Between the Meng family and the Ji family.(孟季之間)
.
During China's Jin Dynasty, there was a
famous minister. His family was one of the most powerful in the dynasty, with
many of its members serving in the central government. His name was Wang Zhan.
History records a story about him.
He was a tall man, standing at nearly 190
cm, with a high forehead and a large nose. He was quiet and uncommunicative.
Because he was so inconspicuous and silent, all his relatives looked down on
him.
Wang Zhan's nephew was named Wang Ji.
He was very handsome and skilled in
horseback riding and archery. He was also well-versed in the I Ching, as well as
the works of Laozi and Zhuangzi. His wife was a Jin Dynasty princess, and he
was close to the king. He was confident in his abilities and felt he was
superior to everyone else.
He looked down on his uncle, believing Wang
Zhan to be a fool. One day, Wang Ji had an in-depth conversation with his uncle
and spent several days with him. This interaction completely changed Wang Ji's
view of his uncle, transforming his initial disdain into deep respect.
One day, the king of the Jin dynasty was
chatting with Wang Ji.
During the conversation, the king said to
Wang Ji, 'I haven't seen your dim-witted uncle for a long time. How is he doing
lately?'
Wang Ji replied, 'Are you referring to Wang
Zhan? I've only recently realised that he's a very intelligent and wise man.'
Puzzled, the king asked Wang Ji, "Why
have you suddenly changed your opinion of your uncle?"
Wang Ji recounted his conversations and
interactions with his uncle.
After hearing Wang Ji's account, the king
said, "Based on your description, your uncle is indeed very intelligent
and wise.
Which minister in our central government do
you think he is comparable to?"
Wang Ji thought for a few minutes before
answering. 'I think my uncle is slightly less talented than Minister Shan Tao,
but slightly more talented than Minister Wei Shu.' His abilities are probably
somewhere in between.'
A few days after this incident, a friend of
Wang Zhan's told him about it.
Wang Zhan heard Wang Ji's evaluation of
him. He said to his friend, 'My nephew places me somewhere between the Meng and
Ji families.'
Upon hearing this response, Wang Zhan's
friend asked, confused, "What do you mean by that?"
Wang Zhan smiled and replied.
'There's an anecdote from the Spring and
Autumn Period.' The King of Qi and his ministers discussed the proper etiquette
for receiving Confucius.
The king said to his ministers, 'The
Kingdom of Lu had three important political families. If we compare them by
influence and power, the Ji family holds the greatest power, followed by the
Shu family. The Meng family holds the least.
I think it would be most appropriate for us
to receive Confucius with etiquette somewhere between those of the Meng and Ji
families.'
Wang Zhan continued. 'I think my nephew's
metaphor is very apt. His evaluation of me is very pertinent.
This idiom literally means 'between the
Meng family and the Ji family'.
It is used to describe a person or event
that is in a mid-level state.
Dear friends, what insights or thoughts
have you gained from this story?
Which of your friends do you think is
superior to you? What is the most pertinent evaluation of yourself that you
have ever heard?
I hope this story brings you new insights.
孟季之間(Between the Meng family and the Ji
family.)
中國的晉王朝有一個著名的大臣，他的家族是晉王朝中最有權力的一個家族，他的很多家人都在中央政府內擔任大臣，他的名字叫做王湛。
歷史書記載了一個他的故事。
王湛的身材很高大，他的身高接近190公分，他的額頭很高而且鼻子很大，他不喜歡說話，他很安靜，因為他太不起眼又太沉默了，所以他的家中的所有親戚們都輕視他。
王湛的哥哥的兒子的名字叫做王濟。
王濟長得非常的帥又很擅長騎馬與射箭，他還熟讀易經和老子與莊子的著作，他的妻子是晉王朝的公主，他跟晉王朝的國王的關係非常好，他對自己的能力充滿了信心，他覺得自己比其他人都優秀。
王濟瞧不起他的叔叔，他認為王湛是一個愚笨的人。
因為一次偶然的機會，王濟與他的叔叔進行了非常深入的交談與連續好幾天的相處，這次的對談與相處完全地改變了王濟對他的叔叔的看法，他從原本的瞧不起自己的叔叔變成很尊敬自己的叔叔。
有一天，晉王朝的國王與王濟閒聊。
閒聊的過程中，國王對王濟說。
我已經好久沒有看到你那一個平凡又愚笨的叔叔，他最近還好嗎?
王濟回答國王。
你指的那個人是王湛嗎?我最近才發現他是一個非常聰明有智慧的人。
國王很疑惑地問王濟。
你為何突然改變你對你的叔叔的看法。
王濟就把自己與他的叔叔對談和相處的經過告訴國王。
國王聽完王濟的話後說。
根據你的描述，你的叔叔的確是一個很聰明又有智慧的人。
你認為他的才能，大概跟我們中央政府內的那一個大臣差不多呢?
王濟思考了幾分鐘後回答。
我認為我的叔叔的才能比(山濤)這位大臣差一點，但是比(魏舒)這位大臣好一點。他的才能大概介於這兩個之間。
這件事情發生幾天後，王湛的一個朋友對他說了這件事。
王湛聽到了王濟對他的評價。王湛對他的朋友說。
我的侄兒把我的位置放在孟家族與季家族之間啊。
王湛的朋友聽到這句回答後很疑惑地問。
你這句話是什麼意思呢?
王湛微笑著回答。
春秋時代有一個典故。齊王國的國王與齊王國的大臣們討論要用怎樣的禮儀規格來接待孔子。
國王對大臣說。
魯王國有三個重要的政治世家，如果按照影響力與權力來評比，權力最大的是(季)家族，然後是(叔)家族，權力最小的是(孟)家族。
我認為我們用介於(孟)家族與(季)家族之間的禮儀規格來接待孔子是最適當且合宜的。
王湛接著說。
我認為我的侄兒的這個比喻非常洽當。他對我的評價非常中肯。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是介於(孟)家族與(季)家族之間。
這句成語被用來形容一個人或一件事務處於一種中等水平的狀態。
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。
你認為你的朋友中誰比你優秀呢?你聽過對你自己最中肯的評價為何呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉書-卷75-王湛傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E6%99%89%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7075