Hidden in a famous mountain(藏諸名山)
Sima Qian was China's most outstanding
historian. Both he and his father served as officials in the central
government, responsible for recording history. While this position was not
exceptionally high status or well paid, it was highly respected.
Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian
is China's most classic historical work. In his youth, he travelled throughout
China conducting detailed fieldwork. 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, an event occurred that profoundly
impacted Sima Qian's life. He angered the king and was sentenced to castration,
a punishment that severely damaged his male dignity.
In a letter to a close friend named Ren An,
he described his inner struggle and feelings at the time:
'When this extremely painful and
humiliating punishment was inflicted upon me, I had just started writing the
Records of the Grand Historian, and the book's structure was still in the
initial draft stage.'
However, my determination to complete the
book was so strong that, even when I suffered this great calamity, I did not
succumb to resentment and anger, nor did I stop writing.
I believe that if my book can be published,
people will love it, it will become a bestseller and spread quickly.
At that time, people will understand why,
despite being subjected to this humiliating punishment, I was willing to endure
this disgrace and continue living in shame.
This book is more important than my life —
I would sacrifice my life ten thousand times for it without hesitation.
The idiom literally translates as 'hidden
in a famous mountain'.
It is used to describe someone who keeps
their valuable work hidden away, waiting for the right moment to share it with
people who will appreciate it.
Dear friend, what inspired you or what
thoughts did you have after hearing this story?
Would you be willing to sacrifice your life
for your work? Among your favourite books, is there one that wasn't popular but
had a profound impact on you?
I hope this story offers you some new
insights.
藏諸名山(Hidden in a famous mountain)
司馬遷是中國最傑出的歷史學家。他的父親與他都在中央政府內擔任負責記錄歷史的官員，這個工作沒有非常高的地位與非常好的薪水，但是這是一個非常令人尊敬的職位。
司馬遷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，發生了一件對司馬遷的生命影響巨大的事情。他因為惹怒了國王所以被判處一個極度損害男性尊嚴的刑罰，他被判處宮刑。
在他寫給他的一個叫做(任安)的好朋友的心中，他描繪了他當時內心的掙扎與感受。
當這件令人感到極度痛苦與羞辱的刑罰執行在我的身上的那個時候，我正開始動手寫史記這本書，這本書的架構還在擬定初稿的階段。
因為我的心中要完成這本書的信念太過強烈，所以我在遭受了這個巨大的災禍時，我沒有因此沉溺在怨恨與憤怒的情緒中，我沒有因此停止寫作。
我那個時候想著，我一定要完成這本書，假如這本書在完成之後無法出版，我就把這本書藏在一座著名的山中，等待好的時機我再發表這本書。
我相信我寫的這本書如果可以公開發行，我這本書一定會受到人們的喜愛，這本書一定能夠很暢銷並且快速地流傳到各個地方。
到那個時候，人們就會知道我為何會在被執行這件令人覺得羞辱的刑罰後、我竟然願意忍受這個屈辱繼續羞恥地活在這個世上。
這本書比我的生命更加重要，我願意為了這本書犧牲我自己的生命一萬次，我也不會感到任何的猶豫。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是藏在一座著名的山中。
這句成語被用來形容一個人將自己的珍貴著作收藏起來，這個人等待好的時間再發表這本書，讓這本書可以在合適的時機被那些懂得這本書的價值的人們看見。
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。
你是否願意為了那些事情犧牲自己的生命呢?你喜歡的書中，有沒有那本書並不熱門但是對你影響非常大呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為司馬遷-報任少卿書
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E5%A0%B1%E4%BB%BB%E5%B0%91%E5%8D%BF%E6%9B%B8