He was a man of exceptional virtue and ability, and his demeanour and magnanimity were among the best in the kingdom.(國士之風)
He was a man of exceptional virtue and
ability, and his demeanour and magnanimity were among the best in the kingdom.(國士之風)
Sima Qian was China's most eminent
historian. His Records of the Grand Historian is China's most classic
historical work. In his youth, he travelled throughout China conducting
detailed field investigations. In middle age, based on the materials he had
collected, he began to compile Chinese history from 2700 BC to 100 BC.
In 99 BC, a Han Dynasty general named Li
Ling led an army of just 5,000 men against a Xiongnu army of 80,000. Due to the
overwhelming disparity in numbers, Li Ling's army was defeated. Rather than
committing suicide for his country, Li Ling chose to surrender and was captured
by the Xiongnu.
Upon hearing the news of Li Ling's defeat,
the Han emperor was furious. This was not only because of the defeat itself,
but also because he believed that Li Ling's surrender demonstrated his
disloyalty to the Han dynasty — he had betrayed it.
In a fit of rage, the Han emperor issued a
decree ordering the execution of Li Ling's entire family for his betrayal.
After the decree was announced, most
ministers disagreed, but none dared to voice their opposition. They knew that
speaking out against the enraged king would likely provoke his wrath.
Witnessing this situation, Sima Qian
bravely expressed his opinion to the king:
'Based on my understanding of Li Ling, he
was a very filial and trustworthy man. He was willing to sacrifice his life for
our country.
He was a man of exceptional virtue and
ability, and his demeanour and magnanimity were among the best in the kingdom.
'Li Ling had achieved numerous victories on
the battlefield; this was his first defeat.'
Upon seeing Li Ling's defeat, many
ministers who had lived comfortably in the capital and never participated in
foreign wars began to criticise him. They vehemently condemned and exaggerated
Li Ling's defeat, and their mentality was infuriating. Li Ling had led an army
of 5,000 men against the Xiongnu army, which had advanced deep into their
territory. His soldiers were exceptionally well-trained, and under his
leadership, the enemy suffered heavy losses. The Xiongnu mobilised all
available troops to besiege Li Ling.
The battle lines between Li Ling's army and
the Xiongnu army were extremely long. Due to insufficient supplies, Li Ling's
army eventually ran out of arrows. They had no choice but to fight with bows.
His soldiers had immense trust and respect for Li Ling; his leadership was
comparable to that of some of the greatest generals in ancient China. Although
he ultimately failed, the devastating blow he inflicted on the enemy shocked
and terrified everyone. He did not commit suicide for his country, but I believe
he was looking for an opportunity to serve the Han dynasty again.
This idiom translates directly as: He was a
man of exceptional virtue and ability, and his demeanour and magnanimity were
among the best in the kingdom.
It is used to describe a person whose
character and abilities are exceptional, making them a prominent figure in
their country.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Who in your country possesses the character
and abilities that you respect? Are there any notable figures from your
country's history?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
國士之風(He was a man of exceptional virtue
and ability, and his demeanour and magnanimity were among the best in the
kingdom.)
司馬遷是中國最傑出的歷史學家。他寫的史記是中國最經典的歷史書。他在青年時代走遍了全中國，進行詳細的田野調查。他在中年之後根據所蒐集的材料，開始整理中國從公元前2700年到公元前100年間的中國歷史。
西元前99年，漢王朝有一個名字叫做李陵的將軍，他領導著一隻只有五千人的軍隊與八萬的匈奴王國的軍隊對戰，由於雙方的兵力太過懸殊，所以李陵率領的軍隊戰敗了，李陵選擇投降而非自殺殉國，他被俘虜到匈奴王國。
漢王朝的國王聽到李陵戰敗的消息後非常的憤怒，他憤怒的原因不只是因為李陵被打敗而是因為他認為李陵投降的行為顯示出李陵對漢王朝並不忠誠，他背叛了漢王朝。
漢王朝的國王在極度的憤怒的情緒下公告了一條命令，由於李陵背叛了漢王朝，因此所有李陵的家人全部都要被處死。
這條命令公告之後，多數的大臣們心中都不認同，但是卻都沒有人敢提出反對的意見，大臣們知道，在盛怒的國王面前，如果提出反對意見，那麼國王的怒氣可能會延伸到自己身上。
司馬遷看到這個情況後，他向國王勇敢地說出的他個觀點，他說。
根據我對李陵的了解，他是一個很孝順而且很守信的人，他願意為了我們的國家犧牲他的生命，他是一個擁有非常好的品德與能力的人，他的風範與氣度是這個王國中最頂尖的。。
李陵曾經在戰場上取得多次的勝利，這次的失敗是他第一次失敗。
看到李陵失敗後，有很多安穩地住在首都中的、沒有參與過任何一場對外的戰爭的大臣們竟然開始批評李陵，這些大臣們強烈的指責並且誇大李陵這次的失敗，這些人的心態令人感到生氣。
李陵率領著一支五千人的軍隊，對抗深入匈奴王國的國境內與匈奴王國的軍隊對戰，李陵對於士兵的訓練極其精良，在他的領導之下，敵方的士兵死傷無數，匈奴王國動員了所有可以動用的士兵來圍攻李陵。
李陵率領的軍隊與匈奴王國的軍隊的對戰戰線拉的非常的長，由於沒有足夠的補給所以李陵所率領的軍隊到最後用光了所有的弓箭，士兵們沒有辦法只能拿著弓與敵人對戰，李陵所領導的士兵們對非常的信任與尊敬李陵，他的領導力可以比擬中國古代最偉大的那些將軍，他最後雖然失敗了，但是他給予敵人的強烈打擊讓所有的人都感到震動與恐懼，他後來沒有自殺殉國，但我認為他應該是想要找機會再次為漢王朝效力。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是他是一個擁有非常好的品德與能力的人，他的風範與氣度是這個王國中最頂尖的。。
這句成語被用來形容一個人的品德與能力非常的卓越，這個人在他的國家中是最傑出的代表性人物。
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。
你的國家中有那個人的品德與能力都讓你感到尊敬呢?你的國家的歷史上有沒有那些代表性人物呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為漢書-卷54-李廣蘇建傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%BC%A2%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7054