He wore a leather coat and carried a heavy
load of firewood on his shoulders.(披裘負薪)
During the Spring and Autumn Period of
China, the fourth son of the King of the Kingdom of Wu was named Ji Zha.
Ji Zha was knowledgeable and virtuous. He
served as the Kingdom of Wu's ambassador and frequently represented Wu on
visits to other kingdoms.
According to historical records, one
pleasant summer's day in May, he was hiking in the mountains when he saw a
piece of gold lying on the road.
Looking around, he saw a man wearing a
leather coat and carrying a heavy load of firewood walking nearby. He beckoned
the man to come to him.
Ji Zha addressed the man in a commanding
tone:
'Did you see that piece of gold lying in
the middle of the road? You can pick it up; it could improve your financial
situation.'
The man replied angrily.
'Why did you suddenly appear here and say
such things to me?
Can't you see that I have actively chosen a
life of poverty? I do manual labour chopping wood in the sweltering summer heat
while wearing a leather coat. I use physical hardship to cultivate my inner
self.
The weight of the coat and the pressure of
the firewood in this quiet environment allow me to feel the purity of life more
clearly, helping me to find peace.
Doesn't this contrast — wearing a leather
coat in the sweltering summer heat while chopping wood — show that my values
are different to those of most people?
Would someone like me really pick up a
piece of gold left behind on the road?
Upon hearing the man's words, Ji Zha's
attitude changed from frivolous to respectful. He said to the man,
'I feel very rude; I apologise. May I ask
your name?"
The man replied.
'You are unworthy to know my name because,
although you saw a person's appearance and clothing, you didn't delve into or
analyse their personality and traits.'
However, I accept your sincere apology and
forgive your rudeness.'
After saying this, the man turned and left.
The idiom literally translates as 'he was
wearing a leather coat and carrying a lot of firewood on his shoulders'.
It is used to describe a principled,
virtuous and reclusive person.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Do you think a person's clothing reflects
their character? What characteristics do you think your favourite clothes
represent?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
披裘負薪(He wore a leather coat and carried a
heavy load of firewood on his shoulders.)
中國的春秋時代的吳王國的國王的第四個兒子的名字叫做(季札)。
季札的知識豐富而且品德高尚，他擔任吳王國的大使並經常代表吳王國出訪各個王國。
根據歷史書的記載，有一年的五月，那個時候是好夏天，他去山上遊玩時看見路中有一塊被丟失的金子。
他環顧四週，他看到附近有一個男人走過，那個男人身上穿著皮衣他的肩膀上挑著很多的木柴，他就招手叫那個男人來到他的身邊。
季札用命令的語氣對那個男人說。
掉在路中間的那一塊金子你看到了嗎?你可撿走它，它可以讓你改善你的經濟情況。
那個男人聽到這句話後回答很生氣地回答。
你為什麼突然出現在這個地方並且對我說這種話呢?
難道你看不出來我是一個主動選擇過一種清貧的生活的人嗎?
我在炎熱的夏天穿著皮衣做這種砍柴的體力活，我正在藉由肉體的磨礪來進行一場純然的內心修煉。
這皮裘的沉重與柴薪的壓力加上這個寂靜的環境，讓我可以更清晰地感受生命的純粹，讓我可以安頓自己的靈魂。
我在炎熱的夏天穿著皮衣做這種砍柴的體力活，這種反差難道無法讓你覺察到我是一個價值觀與大多數人都相反的人嗎?
難道你認為像我這種人會選擇撿起路上這塊被遺落的金子嗎?
季札聽到這個男人的話後，他的態度從原本的輕率變得恭敬，他對那個男人說。
我覺得自己非常的失禮，我向你道歉，請問我可以請教你的姓名嗎?
那個男人回答。
你是一個沒有資格知道我的名字的人，因為你雖然看到一個人的外表與穿著，但你沒有深入地去思考與分析這個人的個性與特質。
但你誠心的道歉我接受，我原諒你的無禮。
說完這句話後，那個男人就轉身離開。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是他穿著皮衣他的肩膀上挑著很多的木柴。
這句成語被用來形容一個很有自己的原則的品德高尚的隱居的人。
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。
你認為一個人的穿著可以反映出這個人的想法嗎?你認為喜歡穿的服裝代表你怎樣的特色呢?
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