You are good at considering and planning
for yourself.(善自為謀)
Following the collapse of the Jin dynasty
in China, the country descended into a prolonged period of chaos.
From 439 to 581 AD, five dynasties rose and
fell in the north of the country. These dynasties were: Northern Wei, Eastern
Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi and Northern Zhou.
From 420 to 589 AD, four dynasties rose and
fell in southern China. These dynasties were: Liu Song, Southern Qi, Southern
Liang and Southern Chen.
A famous minister named Wang Sengqian lived
during this era, and his story is recorded in history books.
His family was one of the most prominent of
his time, and he joined the Liu Song government at a young age.
One day, the third king of the Liu Song
Kingdom told him, 'I saw the calligraphy you wrote on your fan, and I think
it's very good.' There's a famous calligrapher in your family named Wang
Xianzhi, but I think your calligraphy is even better than his.
Moreover, you have a beautiful appearance,
elegant manners, and a noble character.'
Although pleased by the king's praise, Wang
Sengqian remained reserved and did not become arrogant or complacent.
Following the accession of the fourth king
of the Liu Song Kingdom, Wang Sengqian became even more reserved.
The young king was very confident in his
calligraphy skills and believed that his calligraphy was excellent.
Realising this, Wang Sengqian used a very
clumsy Chinese brush to write calligraphy from that day on, concealing his true
skill in this way.
Following the fall of the Liu Song dynasty,
the Southern Qi dynasty largely adopted the Liu Song system. The first king of
the Southern Qi dynasty was Xiao Daocheng. Xiao Daocheng loved literature and
was also skilled in calligraphy.
One day, after a meeting, he suddenly said
to Wang Sengqian, 'We are both very good calligraphers. Do you think my
calligraphy surpasses yours, or yours surpasses mine?' Wang Sengqian replied,
'I believe your calligraphy surpasses that of all the kings in Chinese history.
My calligraphy surpasses that of all the
ministers in the central government.'
Hearing this, Xiao Daocheng smiled and
said, 'You are an extremely wise person. You are good at considering and
planning for yourself.'
This idiom translates directly as 'You are
good at considering and planning for yourself.'
Dear friend, what thoughts or inspiration
do you have after hearing this story?
If you were Wang Sengqian, how would you have answered? Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't know how to answer someone's question?
I hope this story gives you some new insights.
善自為謀(You are good at considering and
planning for yourself.)
中國的晉王朝結束之後，中國陷入一段長時間的混亂狀態。
西元439年到西元581年，這段期間內中國的北方更換了五個王朝。這五個王朝的名字依序是北魏王朝、東魏王朝、西魏王朝、北齊王朝和北周王朝。
西元420年到西元589年，這段期間內中國的南方更換了四個王朝，這四個王朝的名字依序是劉宋王朝、南齊王朝、南梁王朝與南陳王朝。
有一個著名的名字叫做王僧虔的大臣就生活在這個時代，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
王僧虔的家族是他們那個時代最著名的家族之一，他很年輕就進入了劉宋王朝的政府內擔任官員。
有一天，劉宋王國的第三任國王對他說。
我看到你在你自己的扇子上面寫的字，我認為的書法字寫了非常的好，你的家族中有一個著名的名字叫做(王獻之)的書法家，我認為你的書法字寫得比他更好，
而且你有著美好的儀表、你的舉止姿態很高雅，又有著高尚的度量氣度。
王僧虔聽到國王的讚美之後，他很開心，但是他沒有因此驕傲自滿，他的個性仍舊保持內斂。
劉宋王國的第四任國王繼承他的父親的王位成為國王後，王僧虔的個性更加的低調。
這個年輕國王對自己的書法實力非常有信心，他認為自己的書法寫得非常棒。
王僧虔覺察到這件事情，他從那一天開始就用非常拙劣的中國毛筆來寫書法，他用這個方式來隱藏自己寫書法的技藝。
劉宋王朝滅亡後，南齊王朝的政權基本上沿用了劉宋王朝的體系，南齊王朝的第一任國王的名字叫做(蕭道成)。蕭道成很喜歡文學也很擅長寫書法字。
有一天，在一場會議結束後，蕭道成突然對王僧虔說了一句話。
他說。
我們兩個人的書法都寫得很好，你認為我的書法實力超過你還是你的書法實力超過我呢?
王僧虔聽到這句話後回答。
我認為你的寫書法的實力超過所有的中國歷史上的國王。
我的書法實力超過所有中央政府中的大臣。
蕭道成聽完這個回答後微笑地對王僧虔說。
你是一個極其有智慧的人，你善於幫自己考慮與謀劃。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是你善於幫自己考慮與謀劃。
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。
你如果是王僧虔你會怎樣回答呢?你是否曾經經歷過類似這種不知道該如何回答別人的問題的情境呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為南齊書-卷33-王僧虔傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hans/%E5%8D%97%E9%BD%8A%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B733