I choose the young man lying on the straw
mat to be my son-in-law(東床快婿)
There was a famous official in the Jin
Dynasty of China who was also the best calligrapher in Chinese history. His
name was Wang Xizhi. There is a story about him recorded in history books.
There were several famous families in the
Jin Dynasty. Among these families, the Wang family was the most powerful and
had the most famous people. Wang Xizhi was one of the members of the Wang
family.
There was a famous general in the Jin
Dynasty called Xi Jian. He had a grown-up daughter. He loved his daughter very
much and wanted to find her a good husband.
The prime minister at that time was called
Wang Dao, and his seniority and status were the highest in the Wang family.
(Xi Jian) said to (Wang Dao).
My daughter has grown up. She is very
beautiful and capable. I am very concerned about her marriage and want to help
her find a husband.
Who do you think is the best young man in
the Wang family?
Director Wang replied with a smile.
Every young man in our Wang family is very
good. Each of them is very tall, handsome, capable and knowledgeable.
(Xi Jian) said to (Wang Dao).
I do not know the young men in your family.
Is there any chance for me to meet them?
Wang Dao replied.
As it happens, we are having a family
banquet in a few days. I can invite you to the family banquet, and then you can
meet all the young men in our family.
(Xi Jian) said to (Wang Dao).
I happen to have important official
business to attend to that day. I will arrange for a trusted official to attend
this family banquet at your house on my behalf.
The day after the Wang family held a family
banquet, (Xi Jian) had a conversation with the official.
(Xi Jian) said to the officer.
How many young men from the Wang family did
you meet yesterday? Please tell me the names of each of them in detail, and the
content of your conversation with them. You must also report to me.
After the officer had reported to (Xi Jian)
in great detail for about half an hour, he said
These young men may have known in advance
that I was the one who attended the banquet on your behalf. So these young men
were all very polite when they spoke to me, except for one young man.
The young man's name was Wang Xizhi. He was
lying on a straw mat and eating. His clothes were not on properly, so I could
see his belly.
He was very natural and relaxed when he
talked to me. He was not at all cautious like other young men.
After listening to the officer's report,
(Xi Jian) later decided to choose Wang Xizhi as his son-in-law.
The literal translation of this idiom is 'I
choose the young man lying on the straw mat to be my son-in-law'.
This idiom is used to describe a person
who is a great son-in-law.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Why do you think (Xi Jian) chose Wang Xizhi
as his son-in-law? What kind of personality traits do you think Wang Xizhi's
behaviour reveals?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
圖片出處為百度百科
東床快婿(我就選擇他作為我的女婿I chose
him as my son-in-law)
東床快婿(I choose the young man lying on the straw mat to be my son-in-law)
中國的晉王朝有一個著名的官員，他也是中國歷史上最優秀的書法家，他的名字叫做王羲之。歷史書上記載過一個關於他的故事。
晉王朝有幾個著名的家族，這幾個家族中勢力最大而且名人最多的就是王氏家族，王羲之就是王氏家族的成員之一。
晉王朝有一個著名的名字叫做(郗鑒)的將軍，他有一個女兒已經成年了，他很愛他的女兒，他想要幫他的女兒找一個好的丈夫。
當時的宰相的名字叫王導，王導的輩分與地位是王氏家族中最高的。
(郗鑒)對(王導)說。
我的女兒已經成年，她很漂亮很且很能幹，我很關心她的婚事，我想要幫她找一個結婚的對象。
你認為王氏家族的年輕男子中，那一個人最優秀呢?
王導笑著回答。
我們王氏家族中的每一個年輕男子都非常優秀。每一個都很長的很英俊而且工作能力很強也很有知識。
(郗鑒)對(王導)說。
你家族中的年輕男子我不熟，我是否有機會跟這些年輕男子認識一下呢?
王導回答。
剛好我們過幾天有一場家族宴會，我可以邀請你來參加我所主辦的這場家族宴會，你到時候就可以認識到我們家族中的所有年輕男子。
(郗鑒)對(王導)說。
那一天我剛好重要的公務要執行。我會安排一個我很信任的軍官代替我去你家參加這場家族宴會。
王氏家族舉辦家族宴會後的隔天，(郗鑒)與那個軍官對談。
(郗鑒)對軍官說。
你昨天認識幾個王氏家族的年輕男子呢?你把他們每個人的名字與你與他們對話的內容都詳細告訴我，你把這些年輕男子跟你對談時的表情與肢體動作都要詳細的跟我報告。
這個軍官非常詳細的跟(郗鑒)回報大概半個小時後，這個軍官說。
這些年輕男子可能已經事先知道我是代表你去參加這場宴會的人。所以這些年輕男子在跟我對話時都表現得很有禮貌，但只有一個年輕男子例外。
這個年輕男子的名字叫做王羲之，他躺臥在一塊草蓆上吃東西，他的衣服沒有穿好所以我都看到他的肚子了。
他在跟我對談的時候表現得很自然又輕鬆，他完全不像其他的年輕男子一樣的表現出謹慎的態度。
(郗鑒)聽完這個軍官的報告後，他後來決定選擇王羲之成為他的女婿。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是我選擇躺臥在草蓆上的那個年輕人成為我的女婿。
這句成語被用來形容一個人是一個很棒的女婿。
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(郗鑒)為何會選王羲之成為自己的女婿呢?你認為王羲之的行為表現出他怎樣的人個特質呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉書-卷80-王羲之傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E6%99%89%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7080
2025/02/25更新