Usurping the credit from heaven because of
one's own greed.(貪天之功)
During China's Spring and Autumn period,
the Kingdom of Jin had a very famous minister whose views and actions
influenced later generations profoundly. He is considered a paragon of noble
character and refined integrity. His name was Jie Zitui, and his story is
recorded in many historical books.
The Kingdom of Jin was ruled by a king
named Ji Chong'er.
In order to escape the political struggles
and assassinations within the royal family of the Jin Dynasty, Ji Chong'er
spent approximately 19 years in exile in various kingdoms.
With the help of the Qin Kingdom, he
returned to Jin at the age of 62 and took the throne. He was a grateful man.
After becoming king, he generously rewarded the followers and ministers who had
accompanied him during his exile.
Seeing this, Jie Zitui wrote a poem
expressing his views on Ji Chong'er's actions.
A dragon left its homeland and flew
everywhere.
This dragon had no fixed abode and
travelled through many kingdoms in China.
Five snakes followed the dragon for a long
time, accompanying it as it wandered from kingdom to kingdom.
One day, the dragon was finally able to
return gloriously to its homeland.
To express its gratitude, the dragon vowed
to repay the five snakes.
Four of the snakes happily accepted the
dragon's gifts, but one refused and went alone to a desolate wilderness.
Jie Zitui said to the ministers who had
been in exile with Ji Chong'er for over a decade and had accepted his gifts:
'Heaven does not wish for the destruction
of the Jin Kingdom, so Heaven will surely arrange for a king to lead it.
How can you think that Ji Chong'er is king
now because of you? I believe your actions and thoughts are misguided.
A person who steals another's property will
be punished by law.
'You shouldn't have accepted the king's
gifts. You took them out of greed, and you stole the credit from heaven because
of it. I think your actions are wrong.'
The ministers ignored Jie Zitui and gladly
accepted the king's offer. Seeing this, Jie Zitui said dejectedly, 'Fine, these
people have different values to me. I think their thinking is flawed. I don't
want to work with them anymore.'
This idiom translates literally as
'usurping the credit from heaven because of one's own greed'.
It can also be used to describe someone who
steals the fruits of another's labour.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Do you agree with Jie Zitui's view? If you
were Jie Zitui, what would you do next?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
貪天之功(Usurping the credit from heaven
because of one's own greed.)
中國的春秋時代的晉王國有一個非常著名的大臣，他的觀點與行為對後代的影響非常大，他被認為是一個高尚人格與高雅節操的典範，他的名字叫做介之推，在許多歷史書上都記載了有關於他的故事。
晉王國有一任的國王的名字叫做叫做(姬重耳)，為了躲避晉王朝的皇室內的政治鬥爭與暗殺，他流亡在其他的王國大約19年的時間。
在秦王國的協助下，姬重耳在他62歲那一年回到了晉王國並繼承王位成了國王。姬重耳是一個知道感謝的人，他成為晉王國的國王後，他大大的獎勵了那些長期跟著他一起在逃難到各個王國中流浪的隨從與大臣。
看到這個情況後，介之推寫了一首詩表達他當時的心情與感受。
這首詩的大概內容如下。
有一條龍離開了自己的故鄉，並且到處飛翔。
這條龍沒有固定的行蹤，他經過了中國的許多王國。
有五條蛇長期地追隨著這條龍，他們跟著這條龍在各個王國間飄盪。
有一天，這條龍終於能夠再度光榮地回到自己的故鄉
這條龍為了表示自己的感謝所以他表示要好好地回饋這五條蛇。
這五條蛇中有四條蛇開心的接受這條龍所餽贈的禮物，其中有一條蛇不願意接受這條龍的好意，這條蛇孤獨地到了荒涼的原野上。
介之推對接受姬重耳的餽贈的那幾個一起流亡十幾年的大臣們說。
上天不願意晉王國滅亡，所以上天一定會安排一位國王來領導晉王國。
你們怎麼會認為姬重耳是因為你們的關係，所以現在才能夠成為國王呢?
我認為你們的行為與想法是錯的。
偷竊一個人的財物的人，這個人會被法律判刑。
你們不應該接受國王的餽贈，你們因為貪心接受國王的餽贈，你們因為自己內心的貪念所以強佔了上天的功勞，我認為你們的行為是錯的。
那幾個大臣沒有理會介之推，他們欣然地接受了國王的好意，介之推看到這個情況之後，他很沮喪地說。
算了，這些人跟我的價值觀不一樣，我認為他們的想法有偏差，我不願意再跟他們一起工作了。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是因為自己內心的貪念所以強佔了上天的功勞。
這句成語也能夠被引申用來形容一個人竊取別人的勞動成果。
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。
你認同介之推的看法嗎?你如果是介之推，你接下來會怎樣做呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為左傳-僖公24年
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E6%98%A5%E7%A7%8B%E5%B7%A6%E6%B0%8F%E5%82%B3/%E5%83%96%E5%85%AC
出處為呂氏春秋-季冬記-介立
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%91%82%E6%B0%8F%E6%98%A5%E7%A7%8B/%E5%8D%B7%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C