As long as there's enough space for a person to comfortably rest their knee on the ground, they can feel at ease. Similarly, as long as there's a piece of meat that they enjoy eating, they can feel joy.(容膝之安一肉之味)
As long as there's enough space for a
person to comfortably rest their knee on the ground, they can feel at ease.
Similarly, as long as there's a piece of meat that they enjoy eating, they can
feel joy.(容膝之安一肉之味)
There are some highly admired figures in
Chinese history. They are not famous for wealth or power, but for their disdain
for money and power. They pursued inner peace and had lofty ideals and high
moral standards. They didn't conform to social norms and lived life on their
own terms.
During the Jin dynasty, a scholar named
Huangfu Mi wrote a biography about these people. One story goes as follows:
During the Warring States period in China,
in the Kingdom of Qi, there lived a man named Chen Zhongzi. He earned a living
by weaving and selling straw sandals, while his wife contributed to the
household income by spinning and weaving for others.
He lived in a remote village within the
territory of Qi. One day, several envoys from the Kingdom of Chu arrived at his
house.
They said to him, 'The King of Chu has sent
us to visit you. He has heard of your talent and virtuous character, and he
wishes to appoint you as Prime Minister of Chu. He believes that you can help
him to make Chu even stronger.
Here is a gift that he has prepared for
you. If you accept his offer, it will be delivered to you immediately.
Having said this, the messenger produced a
wooden box. Inside was a piece of gold weighing approximately 30 kilograms.
After hearing the messenger's words, Chen
Zhongzi was somewhat tempted. He said to the messenger, 'This is a very
important decision. I must first discuss it with my wife. Please wait a
moment.'
He pulled his wife into the bedroom and
they began to discuss the matter.
He said to her, 'If I accept the offer from
the Chu Kingdom, then from tomorrow onwards, we will have luxurious carriages
to ride in and eat fine dishes every day. Do you want to live such a life?'
Chen Zhongzi's wife looked at him and calmly
replied, 'You are enjoying your life now.' You have plenty of time to read and
play the guqin, which are both your favourite things.
If you accept the Chu Kingdom's offer, our
financial situation will indeed improve significantly. But think about it: even
if you have many carriages and horses, do you really need that many? Even if
you have lots of delicious food, can you really eat it all?
I understand your personality.
You can relax as long as you have enough
space to comfortably rest your knees on the ground. Similarly, you can be happy
as long as you have some meat that you like.
If you accept the offer from the King of
Chu, your lifestyle will change drastically. You'll have to worry about work
every day, socialise constantly and live under immense pressure.
The Chu King is spending a lot of money to
hire you, so his expectations of you must be very high. If you don't perform
well in this chaotic era, I think we might both lose our lives in the end.
After listening to his wife, Chen Zhongzi
remained silent for a few minutes.
He then said to his wife, 'You're right. I
will refuse the King of Chu's offer.
This idiom literally means that as long as
there's enough space for a person to comfortably rest their knee on the ground,
they can feel at ease. Similarly, as long as there's a piece of meat that they
enjoy eating, they can feel joy.
It is used to describe someone who enjoys a
simple life.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts did you gain from this story?
When facing major life choices, do you value external rewards more than inner peace and tranquillity? What do you think are the truly indispensable things in life?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
容膝之安一肉之味(As long as there's enough space
for a person to comfortably rest their knee on the ground, they can feel at
ease. Similarly, as long as there's a piece of meat that they enjoy eating,
they can feel joy.)
中國的歷史上有一些很令人崇拜的名人，這些人有名不是因為他們有錢，也不是因為他們有權，這些人被後人所記得的原因是因為他們輕視金錢與權力，他們追求自己內心的平靜，他們有崇高的理想與道德標準，他們不遵循社會的規範，他們活成自己想要的樣子。
晉王朝有一個名字叫做皇甫謐的學者，他寫了一本傳記來專門介紹這些人的故事。其中有一個故事的大意如下。
中國的戰國時代，齊王國有一個名字叫做陳仲子的男人，他靠編織草鞋販售維生，他的妻子靠著替人紡織來一起分擔家中的開銷。
他住在齊王國的境內的一個偏遠的鄉下，有一天，他的家中來了幾個楚王國的使者。
這些使者對他說。
楚王國的國王命令我們來拜訪你，他聽聞你很有才能而且品德很好，他想要聘用你擔任楚王國的宰相，他認為你可以輔助他把楚王國變得更加強大。
這裡是他所準備的一件禮物，如果你答應他的聘用，這件禮物就會立刻送給你。
說完這些話，使者拿出了一個木盒，木盒打開後，裡面放著一塊大約30公斤重的黃金。
陳仲子聽完使者的話後，他有點心動，他對使者說。
這是一個很重大的決定，我必須先跟我的妻子商量。請你等我一下。
陳仲子拉著他的妻子進了臥室內，他們兩個人開始討論這件事。
陳仲子對他的妻子說。
如果我答應了楚王國的聘任，那麼明天之後，我們就有高級的馬車可以坐，我們每天都可以吃到很多很高級的料理，你想要過這種生活嗎?
陳仲子的妻子看著他然後很冷靜地對他說。
你現在的生活很愉快，你每天有很多的時間看書，你還可以常常彈奏中國古琴，這兩件事情都是你最喜歡的事。
如果你答應了楚王國的聘任，我們的確可以在經濟狀態上獲得極大的改善，但是你想想看，就算你有很多的馬車與馬匹，但是你需要那麼多嗎?就算你有很多的美食，但是你真的吃得下那麼多嗎?
我很理解你的個性。
只要有足夠的空間讓你舒服地把膝蓋放在地上，你就能感到自在。同樣，只要有一塊你自己喜歡吃的肉，你就能感到快樂。
你如果答應了楚王國的國王的聘任，你的生活方式將會有極大的改變，你要每天煩心工作，你會每天交際應酬，你每天的都將會生活在極大的壓力之下。
楚王國的國王要花那麼多錢聘任你，那麼他對你的期待也一定非常的高，如果你之後工作表現不好，在這個混亂的時代，我認為到最後搞不好我們兩個人連性命都會丟失。
陳仲子聽完他的妻子的話後，他沉默地思考了幾分鐘。
他對他的妻子說。
你說得有道理，我會拒絕楚王國的國王的聘任。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是只要有可以容納一個人的膝蓋的這麼一塊小地方，這個人就可以感覺到安適，只要有一個人喜歡吃的一塊肉，這個人就可以感覺到美好。
這句成語被用來形容一個人享受他的清貧的生活。
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。
在面對人生的重大選擇時，您會更看重外在的豐厚報酬，還是內心的從容與安寧?您認為什麼才是生活中真正不可或缺的東西?
我期待這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