His fingers point up and then down(上下其手)
During the Spring and Autumn Period in
China, a minister of the Kingdom of Chu named Bozhouli led an army to attack
the Kingdom of Zheng.
After the defeat of the Kingdom of Zheng, a
general of the Kingdom of Zheng named Huang Jie was captured.
On the second day after Huang Jie was
captured and taken to the Chu army camp, an incident occurred at the Chu army
camp.
Two officers spoke to Bozhouli at the same
time.
I met (Huang Jie) on the battlefield, and
after a fierce hand-to-hand fight with him, I defeated him, thus making the
greatest contribution to the victory of this war.
The names of the two officers were (Chuan
Feng Xu) and (Wei).
After (Bozhouli) saw this situation, he
immediately made a judgement in his mind. He knew in his heart that the person
who defeated and captured (Huangjie) was (Chuanfengxu), but he wanted to play
favorites (Wei).
So he told (Chuan Feng Xu) and (Wei).
In order to find out the truth, I will let
(Huang Jie) identify who defeated him.
(Bozhouli) ordered the soldiers to bring (Huang
Jie) before him, and (Bozhouli) said to (Huang Jie)
Who defeated you yesterday?
Is the person standing to my left the one
who defeated you? This man is the king's younger brother.
(Bozhouli) said, pointing his finger
upwards.
Is the person who defeated you the one to
my right? This man is a common officer.
(Bozhouli) said while pointing downward.
(Huang Jie) was a very clever man. He knew
from (Bozhouli's) actions and tone of voice that (Bozhouli) wanted him to
choose the person standing to (Bozhouli's) left.
(Huang Jie) said to everyone.
The man who defeated me yesterday was the
one to your left.
The direct translation of this idiom is
that his finger is pointing up and then down.
This idiom is used to describe a person who
cheats in order to win.
It has been extended to describe a person
who physically harasses another.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Have you ever been treated unfairly? Do you
play favorites someone because of who they are?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
上下其手(His fingers point up and then down)
中國的春秋時代，楚王國的一個叫做(伯州犁)的大臣帶領一支軍隊攻打鄭王國，
鄭王國戰敗後鄭王國的一個名字叫做(皇頡)的)將軍被俘虜。
(皇頡)被俘虜到楚王國的軍營的第二天，楚王國的軍營內發生了一個事件
有兩個軍官同時對伯州犁說。
我在戰場上遇到了(皇頡)，我與他在一場激烈的面對面的對戰後，他被我打敗，因此這場戰爭能夠勝利，我的功勞最大。
這兩個軍官的名字是(穿封戌)與(圍)。
(伯州犁)看到這個情況後他的心中立刻有了判斷，他心中知道打敗並抓到(皇頡)的人是(穿封戌)，但是他想要偏袒(圍)。
於是他就對(穿封戌)與(圍)說。
為了要釐清事情的真相，我會讓(皇頡)指認到底是誰打敗了他。
(伯州犁)命令士兵們把(皇頡)帶到他的面前，(伯州犁)對(皇頡)說。
你昨天是被誰打敗你呢?
打敗你的人是站在我的左邊的這個人嗎?這個人的身分是國王的弟弟。
(伯州犁)說這句話的同時他的手指指著上面。
打敗你的人是站在我的右邊的這個人嗎?這個人的身分是一個普通的軍官。
(伯州犁)說這句話的同時他的手指指著下面。
(皇頡)是一個很聰明的人，他從(伯州犁)的行動與說話的語調中，他知道(伯州犁)希望他選擇站在(伯州犁)左邊的那個人。
(皇頡)對著所有人說。
昨天打敗我的人是站在你的左邊的那個人。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思他的手指先指上面然後指下面。
這句成語被用來形容一個人利用作弊的手段去贏得勝利。
這句成語被延伸用來形容一個人對另一個人進行身體上的性騷擾。
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。
你曾經被不公正的對待嗎?你會因為一個人的身分而偏袒這個人嗎?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為左傳-襄公-26年