Very high-level positions and very generous
salaries.(高官厚祿)
In Chinese history, there have been some
highly admired figures. They are not famous for their 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 individuals. One story, in essence, is
as follows:
Confucius lived during China's Spring and
Autumn Period. His family was very influential in the Kingdom of Lu.
Confucius's grandson, Zisi, was a highly
respected scholar. The King of Lu often consulted him on matters of governance.
One day, the king said to Zisi,
'I have heard of a man of great virtue and
ability named Gongyi Qian who is currently living in seclusion on a mountain in
the Kingdom of Lu.
Have you heard of him?' Zisi replied,
'Not only do I know him, but we are also
good friends.'
'That's wonderful. Since you know Gongyi
Qian, could you invite him to the palace for me? I would like to meet him. I've
heard that he is a man of great ability and high moral character. I want to
appoint him as prime minister of Lu and would like his help in strengthening
Lu."
Zisi smiled and replied after hearing the
king's words.
'I don't need to go to him; I can answer
you directly. I don't think he will accept your offer.'
'Why are you so sure? The Prime Minister of
Lu has great power and a high salary, so I think he would accept my offer.'
Zisi said seriously after hearing the
king's words.
'You like to be flattered. There are many
upright and capable people in the current central government, but according to
my observations, you haven't valued their opinions or suggestions. I believe
that you appointed Gongyi Qian as prime minister merely to gain a good
reputation for yourself in other kingdoms.
Gongyi Qian is a man who doesn't care about
money or power. If he's willing to help, he'll accept a low salary and a low
position.
If you truly want to strengthen the Kingdom
of Lu, you should distance yourself from the central government ministers who
offer only flattery and value those who are truly capable.
The king fell silent after hearing Zisi's
words.
This idiom translates as "a very high
official position and a very generous salary".
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
have you gained from this story?
Would you abandon your principles for money
and power? What do you think are the most important values a person should
uphold?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
.高官厚祿(Very high-level
positions and very generous salaries.)
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。
孔子生活在中國的春秋時代，孔子的家族在魯王國非常的有影響力。
孔子的孫子的名字叫做(子思)，他是一位備受敬重的學者，魯王國的國王時常向他請教治國之道。
有一天，魯王國的國王對(子思)說。
我聽說魯王國內有一個品德很高且能力很強的人，這個人的名字叫做(公儀潛)，(公儀潛)目前隱居在一座山上。
你聽過這個人嗎?。
(子思)回答。
我不但認識他，而且我跟他是好朋友。
魯王國的國王說。
那太好了，既然你認識(公儀潛)，那麼你可以替我邀他來皇宮嗎?
我想要認識他，我聽說他是一個品德很高且能力很強的人，我想要聘請他擔任魯王國的宰相，我想要請他協助我讓魯王國變得更加強大。
(子思)聽到國王的話後，他笑著回答。
我不用去找他我就可以直接回答你，我認為他不會答應你的聘用。
國王很疑惑地問。
你為何這樣確定呢?魯王國的宰相擁有很大的權力與很多的俸祿，所我想他應該會答應我的聘用吧?
(子思)聽完國王的話後很嚴肅地對國王說。
你喜歡被人奉承，現在的中央政府中有很多正直與有能力的人，但是根據我的觀察，這些人的意見與建議都沒有被你重視。
我認為你要聘任公儀潛擔任宰相只是為了讓你在其他王國中得到好的名聲。
(公儀潛)是一個不在乎金錢與權力的人，如果他願意幫忙，那麼就算是你給他很少的薪水與很低的職位他也會願意接受。
你如果真的想要讓魯王國變得更強大，那麼你現在最應該做的是遠離中央政府中那些只會說好聽話的大臣並重視那些賢能的大臣。
國王聽到(子思)說的這些話後沉默了。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是非常高的官職與非常豐厚的俸祿。
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。
你會因為金錢與權力而放棄自己的原則嗎?你認為一個人最應該堅守地價值觀為何呢?
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