Someone who visits and greets their parents first thing in the morning and helps them to rest peacefully before bedtime.(晨昏定省)
Someone who visits and greets their parents
first thing in the morning and helps them to rest peacefully before bedtime.(晨昏定省)
There was a famous and loyal minister in
the Song dynasty whose father and grandfather were also important ministers. He
was also a renowned poet who wrote nearly 10,000 poems in his lifetime. His
name was Lu You.
He once wrote a letter to the king,
reminding him to rule the Song dynasty well. Part of the letter reads as
follows:
'As children, we should make our parents
happy. According to ancient Chinese texts, this is simple: we should provide
them with delicious food and comfortable clothes, visit and greet them first
thing in the morning, and help them to rest peacefully before bedtime. In winter,
we should keep them warm, and in summer, we should keep them cool.'
According to ancient Chinese teachings, we
should prioritise our parents' emotional well-being over external material
conditions, such as grand houses or beautiful music.
However, as supreme leader of the Song
dynasty, I believe that to make your parents feel comforted and at ease, you
must govern the dynasty well and earn the respect and love of all its people.
Governing this vast dynasty is no easy
task. All ministers, including you, must rise with the rooster every morning,
hold morning meetings at dawn and then handle our own official duties.
You might think, 'I'm busy handling many
affairs of the country now, and I don't have time to speak with or care for my
parents in the mornings. I feel very guilty.' But I don't think you should feel
that way.
You should consider things from your
parents' perspective. I believe they want you to govern the Song Dynasty well
and ensure that all its people live safely and happily. They believe that you
will earn the respect and love of the people, and that this is the ultimate
goal.
You should consider things from your
parents' perspective. I think they expect you to rule the Song dynasty well and
make sure that all its people live safely and happily. They believe that you
will earn the respect and love of the people, which is the ultimate expression
of filial piety.
As their child, it is essential that you
care for and love your parents. However, as the leader of the Song dynasty, you
also have a greater responsibility to care for and love all its people.
The direct translation of this idiom
is 'visiting and greeting one's parents
first thing in the morning and helping them to rest peacefully before bedtime'.
It is used to describe someone who cares
deeply for their parents.
Dear friend, what are your thoughts or
feelings after hearing this story?
What kind of behaviour would your parents
like to see from you? How long has it been since you proactively cared for your
parents?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
晨昏定省(Someone who visits and greets their
parents first thing in the morning and helps them to rest peacefully before
bedtime.)
宋王朝有一位著名的很忠誠的大臣，他的父親與祖父都是宋王朝的重要的大臣，他也是一個著名的詩人，他一生中寫了將近10000首詩。他的名字叫做(陸游)。
他曾經寫過一封信給當時的國王，在這封信中，他提醒國王應該要把好好管理宋王朝，這封信中有部分內容如下。
我們作為子女，應該要讓父母感到開心，根據中國的古代典籍的記載，我們要讓父母開心的方式很簡單，我們要讓父母吃美味的食物、為他們提供舒服的衣服，我們要一早起床就去探望與問候父母，晚上睡覺前協助父母讓父母可以安穩的休息，我們冬天要想辦法讓父母親感到溫暖，夏天要想辦法讓父母親感到涼爽。
根據中國古代的典籍中的教導，我們應該要關心父母親的心理感受，至於外在的物質條件例如高大的房屋或是美妙的音樂，那些都是其次。
但是你身為宋王朝的最高領導者，我認為你如果想要讓你的父母親感到欣慰與安心，你應該做的事情就是把宋王朝管理好，讓所有的百姓都敬愛你。
管理好這個龐大的宋王朝是不簡單的，我們所有大臣跟你一樣，我們在每天清晨公雞啼叫時就要起床，在天剛亮時就要到開始進行早會，結束後各自開始處理自己手上的公事。
你可能會這樣想，我現在要忙著處理國家中的很多事情，我早上沒有時間到我的父母親的面前與他們對話並且關心他們，我的內心感到非常愧疚，但我認為你不應該這樣想。
你應該站在你的父母親的立場去思考，我認為他們會期許你把宋王朝管理好並讓所有的百姓都生活在安全與快樂的環境中，他們會認為你能夠獲得所有百姓的尊敬與愛戴，這就是孝順的最極致的表現。
身為你的父親與母親的子女，你對你的父親與母親的關心與愛護是必須的，但是身為宋王朝的領導者，你同時承擔著更大更重要的對所有百姓的關心與愛護的責任。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一早起床就去探望與問候父母，晚上睡覺前協助父母讓父母可以安穩的休息。
這句成語被用來形容一個人很關心與很用心地去照顧自己的父母。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你認為你的父母親希望看到你有怎樣的表現呢?你有多久沒有主動去關心你的父母親了呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為宋-陸放翁全集劍南詩稿渭南文集-文集卷4-65到69條