He treats precious gold as if it were mud.(揮金如土)
There was a high-ranking official in the
Song dynasty of China. He was also a renowned poet. His name was Mao Pang.
He once wrote an obituary to commemorate
his good friend, Zheng Tinghui.
The general content of the obituary is as
follows:
Shiliang Mountain is shrouded in clouds and
mist, and a clear stream runs through it.
It is said that immortals lived in
seclusion in Shiliang Mountain. Now, only a few people rely on fishing or
logging to make a living there.
The mountain is shrouded in clouds and
mist, and there is a clean stream.
You lived in a simple, clean house at the
foot of the mountain.
I still remember the day we first met. Your
arrogance and exceptional manner made a deep impression on me. I felt that you
were a very special person.
We later became good friends. We often
drank and chatted together. We had similar personalities, interests, and
hobbies. Our friendship grew stronger day by day, and eventually our two
families became in-laws.
I am an ordinary person with nothing to
brag about. But I think I am very lucky to know you.
You are a very eloquent person with your
own unique views. You are usually the centre of attention at parties, and your
demeanour and aura always make ordinary people feel envious.
You are very talented and could easily
enter the central government and hold a very important position if you wanted
to.
You have your own life pursuits: you devote
your energy to writing poetry and studying, and you spend your spare time
drinking and chatting with your good friends. You live life on your own terms.
You don't value money; you see treats
precious gold as if it were mud.
. You have made many elegant friends and
look down on vulgar people who try all kinds of ways to get money and power.
Our lives are so short, and there are very
few days when we actually feel happy. You are an open-minded person. You think
that the length of life is not that important. You face all kinds of troubles
with a calm mind and approach each day with relaxation. You live happily every
day.
I remember when we last said goodbye, you
threw me a farewell party.
You got drunk and danced, and told me that
you were looking forward to our next meeting when we would drink Chinese rice
wine together.
I have brought a large bucket of Chinese
rice wine with me today, but you are no longer here.
I got drunk in front of your memorial hall.
I still can't believe you died so suddenly. I kept calling your name, hoping
your soul would meet me again. I shed many tears like rain.
The idiom literally means that he treats
precious gold as if it were mud.
It is used to describe a person who wastes
money extremely.
Dear friend, what thoughts or feelings did
you have after listening to this story?
Have you ever experienced the sudden death
of a close friend or family member? Have you lived every day of your life to
the full?
I hope this story brings you some new
insights.
揮金如土(He treats precious gold as if it were
mud.)
中國的宋王朝有一個中央政府的官員，他也是一個著名的詩人，他的名字叫做毛滂。
他曾經寫過一篇祭文，紀念他的一個名字叫做(鄭庭誨)的好朋友。
這篇祭文的大概的內容如下。
石梁山中雲霧缭绕，山中有個乾淨的小溪。
據說石梁山內曾經有仙人隱居，目前住在這座山中的就只剩下一些依靠捕魚或是伐木維生的百姓。
這座山上雲霧缭绕，還有一條乾淨的小溪。
你就住在這座山的山腳下的一間簡單又乾淨的房屋內。
我還記得我們認識的第一天的情況，你的高傲與卓然的神態就讓我產生了深刻的印象，我當時就覺得你是一個很特別的人。
後來我們成為好朋友，我們常常一起喝酒，一起聊天，我們的個性相近，興趣與喜好也非常類似，我們的交往一天比一天更親近，我們兩個家庭後來成了姻親。
我是一個很平庸的人，我沒有甚麼可以自誇的事情。但我認為我可以認識你，這件事讓我覺得我非常的幸運。
你是一個口才很好的人，你有自己獨特的觀點，你通常都是一個聚會中的焦點人物，你的風度與氣場總是令那些平凡的人覺得既羨慕又忌妒。
你非常的有才能，你如果願意的話，你可以輕易地進入中央政府工作並且擔任非常重要的職務。
你有自己的人生追求，你把你的精力放在寫詩與研究學問，你在閒暇的時候與你的好朋友們喝酒聊天，你用著自己所認同的方式生活。
你不重視金錢，你看待珍貴的金子就如同到處可見的泥土一樣，你結交了很多很風雅的朋友，你瞧不起那些庸俗的人，那些人為了虛空的金錢與權力想盡了各種方法。
我們每個人的人生都是如此的短暫，我們的一生中感到快樂的日子其實非常的少。你是一個豁達的人，你認為生命的長短並沒有那麼重要，你用平靜的心態去面對人生中的各種煩惱，你用輕鬆的心態面對你的每一天，你的每天都過得非常的開心。
記得我們之前最後一次分別的時候，你舉辦了一場幫我餞別的宴會。
你喝醉的站起來跳舞，你對我說期待我們下次再聚，到時候我們再一起喝中國米酒喝個痛快。
我今天帶來了一大桶中國米酒，但你卻已經不在人世了。
我在你的靈堂前喝醉，我不敢相信你竟然突然的猝逝，我不停地呼喚你的姓名希望你的靈魂可以跟我在見一面，我流了許多淚就如同下雨一樣。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是他看待珍貴的金子就如同到處可見的泥土一樣。
這句成語被用來形容一個人極端的浪費金錢。
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。
你曾經經歷好友或家人的猝逝嗎?你認為你有認真地過好自己的每一天嗎?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為宋文鑑-卷134-毛滂-祭鄭庭誨文