We are currently in a state of emergency,
like someone suspended upside down in mid-air.(倒懸之急)
Wang Xizhi, a renowned minister of the Jin
dynasty in China who is widely recognised as one of the greatest calligraphers
in Chinese history, is the subject of a story recorded in historical texts.
In 316 AD, the Former Han Kingdom, which
was established by nomadic people in northern China, captured the capital of
the Western Jin dynasty. The Western Jin king was killed, the dynasty
collapsed, and much of northern China fell to the Former Han Kingdom. Many of
the Western Jin Dynasty's ministers and officials fled south of the Yangtze
River.
In 317 AD, a member of the Western Jin
royal family, with the help of several influential ministers, proclaimed
himself king and founded the Eastern Jin dynasty. He then established Jiankang
(modern-day Nanjing) as its capital.
Wang Xizhi lived during this chaotic era
and was only 14 years old when the Eastern Jin dynasty was established.
The Jin dynasty comprised several prominent
families, the most powerful of which was the Wang family, who produced many
notable figures. Many officials in the central government of the Eastern Jin
Dynasty were members of the Wang family, including Wang Xizhi himself.
Following the establishment of the Eastern
Jin dynasty, several brave generals emerged within the central government who
were eager to lead troops and reclaim the vast territories north of the Yangtze
River that had originally belonged to the Western Jin dynasty. Yin Hao was one
such general. He believed that the Eastern Jin army was ready to launch a
campaign north of the Yangtze River and attack the kingdoms that had occupied
Western Jin territory.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xizhi, who thought
the Eastern Jin dynasty was weak, wrote to a powerful royal family member named
Sima Yu in the hope of dissuading him.
In the final two paragraphs of this letter,
Wang Xizhi expressed his deep concern, stating that...
This military action will have a profound
impact on the future development of the Eastern Jin dynasty. Therefore, I have
decided to offer my sincere advice. I must not hesitate any longer, as I would
regret not seizing the opportunity to offer my suggestion once the military
action has begun.
You have royal blood, excellent character
and high moral standards, and you are an honourable person. With your support,
the current king is guiding the nation towards ever-greater prosperity.
This situation reminds me of a story from
China's Spring and Autumn period. A loyal minister of the Wu Kingdom named Wu
Zixu advised the king to be wary of the Yue Kingdom and, ideally, to destroy it
immediately. However, the king of Wu did not heed his advice, and a few years later,
the Wu Kingdom was destroyed by the Yue Kingdom. On his deathbed, the King of
Wu lamented, "I regret not heeding Wu Zixu's advice!"
I hope that the story of the Wu Kingdom
will not be repeated in our time. I implore you to heed my advice.
If you're willing to change your
perspective, I believe you will understand the true situation: the Eastern Jin
Dynasty is currently in a state of emergency, like someone suspended upside
down in mid-air.
I believe that you can lead us onto the
right path and help us to make the right choices. Ultimately, I believe you
will make the right decision, and all the people of the Eastern Jin Dynasty
will benefit because of you.
This idiom translates as "in a state
of emergency, like someone suspended upside down in mid-air".
Dear friend, what are your thoughts or feelings
after hearing this story?
Have you ever regretted not listening to
someone's advice? Are you willing to face life's difficulties bravely?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
倒懸之急(We are currently in a state of
emergency, like someone suspended upside down in mid-air.)
中國晉王朝的一個著名的大臣，他也是中國歷史上公認最優秀的書法家，他的名字叫做王羲之，歷史書上記載過一個關於他的故事。
西元316年，中國北方一個由遊牧民族建立的前漢王國攻佔了西晉王朝的首都後，西晉王朝的國王被殺，西晉王朝滅亡，中國北方的許多土地都被前漢王國所佔領。西晉王朝中的許多大臣與官員們逃亡到中國的長江的南邊。
西元317年，一個西晉王朝的王室成員在幾個重要的大臣的協助下，自行宣布自己成為國王並且建立了東晉王朝，然後這個國王設立建康市為首都。
王羲之就生活在這個混亂的年代，東晉王朝成立的時候，他才只有14歲。
晉王朝有幾個著名的家族，這幾個家族中勢力最大而且名人最多的就是王氏家族，東晉王朝的中央政府內有很多的官員都是王氏家族的成員，王羲之就是其中一員。
東晉王朝自從成立之後，中央政府內陸陸續續地出現好幾位勇敢的將軍想要帶領軍隊收回那些長江以北的那片廣大的原本屬於西晉王朝的土地，殷浩就是其中一位勇敢的將軍，他認為東晉王朝的軍隊已經準備好了，他想要發動軍隊前往長江的北邊攻打那些佔領了西晉王朝的土地的王國。
王羲之聽到這個消息後，他認為東晉王朝當時國力不足所以他寫了一封信給當時掌握著極大權力的一個名字叫做司馬昱的皇室成員，他希望可以阻止這件事情。
這封信的第四段的最後與第五段，王羲之表達了他內心的擔憂，他說。
這次的軍事行動會深刻地影響到東晉王朝國家未來的發展，所以我下定決心要提出我的諍言，我知道我不應該繼續猶豫，我不能夠等到軍事行動展開之後才來後悔沒有把握時機提出我的建議。
你具備皇室的血統，你有著很好的品行與很高的道德標準，你是一個正直的人。現在的國王在你的輔助之下、帶領著國家走向一條愈來愈興盛的道路。
現在的情況讓我想到一個故事，中國的春秋時代，吳王國的一個非常忠誠的名字叫做伍子胥的大臣對吳王國的國王說，我們要提防越王國並且最好立刻消滅越王國，吳王國的國王沒有聽從伍子胥的建議，幾年後，吳王國被越王國所消滅，吳王國的國王在死亡之前非常懊悔地說，我後悔沒有聽從伍子胥的建議啊。
我希望這個吳王國的故事不會發生在我們這個時代，我懇求你聽從我的諍言。
我相信只要你願意轉換你的想法，我希望你可以理解到真實的情況，東晉王朝目前處於一種像是一個人被倒懸在空中的緊急狀態。
我相信你能夠帶領我們走向正確的道路並且做出正確的選擇。我相信你最終會做出正確的決定，我認為東晉王朝中的所有百姓都會因為你而得到福氣。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是目前處於一種像是一個人被倒懸在空中的緊急狀態。
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。
你曾經後悔沒有聽誰的諍言嗎?你是否願意勇敢的面對生活中的困境呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉-王羲之-與會稽王箋
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hans/%E8%88%87%E6%9C%83%E7%A8%BD%E7%8E%8B%E7%89%8B