Thick calluses on hands and feet(手足胼胝)
There was a famous thinker in China's
Warring States period, his name was (Han Fei).
He recorded a story in a book he wrote.
There was a great king in the Jin Kingdom,
his name was (Chong'er).
He was forced to go into exile in other
kingdoms for 19 years because of a dispute over the heir to the throne. When he
was 62 years old, he returned to the Jin Kingdom with the help of the Qin
Kingdom.
Upon his return to the Kingdom of Jin, he
ordered the guards who had followed him to throw away some of the old utensils
and bedding he had used during his escape. He also ordered some of his loyal
subordinates who had followed him for a long time to be suspended from their
duties.
Because these subordinates had been in
exile with him for so long, their faces were very tanned and their hands and
feet were calloused from long hours of labour.
After he had given this order, a loyal old
subordinate who had been with him for a long time wept.
He asked the old subordinate in confusion.
Why are you crying? Aren't you happy that I
have returned to the Jin Kingdom?
the old subordinate replied.
I am very happy for you that you can return
to the Jin Kingdom and take over as King of the Jin Kingdom.
But the order you just gave makes me very
sad.
You have just ordered the guards to throw
away all the old utensils and bedding you used during your escape, and you have
ended the duties of those of us who have been with you for a long time.
I suddenly felt that since you are about to
become the king of the Jin Kingdom, you want to use new utensils and bedding,
and appoint some young and talented people as your subordinates.
I suddenly feel that I have lost my value.
I am like the bedding and utensils that have been used for a long time and are
about to be thrown away by you, so I am crying.
Chong'er said to this old subordinate with
a smile.
You misunderstood me,
I am not terminating your current positions
to force you to retire. On the contrary, I will arrange some more important
positions for you.
Your current work requires more physical
effort, so I want to leave those jobs to some young people.
I want you, the loyal and wise people, to
work with me to manage and build the Kingdom of Jin.
These are my true thoughts, and I am
willing to swear to prove that what I say is true.
After Chong'er said these words, his old
subordinates stopped crying and smiled.
The direct translation of this idiom means
that the hands and feet have thick calluses.
It is used to describe a person who works
very hard.
Dear friend, what inspirations or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Can your work bring out your value? Will
you forget those who helped you after you have succeeded?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
手足胼胝(Thick calluses on hands and feet)
中國的戰國時代有一個著名的思想家，他的名字叫做(韓非)。
他在他寫的書中紀錄了一個故事。
晉王國有一個偉大的國王，他的名字叫做(重耳)。
因為爭國王位的繼承人的原因，他被迫他流亡到其他王國長達19年的時間，在他62歲那一年，在秦王國的協助下他再度回到了晉王國。
他回到晉王國之後，他吩咐跟隨他的侍衛們把他在逃亡的時候所用的一些舊的用具與寢具都丟掉，他又下令停止那些長期跟著他的一些忠心的部下的職務。
這些部下因為長期跟著他流亡，所以這些部下的臉都曬得很黑並且這些部下因為長期的勞動所以手腳都長繭。
他這個命令發布之後，有一個長期跟隨他的一個忠心的老部下哭了。
他很疑惑地問這個老部下。
你為何哭呢?難道你不為我回到晉王國而感到高興嗎?
這個老部下回答。
你可以回到晉王國並且可以接任晉王國的國王，我為你感到非常的高興。
但是你剛才發布的命令，讓我感到很悲傷。
你剛才吩咐侍衛們把那些你在逃亡期間使用的已經變得很舊的用具與寢具都丟掉，並且終止了我們這些長期跟隨著你的人的職務。
我突然有一種感覺，我覺得你因為即將成為晉王國的國王，所以你想要用新的用具與寢具，你想要任用一些年輕的有才能的人成為你的部下。
我突然覺得我失去了價值，我就像那些已經用了很久的用具與寢具一樣要被你丟棄了，因此我才會哭泣。
重耳笑著對這個老部下說。
你誤會我的意思了，
我終止你們現在的職務並不是要強迫你們退休，相反的，我是要安排一些更重要的職務給你們。
你們現在的工作比較需要付出體力，所以我要把那些工作交給一些年輕人去做。
我要讓你們這些忠心的有智慧的人跟我一起管理與建設晉王國。
這些是我內心真正的想法，我願意發誓證明我說的話是真的。
重耳說完這些話後，他的老部下停止哭泣並且臉上露出笑容。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是手與腳都長了厚繭。
這句成語被用來形容一個人非常辛勤的工作。
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。
你的工作可以發揮你的價值嗎?你在成功之後會忘記那些曾經幫助過你的人嗎?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為韓非子-外儲說左上。
https://ctext.org/hanfeizi/wai-chu-shuo-zuo-shang/zh