Asking one question yielded three insights.(問一得三)
Confucius's real name was Kong Qiu. 'Kong
Fuzi' is the respectful title that people gave him.
He was an exceptional teacher. He is one of
the most influential thinkers in Chinese history.
He had over 3,000 students, 72 of whom were
particularly outstanding. One of these students was Chen Kang, whose story is
recorded in history books.
Chen Kang was a nobleman from the Chen
Kingdom who possessed royal blood. His elder brother was an important minister
in the Chen Kingdom. Chen Kang studied under Confucius, learning the knowledge
and skills required of a nobleman.
At that time, it was customary for nobles
to demonstrate their status and position by having some of their servants
buried alive with them when they died.
Confucius' ideas greatly influenced Chen
Kang. He believed this custom to be extremely unnecessary and cruel, and
advocated its abolition.
After his brother died, Chen Kang presided
over the funeral.
His sister-in-law and the head steward said
to him,
'We should have all your brother's servants
buried with him. These servants can continue to serve your brother in the
afterlife.'
Upon hearing this, Chen Kang replied coldly
to his sister-in-law and the head steward.
'The two of you were the closest people to
my brother in life. If that's the case, you two should be buried with him too.
That would make him happier.'
Upon hearing these words, his sister-in-law
and the head steward replied,
'We agree with your view. Burial alive is a
cruel and outdated custom, and we should reform it.'
Confucius's only son was named Kong Li. He
was 19 years older than Chen Kang.
One day, the young Chen Kang asked Kong Li
a question.
He asked... 'You studied under Confucius,
like us. Did your father ever share any valuable, hidden knowledge with you
that we don't know about?"
Kong Li smiled at the young Chen Kang.
'In my memory, my father only ever said
these things to me twice, in passing.
You must study the Book of Poetry and the
Book of Rites."
'Once you have finished studying the Book
of Poetry, you will have learned the art of speech and will be able to
communicate effectively with others.'
After you have finished studying the Book
of Rites, you will know the various etiquettes to follow when interacting with
others and you will become a well-mannered and respected person.'
After listening to Kong Li's words, Chen
Kang sincerely told him, 'I'm so lucky today. I asked one question and gained
three benefits.'
Today, I realised how studying the 'Book of
Poetry' and the 'Book of Rites' can specifically help us in life. Furthermore,
I have a deeper understanding of Confucius's character. He showed me that a
person of high moral character would not favour their own family, nor would
they hide anything. He shared everything he knew with us students without
reservation.'
This idiom translates directly as 'Asking
one question yields three benefits.' It describes someone who asks for very
little but receives a great deal.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
I hope this story brings you new insights.
問一得三(Asking one question yielded three
insights.)
孔子的名字是(孔丘)。孔夫子是人們對他的尊稱。
他是一位傑出的教育家。他是為中國歷史上最有影響力的思想家之一。
他的學生超過3000人，其中特別傑出的學生有72個，這72個學生中，有一個學生的名字叫做(陳亢)，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
陳亢是陳王國的貴族，他有著陳王國的王室血統，他的哥哥是陳王國的一個重要的大臣。陳亢跟著孔子學習貴族所需要的具備的各種知識與技能。
當時的大多數的貴族們都有一種為了彰顯自己地位與身分的習俗，這個習俗就是當一個貴族死之後，這個貴族生前的一些僕人們要跟著殉葬。
陳亢的想法受到孔子巨大的影響，他認為這種習俗是極度沒有必要且殘忍的，他主張革除這種不好的習俗。
陳亢的哥哥死掉之後，他主導舉辦他的哥哥的葬禮。
陳亢的嫂嫂與家中的一個大管家對陳亢說。
我們應該要讓你的哥哥的那些僕人都跟這你的哥哥殉葬，這些僕人可以在陰間繼續服侍你的哥哥
陳亢聽完這些話後，用很冰冷的語氣對他的嫂嫂與家中的大管家說。
我的哥哥生前最親近的人就是你們兩個，如果按照這種說法，你們兩個人也必須要跟著殉葬，這樣我的哥哥會感到更開心。
聽到陳亢的話後，陳亢的嫂嫂與家中的大管家就說。
我們認為你的看法是對的，殉葬是一種殘忍又落伍的習俗，我們應該要改革。
孔子的獨生子叫做(孔鯉)。孔鯉必陳亢的年紀大19歲。
有一天，年輕的陳亢對孔鯉問了一個問題。
陳亢問。
你跟我們一樣都跟著孔子學習，你的父親是否有對你說過一些我們所不知道了隱藏的很寶貴的知識呢?
孔鯉笑著對著年經的陳亢說。
我的印象中，我的父親只有兩次偶然地對我說過這些話。
你要學習詩經與禮記。
當你當你學完詩經之後，你就能夠知道說話的技巧，你就能夠跟別人做有效率的溝通了。
當你學完禮記之後，你就能夠知道在跟別人相處時應該的各種禮儀，你就能夠成為一個很有規矩且受人尊重的人。
陳亢聽完孔鯉的話後，他用很真誠的語氣對孔鯉說。
我今天太幸運了，我問一個問題得到了三個收穫。
我今天才知道我們學習詩經與禮記之後可以對我們的生活有哪些具體的幫助，另外我也更深刻地認識到孔子的人格，他讓我看到一個道德品質高尚的人不會偏愛自己家人更不會藏私，他毫不保留地把他所知道的事情全部跟我們這些學生們分享。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思問一個問題得到了三個收穫。
這句成語被用來形容一個人向他人要求的很少但是得到的卻很多。
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。
你遇到不懂的事情的時候你會主動發問嗎?你是否抱持著小孩子那種探索問題的精神呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為論語-季氏-13條
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E8%AB%96%E8%AA%9E/%E5%AD%A3%E6%B0%8F%E7%AC%AC%E5%8D%81%E5%85%AD
出處為禮記-檀弓下-171條
https://ctext.org/liji/tan-gong-ii/zh