Yan Ying was an outstanding statesman of
the Qi Kingdom during China's Spring and Autumn period. Although he was short
in stature and of ordinary appearance, he was very wise.
He lived from approximately 578 BC to 500
BC. He served as an important minister in the central government of the Qi
Kingdom for over 50 years, assisting three Qi kings.
One winter's day, the King of Qi summoned
Yan Ying. Upon receiving the summons, Yan Ying immediately entered the palace.
He saw the king sitting on a step to one side of the palace, wearing a noble
white fox fur coat and admiring the snowy scenery intently.
Yan Ying slowly walked behind the king and
stood quietly.
A few minutes later, the king noticed his
presence and turned to smile at him.
'You've arrived. Come and sit down beside
me. I have something to discuss with you.'
The king suddenly blurted out a sentence to
Yan Ying:
'It's been snowing for three days straight.
Strangely, I'm not at all afraid of the cold today; in fact, I feel quite
warm.'
Upon hearing this, Yan Ying walked over to
the king and pointed to his white fox fur coat. "Has the weather really
been as you describe these past few days? Is it really not very cold?'
The king looked at his magnificent coat,
his expression slightly embarrassed.
Yan Ying continued, 'Ancient Chinese
history books record the deeds of many great kings, and I've noticed that they
all have one thing in common.
After eating their fill, they'd wonder if
their people were still hungry.
After dressing warmly themselves, they'll
wonder if their people are still cold.
After they've rested, they'll wonder if
their people are still busy.'
Yan Ying paused for a moment, then
continued.
'I remember you telling me that you wanted
to be a great, respected king. Didn't you?'
After hearing this, the king stood up and
addressed Yan Ying, his expression serious.
'Thank you. Your words have reminded me
that I haven't cared enough for my people.
About an hour later, the king issued a new
decree.
In this decree, the king stated that it had
snowed heavily for three consecutive days, which could potentially cause
disasters throughout the Qi Kingdom.
Government officials throughout the kingdom
were to do their utmost to support those who had suffered losses due to the
snow, providing them with sufficient food and warm clothing.
This idiom translates as follows: After
eating their fill, they'd wonder if their people were still hungry.
It is used to describe a benevolent ruler
who cares for and is concerned about the needs of the people.
Dear friend, what have you learned from this story?
Does your country have policies that support vulnerable groups? If
you were Yan Ying, would you dare to speak out?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
飽而知人飢(After eating their fill, they'd
wonder if their people were still hungry.)
(晏嬰)是中國的春秋時代的齊王國的一位傑出的政治家，他的身材很矮小，他的長相很普通，但是他很有智慧。
晏嬰生活的年代大約是西元前578年到西元前500年，他在齊王國的中央政府內擔任重要的大臣的時間超過50年，他總共輔佐過三任的齊王國的國王。
有一年的冬天的某一天，齊王國的國王召見晏嬰，晏嬰收到訊息後立刻進入皇宮，他看到國王正坐在皇宮側邊的一個台階上，國王穿著一件高貴的白色的狐狸皮所做成的外套，國王正在專心地欣賞著下雪的景色。
晏嬰慢慢地走到國王的身後靜靜地站著。
幾分鐘後，國王才覺察到晏嬰已經來到身邊，國王轉過頭來笑著對晏嬰說。
你已經到了啊，先來我的身邊坐下吧，我有事要找你商量。
國王突然下意識地說了一句話，他對晏嬰說。
已經連續下了三天的雪了，好奇怪，今天我特別不懼怕寒冷，我覺得身體很溫暖呢?
晏嬰聽到這句話後，他很嚴肅地走到國王的面前，他指了一下國王所穿著的那套白色的狐狸毛所做成的外套，他接著說。
這幾天的天氣真的如你所感覺的一樣，天氣真的不太冷嗎?
國王看了看自己身上穿的那件高貴的外套，他的表情有點尷尬。
晏嬰接著說。
中國古代的歷史書上，記載了很多很偉大的國王的事蹟，我發現這些偉大的國王都有一個共同點。
他們吃飽之後，他們接著會想知道百姓們是否還處在飢餓的狀態中。
他們穿暖之後，他們接著會想知道百姓們是否還處於寒冷的狀態中。
他們休息之後，他們接著會想知道百姓們是否還處於忙碌的狀態中。
晏嬰停頓了一下然後接著說。
我記得你跟我說過，你想要成為一個偉大且受人尊敬的國王的對嗎?
國王聽完這些話後站了起來，他的表情很嚴肅地對晏嬰說。
我很感謝你，你說的這些話提醒了我，我不夠關心我的百姓。
大約一個小時後，國王發布了一條新的命令。
國王在這條命令中表示，已經連續三天下大雪，齊王國的各地可能已經造成災情。
齊王國的各地方的政府官員就要盡全力去救助這些所有因為大雪而導致損失的百姓，並且要盡力協助提供這些人足夠的糧食與保暖的衣物。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是他們吃飽之後，他們接著會想知道百姓們是否還處在飢餓的狀態中。
這句成語被用來形容一個執政者抱持著一種關心百姓與在乎百姓的需求的仁慈的心。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有什麼樣的或有什麼樣的啟發呢。
你的國家中有那些關心弱勢群體的政策嗎?你如果是晏嬰，你敢勇敢地說出自己該說的話嗎?
我希望這個故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晏子春秋-卷1
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