We each have control over different
matters.(各自為政)
For example, the period from 770 BC to 476
BC was known as the Spring and Autumn Period in China, while the period from
476 BC to 221 BC was known as the Warring States Period.
During this time, the Zhou Dynasty ruled
China. The Zhou king established more than 100 vassal states, each of which
became a kingdom. These kingdoms fought many fierce wars for land and
resources, making it an extremely chaotic era.
In 607 BC, the Kingdom of Zheng sent an
army to attack the Kingdom of Song. The Kingdom of Song sent a general named
Hua Yuan to lead their army in defence.
Hua Yuan was a magnanimous general who
treated all his soldiers well.
However, this trait created a flaw in his
character: he often failed to consider matters thoroughly.
Hua Yuan led his army to the front lines.
Before the battle, he slaughtered a batch of sheep and held a solemn
sacrificial ceremony, following local tradition.
Afterwards, he ordered the meat to be
cooked into a delicious dish and distributed to all the soldiers and officers.
However, he neglected to give any to one
soldier: Yang Zhen, his charioteer.
Yang Zhen was a petty man. Feeling ignored
for not receiving any, he didn't mention it to Hua Yuan, keeping his anger and
hurt to himself.
Three days later, the soldiers of the Song
and Zheng kingdoms clashed on a vast plain. At the forefront of the battle, Hua
Yuan stood on Yang Zhen's chariot and issued commands to his troops.
During the battle, a wicked thought
suddenly crossed Yang Zhen's mind. He said to himself,
'Hua Yuan is a general, and I am a chariot
driver.
Hua Yuan has his duties and I have mine; we
each control different matters.'
Three days ago, Hua Yuan neglected his duty
when he forgot to give me a portion of the mutton during the distribution.
I will take revenge. It is my duty to drive
this chariot well and enable it to issue battle orders quickly across the
battlefield. Today, I will take revenge and make Hua Yuan pay the price for his
negligence.
Suddenly, Yang Zhen drove the chariot
towards the Zheng Kingdom's camp. The Zheng soldiers were startled and
immediately surrounded the chariot. Hua Yuan was captured.
As the Song Kingdom's army had lost its
supreme commander, it was defeated in this battle.
This idiom translates as: 'We each have
control over different matters.'
It is used to describe a group of people
who act according to their own ideas and are unwilling to cooperate with each
other or adjust their methods.
Dear friend, what insights or thoughts did
you gain from this story?
How would you evaluate Yang Zhen's
behaviour? Have you ever felt angry because you felt slighted by others?
I hope this story gives you some new
perspectives.
各自為政(We each have control over different
matters.)
西元前770年到西元前476年這段時間是中國的春秋時代，西元前476年到西元前221年這段時間是中國的戰國時代。
當時中國的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，那是一個極度混亂的年代。
西元前607年，鄭王國派出軍隊攻打宋王國，宋王國派出一個名叫華元的將軍帶領著軍隊迎戰。
(華元)是一個很心胸寬大的將軍，他善待他的手下的所有士兵。
但是他的這個性格同時也讓他的個性上產生一個缺點，這個缺點就是他在處理事情的時候往往考慮的並不周到。
華元帶領軍隊到了前線，他在準備開始戰爭之前，他按照當時的傳統，殺了一批羊並且以這批羊為祭品舉行慎重的祭拜儀式。
祭拜儀式結束後，華元下令將這些羊的肉煮成美味的料理然後分配給所有的士兵與軍官食用。
在分配這些羊肉料理的過程中，華元疏忽了，他照顧到所有的士兵，但是他漏掉了幫自己駕駛戰車的一個名字叫做(羊斟)的士兵。
這個名字叫做羊斟的士兵是一個小心眼的人，他沒有吃到羊肉料理，他感覺到自己受到忽視，他也沒有主動提醒(華元)說自己沒有吃到羊肉料理，他把這個憤怒與受傷的感覺放在自己的心中。
羊肉料理事件發生三天後，宋王國與鄭王國的士兵在一片廣大的平原上展開決鬥，就在戰場的最前線，(華元)站在(羊斟)駕駛的馬車上對所有士兵發號施令。
在雙方對戰的過程中，駕駛馬車的(羊斟)的心中突然湧現出一個很壞的念頭，他對自己說。
華元是將軍，我是一個駕駛馬車的士兵。
華元有他的職責，我有我的職責，我們兩個人分別有著針對不同的事物的控制權。
三天前，華元沒有盡到他自己的職責，他在分配羊肉的時候忘記把羊肉料理分一份給我。
我要報仇，我的職責是駕駛好這輛馬車，讓他在戰場上可以到處快速發布作戰命令。我今天要報仇，我要讓華元因為他自己的疏忽付出代價。
(羊斟)突然駕駛這輛馬車衝向鄭王國的陣營，鄭王國的軍隊中的士兵們被嚇了一跳，緊接著這些士兵就立刻包圍住這輛馬車，華元被俘虜。
因為宋王國的軍隊失去了最高的決策者，所以宋王國的軍隊在這場戰役中被打敗。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是我們兩個人分別有著針對不同的事物的控制權。
這句成語被引申用來形容一個團體中的成員們都按照自己的想法行事，這個團體中的成員們不願意配合整體去調整自己的做法。
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?
你如何評價羊斟的行為呢?你是否曾經因為感覺到被別人輕視而心情憤怒呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為左傳-宣公2年
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