I think life is the most important thing.
To survive, I did many things I didn't want to do.(偷生苟活)
There was a famous minister in China's
Eastern Han dynasty. His name was Dai Ping. There is a story about him recorded
in history books.
In the Han Dynasty, the king would ask
officials from various places to recommend talented local people to him. After
assessing and confirming these people, the king would allow them to work in the
central government.
Dai Ping was an expert in the Book of
Changes and was recommended for a position in the central government at the age
of 16. Once he had joined the central government, he first became a researcher
specialising in academic research.
A few years later, the founder of the
Eastern Han dynasty transferred him to the central government's administrative
system. This role brought him into frequent contact with the king, as he served
as his policy advisor.
One day, the king asked him:
'Your position is to be my advisor. Is
there anything you think I could improve?'
He replied to the king:
'I think your standards for reviewing
ministers are too strict, and you should be more tolerant towards them.' Let me
give you an example. There was a minister from the same hometown as me, Jiang
Zun. He was honest, loyal and knowledgeable, yet you imprisoned him for making
some minor mistakes.
The king was very angry when he heard this.
As Jiang Zun is your fellow villager, you
spoke up for him. I don't think my decision was wrong.
When Jiang Zun heard the king, he did not
make any excuses, but took the initiative to speak to him.
If you think I've made a mistake or that
I'm not qualified for my position, then you can arrest me.
I take responsibility for my words and I am
willing to go to jail.
He was later thrown into prison.
After being thrown into prison, the king
began to reflect on his actions.
Following some soul-searching, he came to
the conclusion that Dai Ping was right. He therefore ordered the soldiers to
release Dai Ping from prison and bring him before him.
When Dai Ping emerged from prison and met
the king, he said:
'It was my fault that I was arrested. I
should not have waited until you asked me to point out your mistakes. I should
have expressed my opinion as soon as I realised that you were being too harsh
with the ministers.
At the time, I should have been prepared to
die for my beliefs, but I chose not to do so. I am greedy for life and believe
that life is more important than anything else. To survive, I did many things I
was unwilling to do.
I am willing to accept any punishment you
wish to impose on me.
'The king said this after hearing what he
had said.
'You are not wrong. I think I am wrong, and
I will review my behaviour.'
You are right. Not only will I not punish
you, I will also give you a promotion.'
This idiom means that I think life is more
important than anything else. To survive, I do many things I don't want to do.
This idiom is used to describe a person who
compromises in order to survive, doing many things they are unwilling to do.
Dear friends, what are your thoughts or
feelings after hearing this story?
If you were a king, would you reflect on
yourself? Have you ever done things you didn't want to do?
I hope this story brings you some new
insights.
偷生苟活(I think life is the most important
thing. To survive, I did many things I didn't want to do.)
中國的東漢王朝有一個著名的大臣，他的名字叫做(戴憑)，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
漢王朝有一項制度，漢王朝的國王會要求由各個地方的官員推薦推薦當地的一些有才能的人給他，國王針對這些人進行考核確認之後會讓這些有才能的人進入中央政府工作。
他是一個研究易經的專家，他16歲的時候被推薦進入中央政府內工作。他進入中央政府後他先成了一個專門進行學術研究的研究員。
幾年之後，東漢王朝的開國國王將他調任到中央政府的行政體系內，他的工作內容可以常常接觸到國王，他的工作是擔任國王的政策顧問。
有一天國王問他。
你的職位是我的顧問，你認為我有甚麼地方需要改進的嗎?
他對國王說。
我認為你對待大臣們的審核標準太過嚴苛，你應該要用更寬容的態度來對待大臣們。我舉一個例子，有一個跟我同鄉的名字叫做蔣遵的大臣，他很清廉又很忠誠又很有學問，但是你因為他犯了一些小錯誤就把他關到監獄內。
國王聽到他的話後很生氣的對他說。
蔣遵是你的同鄉，所以你才幫他說話。我認為我的決定沒有錯。
他聽到國王說這些話後，他沒有辯解，他主動對國王說。
如果你認為我犯了錯，如果你認為我沒有擔任我這個職位的資格，那麼你可以逮捕我。
我對我說的話負責，我願意被下到監牢內。
他後來就被關入了監獄。
他被關入監獄之後國王開始自我檢討。
國王在自我檢討後認為戴憑地說法是對的，所以他又下令讓士兵們把戴憑從監獄中領出來並且帶到自己的面前。
戴憑從監獄出來見到國王後，他對國王說。
我被逮捕是我的錯，我不應該等到你問我的時候我才指出你的錯誤，我應該在發現你對待大臣們太過嚴苛的第一時間就提出我的看法。
我那個時候應該抱持著必死的決心對你說出的諍言，我那個時候沒有選擇這樣做，我認為我是一個貪戀生命的人，我認為生命比任何事情都重要，我為了活下去，我做了很多我不願意做的事。
你如果要對我進行任何處罰，我都願意接受。
國王聽完他的話後對他說。
你沒有錯，我認為錯的是我，我會重新檢討我的行為。
你是對的，我不但不會處罰你，我還會讓你升職。
句成語直接翻譯的意思是我認為生命比任何事情都重要，我為了活下去，我做了很多我不願意做的事。
這句成語被用來形容一個人為了活下去所以妥協了，他做了很多自己不願意做的事情。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你如果是國王你會反省自己嗎?你是否曾經做過那些你不想做的事情呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為後漢書-卷79上-戴憑傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E5%BE%8C%E6%BC%A2%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B779%E4%B8%8A