Concern for the nation and care for the
people.(憂國愛民)
During the Warring States period in China,
the Kingdom of Qi had a famous king named Tian Piqiang. History records a story
about him.
One day, while he was in the palace, a
guard entered and said to him,
'A man wishes to see you. His name is Wang
Dou. Should we let him in?"
He replied, "I have heard of this man
from a wise and virtuous scholar in our country. I am delighted to meet him.
Please ask him to come in quickly.'
Unexpectedly, the guard returned a few
minutes later and said to the king,
'Wang Dou requests that you go to the main
gate to greet him.'
He said that if he enters directly, the
people will think he is a person of poor character, eager to gain favour from
you.
You should go to the main gate to greet
him. This way, the people will see you as a humble, respectful and wise king.'
The king laughed heartily after hearing the
messenger's words and said,
'He is right. I will go to the main gate to
greet him now.'
After Wang Dou entered the palace, the king
respectfully invited him to sit beside him and said,
'I have ascended the throne, and my
responsibility is to protect and strengthen the Kingdom of Qi.
I have long heard that you are a very wise
man. Could you please give me some advice on how to govern the kingdom well?'
After listening to the king, Wang Dou
smiled and replied,
'Since you became king, I have heard that
you are a ruler who worries about the affairs of the kingdom and cares for the
people. In my opinion, however, your concern for the country and care for the
people probably pales in comparison to your love for an exquisite crown.'
'Why do you say that? I manage the country
very diligently every day.'
'You want an exquisite crown, yet you
didn't commission your trusted confidants to make it for you. You commissioned
professional craftsmen to make it. Why didn't you have your trusted confidants
make this crown for you? It's because you know that only professional craftsmen
have the ability to fulfil your request.' Yet when you governed the Kingdom of
Qi, you did not appoint capable and upright ministers, but instead placed
sycophants in important positions within the central government.
This demonstrates that you value the
quality of the crown far more than the development of the Kingdom of Qi.
Your actions clearly demonstrate your
priorities, therefore I say that your claim to revitalise and strengthen the
kingdom is a lie.
After hearing Wang Dou's words, the king
stood up respectfully and said to Wang Dou:
'What you said is correct. I was indeed
wrong. I will remember your honest advice and change my ways from now on.'
The king immediately ordered a reform of
the central government's personnel. He appointed several capable and upright
individuals, and dismissed those who only knew how to flatter.
Under his leadership, the Kingdom of Qi
prospered day by day.
This idiom translates as "concerned
about the affairs of the state and caring for the people".
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
If you were the king, would you change your
behaviour immediately after hearing these words? How would you view someone
whose words and actions don't align? I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
憂國愛民(Concern for the nation and care for
the people.)
中國的戰國時代的，齊王國有一個著名的國王，他的名字叫做田辟彊，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
有一天，他在皇宮中，有一個侍衛進來對他說。
有一個男人想要見你，他的名字叫做王斗，請問我們要讓他進來嗎?
他對侍衛說。我聽說過我們國家內一個很有智慧且品德很好的學者提過這個人，我很樂意見到他，你請他快點進來。
沒想到這個侍衛幾分鐘後又來到國王的面前，這個侍衛對國王說。
王斗請你去大門口迎接他。
他說如果他直接進來百姓會覺得他是一個熱切希望從你這邊得到好處的品德不好的人。
你應該到大門口去迎接他，這樣子百姓會覺得你是一個謙虛與尊重有智慧的人的國王。
國王聽完使者的話後大笑說。
他說得有道理，我現在就到大門口迎接他進來。
王斗進到皇宮之後，國王很尊敬的請他坐在自己的身邊，國王隊王斗說。
我繼承了王位，我的責任是要守護並且壯大齊王國。
我早就聽說你是一個很有智慧的人，請問你可以給我一些如何治理好齊王國的建議嗎?
王斗聽完國王的話後，他笑著對國王說。
你成為國王後，我就聽說你是一個憂慮國事與關愛人民的國王，在我看來你憂慮國事與關愛人民的程度，恐怕還比不上您對一頂精緻王冠的喜愛呢。
國王說。
你為何這樣說呢?我每天都很用心的管理國家。
王斗說。
你想要擁有一頂精緻的王冠，你沒有讓你的親信為你製作這頂王冠，你委託專業的工匠來製作。為何你不讓你的親信為你製作這頂王冠呢？那是因為你知道專業的工匠才有足夠的能力來完成你的託付。
但是你在治理齊王國的時候，你任用的卻不是有才能且正直的大臣，你讓那些只會阿諛奉承的親信掌握中央政府內的重要職務。
我認為這個事實正說明了您對一頂王冠品質的重視遠超過對齊王國的發展的重視。
你的行動實際地表現出了你更看重什麼，所以我說你想要振興與壯大齊王國的說法根本是假的。
國王聽完王斗的話後，他很恭敬的站起來並對王斗說。
你說的這些話是對的，我的確做錯了。我會記得你的諍言，我會從現在開始改變。
國王立刻下令進行中央政府內的人事改革，他任用了好幾個有能力且正直的人，他將那些只會阿諛奉承的人免職。
齊王國在他的帶領下，一天比一天更興盛。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是憂慮國事與關愛人民。
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。
你如果是國王，你聽到這些話後，你會立刻改變自己錯誤的行為嗎?你如何看待一個說話與行為不相符的人呢?
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