A promise a thousand kilometers away(千里結言)
There was a famous official in China's
Eastern Han Dynasty. His name was (Fan Shi). There is a story about him
recorded in history books.
Ancient China attached great importance to
education. Beginning with the seventh king of the Han Dynasty, a school
dedicated to teaching Confucian classics was established in the capital to
cultivate talents.
(Fan Shi) studied in this school for
several years when he was young.
While studying at this school, he was very
close to a classmate in the same class. The classmate's name was (Zhang Shao).
Fan Shi said to Zhang Shao on the day they
both graduated.
We have both graduated. I am going back to
my hometown in Shandong Province, and you are going back to your hometown in
Henan Province.
Our teacher and I agreed that I would
return to the capital to visit him in two years' time. On my way to the
capital, I would pass through Henan Province, so when I pass through Henan
Province two years later, I will make a special detour to your hometown to
visit you.
Zhang Shao said.
That's great. Let's make an appointment to
meet in two years.
Time passed quickly. One year and eleven
months after graduation, Zhang Shao told his mother.
A good friend of mine who is studying in
the capital has made an appointment to visit me and my family. There is only
one month left, so I am going to start preparing some delicious specialities to
give him a good welcome when he comes to our house.
Zhang Shao's mother said to him with a
smile.
It has been almost two years since you both
graduated. He lives in Shandong Province, a thousand kilometres away from us.
Do you think he still remembers his promise to you? Do you think he will really
come to our house to see you?
Zhang Shao spoke firmly to his mother.
He is a very trustworthy man, and I believe
he will keep his promise.
A promise a thousand kilometres away, Zhang
Shao's mother said to him after hearing his answer.
Okay, if you are so sure that he will come,
I will help you prepare some good food to entertain your good friend. There is
still a month to go, and I will brew some Chinese rice wine. When your good
friend comes to our house in a month, you can drink as much as you want.
Zhang Shao said happily to his mother.
That's great, the Chinese rice wine you
make is the best in the world, and you really are the best mother in the world.
On the day they agreed, Zhang Shao paced
around the house early in the morning. From time to time, he went to the front
door to see if anyone was walking towards his house from a distance.
Around noon, he saw a man walking towards
his house from the distance. He found the man's figure familiar. After
squinting his eyes and looking carefully, he confirmed that the man was (Fan).
He turned around and called happily into
the house.
Mother. My good friend is here. My good
friend kept his promise and came to our house to see me.
The literal translation of this idiom means
a promise that is a thousand kilometres away.
It is used to describe an agreement between
two people who are far apart.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Who is your best friend? Among your
friends, who do you think is the most trustworthy?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
千里結言(A promise a thousand kilometers away)
中國的東漢王朝有一個著名的官員，他的名字叫做(范式)，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
中國古代非常重視教育，漢王朝從第七任國王開始，為了培育人才就在首都設立的一所專門用來教授儒家經典的學校。
(范式)年輕的時候就曾經在這間學校就讀了好幾年。
他在這所學校念書的時候跟他同屆的一個同學跟他非常的要好，這個同學的名字叫做(張劭)。
他們兩個人畢業的那一天，范式對張劭說。
我們兩個人都畢業了，我要回我的家鄉山東省，你也要回你的家鄉河南省。
我跟我們的老師約定好兩年後我要回首都拜訪他，到首都的途中會經過河南省，所以我兩年後經過河南省時，會特別繞到你的家鄉中去拜訪你。
張劭說。
那太好了，那我們就約定兩年後見面。
時間過的很快，他們兩個人畢業一年十一個月後，張劭對他的母親說。
我在首都念書的時候的一個好朋友跟我約好要來看我與我的家人。現在只剩下一個月的時間了，我要開始來準備一些好吃的特產，等他來到我們家後，我要好好的接待他。
張劭的母親笑著對他說。
你們兩個人畢業到現在已經快兩年了，他住在山東省，距離我們這裡有一千公里那麼遠，你認為他還會記得他對你的承諾嗎?你認為他真的會專程來到我們家中看你嗎?
張劭態度很堅定的對他的母親說。
他是一個很非常守信用的人，我相信他依定會遵守他的諾言。
張劭的母親聽到他的回答後對他說。
好的，如果你那麼相信他一定會來，那我會協助你準備一些好的食物來接待你的好朋友，還有一個月的時間，我來釀造一些中國米酒，等一個月後你的好朋友來到我們家的時候，你們可以盡情地喝酒。
張劭很開心的對他的媽媽說。
這樣太好了，妳釀的中國米酒是全世界最棒的，妳真是全世界最好的媽媽。
到了他們約定好的那一天，張劭一大早就焦急地在家裡走來走去，他還不時地走到大門口去看有沒有人從遠方向他家走來。
到個將近中午的時刻，他看到馬路的遠方有一個男人向他家走過來，他看到那個男人的身影很熟悉，他瞇上眼睛仔細看了之後，他確認那個男人就是(范式)。
他開心地轉頭對屋內大喊。
媽媽。我的好朋友來了，我的好朋友遵守他的諾言，他來我們家看我了。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一個距離一千公里的承諾。
這句成語被用來形容兩個距離很遠的人之間的一個約定。
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。
你最好的朋友是誰呢?你的朋友中你認為誰的信用最好呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為後漢書-卷81-范式傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E5%BE%8C%E6%BC%A2%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B781