It's as if a giant bamboo frame were used
to bind the various kingdoms of China together.(一匡天下)
Yan Ying was an exceptional statesman from
the Qi Kingdom during China's Spring and Autumn period. Although he was short
in stature and of ordinary appearance, he was very wise.
History records a story about him.
One day, the King of Qi said to Yan Ying:
'The highest leader in China at this time
is the King of the Zhou Dynasty. The Zhou king enfeoffed more than 100 vassal
states, each of which established its own kingdom.
These kingdoms fought many fierce wars for
land and resources, sometimes cooperating and sometimes opposing each other.
This is the era we live in: an extremely
chaotic one.
The king paused, then continued:
'The greatest king of the Qi Kingdom was
named Jiang Xiaobai, and he lived more than 100 years ago.
According to history, the Qi Kingdom
possessed an extremely powerful military force during Jiang Xiaobai's reign,
with more than 300 horse-drawn chariots used in warfare.
He frequently convened meetings with the
leaders of all the other kingdoms at that time. He promoted justice and
morality, and all the kings respected him greatly.
He was like a giant bamboo frame holding
the various kingdoms of China together and uniting them.
The king paused again before continuing.
'Under my leadership, the military strength
of the Qi Kingdom has developed rapidly. We currently possess over one thousand
horse-drawn chariots for war. Do you think we could surpass Jiang Xiaobai?
Could I become the greatest king in the history of the Qi Kingdom?'
After listening to these words, Yan Ying
replied to the king very seriously.
'Jiang Xiaobai's ability to become the most
respected king among all the Chinese kingdoms at that time relied not only on
his powerful military strength, but also on the many wise, virtuous and loyal
ministers in his inner circle.'
Yan Ying paused again before continuing.
"Those currently in power within your
central government are all adept at flattery and cunning, and you yourself
indulge in pleasure and banquets every day.
How could you possibly believe you have a
chance to surpass Jiang Xiaobai?'
The King of Qi blushed upon hearing these
words, but he was a good king because he did not become angry; he humbly
accepted Yan Ying's criticism.
This idiom literally translates as 'like
using a giant bamboo frame to bind together the various kingdoms of China'.
It is used to describe someone who has
restored order to a chaotic region.
It is also used to describe someone who has
unified an entire country or region.
Dear friend, what insights have you gained
from this story?
If you were the king, would you be angry
upon hearing these words? If you were Yan Ying, would you dare point out the
king's mistakes directly?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
一匡天下(It's as if a giant bamboo frame were
used to bind the various kingdoms of China together.)
(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。
歷史書上記載過一個關於他的故事。
有一天，齊王國的國王對晏嬰說。
我們這個時代的中國最高領導人是周王朝的國王。周王朝的國王把土地分封給100多個諸侯，這些諸侯各自成立的自己的王國。
這些王國之間為了爭奪土地與資源而發生許多慘烈的戰爭，這些王國之間有時候相互合作有時候彼此敵對。
這就是我們生活的年代、一個極度混亂的時代。
國王停頓了一下接著說。
齊王國最偉大的國王的名字是姜小白，他生活的時代距離我們現在已經超過100年了。
根據歷史書的記載，姜小白在位期間，齊王國有著極其強大的軍事力量，當時齊王國擁有超過300輛用來戰爭的用馬拉的戰車。
姜小白在位期間，他曾經多次號召當時的所有王國的領袖一起開會，他發揚正義與道德，當時的所有王國的國王都非常的尊敬他。
他就像是用一個巨大的竹匡把中國的各個王國匡在一起，他讓所有的王國團結在一起。
國王再次停頓了一下後接著說。
齊王國在我的帶領之下，我們的軍事力量有著迅猛的發展。我們目前已經擁有
超過1000輛用來戰爭的用馬拉的戰車。你認為是否有機會超越姜小白、我是否有可能成為齊王國的歷史上最偉大的國王呢?
晏嬰聽完這些話後用很嚴肅的態度對國王說。
姜小白能夠成為當時中國的所有王國中最令人尊敬的國王，所倚靠的不只是他所擁有的強大的軍事力量；姜小白能夠成為一個偉大的國王，更重要的原因是在於他所領導的中央政府內，有著許多有智慧且品德高尚的忠誠的大臣。
晏嬰停頓了一下後接著說。
你所領導的中央政府內，目前掌握權力的都是些善於阿諛奉承與狡詐的人，你本人每天沉溺於玩樂與宴會中。
你怎麼會認為你有機會超越姜小白呢?
齊王國的國王聽完這些話之後他的臉紅了，但是這個國王算是一個好國王，因為他沒有因為晏嬰的話而發怒，他虛心地接受了晏嬰的批評。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思就像是用一個巨大的竹匡把中國的各個王國匡在一起。
這句成語被用來形容一個人匡正了一個區域的混亂的狀態，這個人使這這個區域內重新恢復秩序。
這句成語被用來形容一個人統一了一整個國家或是一整塊區域。
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。
你如果是國王，你認為自己會因為聽到這些話而生氣嗎?你如果是晏嬰，你敢不敢直接指出國王的錯誤呢?
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4
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E6%99%8F%E5%AD%90%E6%98%A5%E7%A7%8B/%E5%8D%B7%E5%9B%9B