Someone who judges others by their
appearance.(皮相之士)
During the Spring and Autumn Period of China, the King of the Kingdom of Wu had four sons. His fourth son was named Ji Zha.
Ji Zha was knowledgeable and virtuous. He served as the Kingdom of Wu's ambassador and frequently represented the kingdom on visits to other states.
One day, he arrived in the Kingdom of Qi.
Walking along the road, he suddenly saw a piece of gold on the ground.
As a wealthy nobleman, this valuable gold
held no appeal for him. He looked around and saw a man herding cattle nearby.
He beckoned the herder to come to his side.
When the man came to him, Ji Zha said,
'Someone dropped this piece of gold. I
don't need it. Judging by your clothes, you probably need it more than I do.
You can pick it up and take it home. I
believe it will greatly help your financial situation.'
The man replied to Ji Zha.
"Based on your clothing and manner of speech,
you must be a nobleman. But if you truly are, I find it strange that you would
say such things.
I have my principles. I would rather be
poor than flatter those in power.'
Did you conclude that I would take gold
that doesn't belong to me just because I'm wearing worn clothes? I believe that
a person's character is more important than money. I am unwilling to pick up
this gold and claim it as my own. It never belonged to me, and I won't tarnish
my integrity for it.
After hearing the man's words, Ji Zha said
to him, feeling ashamed.
'I am sorry. I know I have offended you. I
believe your character deserves my respect. May I ask your name? I would like
to be your friend.'
After hearing this, the man replied with
pride, "
'I think you only value appearances and
don't know how to appreciate a person's inner qualities.' You are not worthy to
know my name.'
After saying this, the man turned and left.
Ji Zha watched his retreating figure without moving. His heart told him, 'I made
a mistake today. I must remember this lesson. I mustn't judge people solely by
their appearance in future.'
The idiom 'to judge a book by its cover'
translates directly into Chinese as 'a person who judges another by their
appearance'.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Would you judge someone based solely on
their appearance? Which do you think is more important: money or personal
character?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
皮相之士(Someone who judges others by their
appearance.)
中國的春秋時代的吳王國的國王有四個兒子，他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。
有一天，他到了齊王國，他走在路上的時候突然看到有地上有一塊金子。
他是一個貴族，他非常的有錢，所以這塊價值昂貴的金子對他沒有吸引力，他轉頭環顧四周，他看到了在道路的附近有一個男人正在牧牛，他就招手叫那個牧牛的男人來到他的身邊。
那個男人來到季札的身邊後，季札對他說。
這邊的地上有一塊不知道是誰掉的金子，我不需要這塊金子，我看你的衣著，你應該比我更需要這塊金子。
你可以把這塊金子撿起來然後帶回家，我相信這塊金子對你的經濟狀況會有很大的幫助。
那個男人聽到季札的話後就對他說。
根據你所穿的服裝和你說話的方式，你應該是一個貴族，但我覺得很奇怪，如果你真的是一個貴族，那麼為何你會說出剛才說的這些話呢?
我有我做人的原則，我寧可清貧也不願意奉承那些有權勢的人。
你是因為看到我穿的衣服很破舊，就斷定我是一個會取走不屬於自己的金子的人嗎?
我認為一個人的品德比金錢更重要，我不願意撿起這塊金子然後據為己有，這塊金子原本就不屬於我，我不願意因為這塊金子而玷污我的人格。
季札聽完這個男人的話後，他很羞愧地對那個男人說。
我很抱歉，我知道我冒犯了你，我認為你的品行值得我的尊敬，我可以請問你的名子嗎，我想跟你做朋友。
那個男人聽完季札的話後，他很驕傲地對季札說。
我認為你是一個只注重外表而不知道要重視一個人的內在的品質的人。我認為你沒有資格知道我的名字。
說完這些話那個男人就轉身離開，季札一動也不動的看著那個男人遠離自己的背影，他的內心對自己說，我今天犯了錯，我應該記得這個教訓，我以後不應該只憑藉一個人的外表去評斷一個人。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一個憑藉一個人的外表去評斷一個人的人。
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。
你會因為單就一個人的外表去評斷這個人嗎?你認為金錢與個人的品德相比較，何者更重要呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為韓詩外傳-卷10-18條