A ruler of ten thousand horse-drawn chariots.(萬乘之主)
The Zhou dynasty in China lasted from 1046
BC to 256 BC.
The period from 770 BC to 476 BC is known
as the Spring and Autumn period, while the period from 476 BC to 221 BC is
known as the Warring States period.
At that time, the supreme leader of China
was the king of the Zhou dynasty.
The Zhou king established more than 100
vassal states, each of which became a kingdom.
These kingdoms waged many fierce wars for
land and resources. Sometimes they cooperated and sometimes they were hostile
towards each other — it was an extremely chaotic era.
During the Spring and Autumn period, the
kingdom of Qi had a renowned king named Jiang Xiaobai. He led Qi to become the
most powerful kingdom of the time, and his story is recorded in history.
One day, Jiang Xiaobai heard that a wise
man named Xiaochen Ji lived in seclusion on a mountain in Qi.
Xiao Chenji was upright and serious, and
possessed high talent and moral character, much like the famous sages of
ancient times.
Jiang Xiaobai told himself, 'If I am to
become an exceptional leader, I must have talented individuals around me who
can offer me honest advice. Therefore, I must visit Xiao Chenji.'
Accompanied by several important ministers,
Jiang Xiaobai arrived at Xiao Chenji's secluded home in the mountains.
Xiao Chenji's servant told them, "My
master is not here. Come back later.'
Several hours later, Jiang Xiaobai returned
to Xiao Chenji's home.
The servant again told them, "My
master is not here. Come back later.'
Jiang Xiaobai left again for several hours
and returned to Xiao Chenji's home.
The servant told them again, "My
master is not here. Come back later.'
At this time, the ministers who had
accompanied Jiang Xiaobai on his visit angrily said to him, " 'You are a
monarch with ten thousand horse-drawn chariots, ruling a great kingdom. Yet you
have come three times today and still have not managed to see Xiao Chenji. We
believe we should return to the capital, as your continued waiting will damage
your prestige.'
Jiang Xiaobai replied seriously to his
ministers.
'I believe that only a truly talented and
virtuous person would disregard power and wealth as Xiao Chenji does. If he
were to become my advisor, I believe he would offer many suggestions to improve
the Qi kingdom."
'I believe that only a king with lofty
ambitions and dreams would humbly and respectfully seek the help of talented
and virtuous people, because such a king knows that they will strengthen his
kingdom.'
After saying this, Jiang Xiaobai smiled and
left Xiao Chenji's house with his ministers.
On his fifth visit late that night, Jiang
Xiaobai finally met Xiao Chenji.
News of Jiang Xiaobai's actions spread to
the other kingdoms, and their kings and people greatly admired his humility and
patience. Under Jiang Xiaobai's leadership, the Qi Kingdom grew increasingly
powerful.
This idiom translates as 'a monarch who
owns ten thousand horse-drawn chariots'.
It is used to describe a king who governs a
very powerful kingdom.
Dear friend, what have you learned from
this story?
If you were Jiang Xiaobai, would you
continue to wait humbly for Xiao Chenji? What would you be willing to do to
achieve your dreams?
I hope this story has given you some new
insights.
萬乘之主(A ruler of ten thousand horse-drawn
chariots.)
中國周王朝的政權從公元前1046年延續到公元前256年。
其中從公元前770年到公元前476年這段時間被稱為春秋時代，公元前476年到公元前221年這段時間被稱為戰國時代
當時中國的最高領導人是周王朝的國王。
周王朝的國王把土地分封給100多個諸侯，這些諸侯各自成立的自己的王國。
這些王國之間為了爭奪土地與資源而發生許多慘烈的戰爭，這些王國之間有時候相互合作有時候彼此敵對，那是一個極度混亂的年代。
中國的春秋時代的齊王國有一個著名的國王，他的名字叫做姜小白，他帶領齊王國成為當時最強大的王國，歷史書上紀錄了一個他的故事。
有一天，姜小白聽到了一件事，有一個著名的智者隱居在齊國的一座山上，這個智者的名叫做(小臣稷)。
(小臣稷)的個性很正直而且很嚴肅，他的才能與道德水平很高就如同古代的那些有名的賢能的人。
姜小白對自己說，如果我要成為一個卓越的領袖，那麼我就需要更多有才能的人來擔任我的顧問與對我提出諍言，因此我要去拜訪(小臣稷)。
姜小白帶著幾個重要的大臣一起到了(小臣稷)隱居在山中的家。
(小臣稷)的僕人對他們說。
我的主人不在，你們晚點再來。
姜小白離開了幾個小時後又來到(小臣稷)的家。
(小臣稷)的僕人依舊對他們說。
我的主人不在，你們晚點再來。
姜小白再度離開了幾個小時後又來到(小臣稷)的家。
(小臣稷)的僕人仍然對他們說。
我的主人不在，你們晚點再來。
在這個時候，跟著姜小白一起出訪的那幾的大臣很氣憤地對姜小白說。
你是一個擁有一萬輛用馬拉的戰車的君主，你統治一個偉大的王國，但是你今天來了三次還沒有辦法見到(小臣稷)，我們認為我們應該回首都，因為你如果再繼續等待會損害到你的威信。
姜小白很嚴肅的對這幾個大臣說。
我認為一個真正擁有極高的才能與品德的人才會有像小臣稷一樣輕視權力與錢財，我認為他如果成為我的顧問他會提供我許多讓(齊)王國變得更好的意見。
我認為一個真正擁有極高的志向與夢想的國王才會謙卑且恭敬地去拜託那些才能與品德很高的人來輔助自己，因為這個國王知道這些人會讓自己的王國變得更加強大。
姜小白說完這些話後，他微笑地帶著他那些大臣離開(小臣稷)的家。
當天深夜，姜小白第五次來到(小臣稷)的家中時他終於見到了(小臣稷)。
姜小白所做的這件事情後來傳到其他各個王國，其他所有王國的國王與百姓都對姜小白所表現出來的謙卑與耐心非常的敬佩，齊王國也在姜小白的帶領下愈來愈強大。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一個擁有一萬輛用馬拉的戰車的君主。
這句成語被用來形容一個管理著非常強大的王國的君王。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有什麼樣的或有什麼樣的啟發呢。
你如果是姜小白，你會持續且謙卑地等待(小臣稷)嗎?你願意為了實現你的夢想而做出那些事情呢?
我希望這個故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉-皇甫謐-高士傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E9%AB%98%E5%A3%AB%E5%82%B3
出處為呂氏春秋-慎大覽-下賢