Not remembering someone's past mistakes.(不念舊惡)
China has a very long history. The second
dynasty in Chinese history was the Shang dynasty.
It was established around 1600 BC and fell
around 1046 BC, lasting approximately 500 years.
During this period, several small kingdoms
existed within China, one of which was the Guzhu Kingdom.
According to historical records, the
founder of the Guzhu Kingdom was a member of the Shang royal family. The Guzhu
Kingdom's capital was located near present-day Tangshan City in Hebei Province,
China.
The eighth king of the Guzhu Kingdom was
named Yawei.
He had three sons: the eldest was named
Boyi, the second Yaping and the youngest Shuqi.
All three of Yawei's sons were very kind
and lived in harmony with one another.
However, Yawei loved his third son the
most, so he wrote a will appointing Shuqi as his heir.
Following Yawei's death, however, Boyi and
Yaping told Shuqi, "Our father's will appointed you as our new king. We
respect his wishes and invite you to ascend the throne.'
Shuqi replied, "Our father's decision
was foolish. I do not wish to succeed him as king."
According to the rules established by our
ancestors, it should be Boyi who becomes king.
However, Boyi and Yaping refused to accept
this and insisted that Shuqi become the new king instead.
Unable to change his brothers' minds, Shuqi
ultimately fled the Kingdom of Guzhu.
After he left, Yaping said to Boyi, 'Our
younger brother has fled our kingdom. Now you should succeed him as the new
king.'
Boyi replied to Yaping. 'Our father was
about to hand over his throne to Shuqi, and I failed in my duty to fulfil his
wishes.
If I had become king, the people would have
thought I drove my brother away to seize the throne.
I was unwilling to take over as king.
The day after this incident, Boyi also fled
Guzhu.
After leaving Guzhu, Boyi travelled
extensively. One day, he happened to bump into Shuqi.
Boyi was delighted to see him, but Shuqi
was surprised.
After a heartfelt conversation, the two
brothers forgave each other for their past actions.
They later travelled together throughout
China, never returning to Guzhu.
Confucius once shared his thoughts on Boyi
and Shuqi with his students.
Confucius said:
'They were both very simple and kind
people.' Neither Boyi not remembering someone's past mistakes. They were people
without resentment.'
This idiom literally means not remembering
someone's past mistakes.
It is also used to describe someone who
doesn't remember past offences against them.
Dear friends, what insights or thoughts have
you gained from this story?
If someone offends you, how long do you
hold a grudge? And if someone does you a favour, how long will you remember it?
I hope this story brings you new insights.
不念舊惡(Not remembering someone's past
mistakes.)
中國的歷史非常的悠久，中國歷史上的第二個王朝是(商)王朝。
商王朝的建立時間大约是在西元前1600年，商王朝的滅亡時間大約是在西元前1046年，王朝續時間大約500年。
商王朝存在的同時，中國境內還有好幾個小王國，其中有一個小王國的名字叫做(孤竹)國。
根據歷史書的記載，孤竹國的創立者是商王朝的一個皇室成員，孤竹國的首都位置大約在現在中國的河北省的唐山市附近。
孤竹國的第八任國王的名字叫做(亞微)。
亞微有三個兒子，大兒子的名字叫做(伯夷)，二兒子的名字叫做(亞憑)，小兒子的名字叫做(叔齊)。
亞微的三個兒子的個性都非常的好，他們彼此相處得非常和睦。
亞微最喜歡他的第三個兒子，所以他立下遺囑，讓(叔齊)成為他的王位繼承人。
亞微死後，(伯夷)與(亞憑)對(叔齊)說。
我們的父親的遺囑中要讓你成為我們新任的國王，我們尊重父親的意願，請你登基成為我們新的國王吧。
(叔齊)對他的兩個哥哥說。
我們的父親做的這個決策是愚昧的，我不願意繼任成為新國王。
按照祖先立下來的規定，應該要讓(伯夷)成為我們的國王。
(伯夷)與(亞憑)不肯接受叔齊的提議，他們兩個人堅持要(叔齊)成為新的國王。
(叔齊)無法改變他的兩個哥哥的想法，他最後選擇逃離孤竹國。
(叔齊)逃離孤竹國之後，(亞憑)對(伯夷)說。
我們的弟弟已經逃離我們王國，現在你應該登基成為新國王。
(伯夷)對(亞憑)說。
我們的父親要將把他的王位交給(叔齊)，我沒有盡到我的責任去完成我們的父親的遺願。
如果我成為了新的國王，王國中的百姓會一定會誤會我為了爭取王位所以趕走我的弟弟。
我不願意接任成為新的國王。
這件事情發生的隔天，(伯夷)也逃離的孤竹國。
(伯夷)離開孤竹國後，他到了各地地方遊歷，有一天，他巧遇了(叔齊)。
他看到叔齊時非常高興，但叔齊看到他的時候非常驚訝。
他們兩個兄弟經過一番很深切的交談後，他們兩個人原諒了彼此之前的行為。
他們兩個人後來一起在中國的各地遊歷，他們一輩子沒有再回到孤竹國。
孔子曾經對他的學生們說他對伯夷與叔齊兩個人的看法。
孔子說。
他們兩個人都是很單純善良的人，他們兩個人不會伯夷、叔齊不會記住別人以往的過錯，他們兩個是心中沒有怨恨的人。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是不會記住別人以往的過錯。
這句成語也被用來形容一個人不會記住別人以往得罪自己的地方。
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。
如果別人得罪你，你會把件事情放在你的心中多久呢?如果別人對你有恩惠，你會把這件事情放在你的心中多久呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為史記-卷61-伯夷列傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E5%8F%B2%E8%A8%98/%E5%8D%B7061