相。
朱元璋對劉基說。
現任的宰相平時跟你的關係並不好，你竟然還替他說好話，我認為你具備很高尚的品德，我想要任命你當宰相。
他回答。
你千萬不要讓我當宰相，宰相這個職位很重要，如果一個國家是間房子，那麼宰相就是這間房子中最重要且最粗大的那根柱子。
我的才能只像一根細長的柱子一樣，如果你讓我當宰相，那麼這間房子會有倒塌的危險。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你認為他為何不想要擔任宰相呢?你認為巨大的權力與崇高的地位背後是否會隱藏著看不到的危險呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為明史-卷138-列传第16
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E6%98%8E%E5%8F%B2/%E5%8D%B7128