單者易折眾則難摧(A single arrow can easily be
broken, but a bundle of arrows is much harder to break.)
本部落格寫作緣起，原是為了向國際友人介紹中華文化。因此行文中，為求簡明易懂，例如將皇帝、王等傳統頭銜，統一簡化為國王，並盡量直稱其名。此為譯介之便，非為考據之疏。若您欲查閱嚴謹史料，請以文末所附典籍出處為準。
西元313-663年，在現在的中國的甘肅省與青海省的這塊地區內，有一個由鮮卑民族所建立的王國，這個王國的名字叫做吐谷渾，這個王國有一任的國王的名字叫做(阿豺)，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
阿豺是吐谷渾王國的第九任國王，他在位的時間只有六年，他在位的期間，吐谷渾的國力一天比一天強大，但是很不幸的，在西元424年他生病了，他的病情一天比一天更嚴重，他自己知道自己可能將要死去。
阿豺有幾個弟弟與20個兒子，在他臨死之前，他找來了他的兄弟與他的兒子們，這20幾個人聚集在他的床邊，他對這20幾個人說。
我的哥哥在他死後把王位傳給我，我現在宣布，在我死後，我的王位必須由我的弟弟來繼承。
阿豺接著命令他的僕人拿出一個裝箭的桶子，他命令僕人發給這20幾個人每人一支箭，他對這20幾個人說
你們現在每個人都徒手把手中的那支箭折斷。
這20幾個人聽到他的命令後就各自用力把自己手中拿的箭折斷。
阿豺接著吩咐他的僕人拿出一綑箭，他對其中一個弟弟說。
這一綑箭總共有19隻，我現在命令你徒手把這捆箭折斷。
那個弟弟接過這捆箭，這個弟弟出盡了全力但無法把這捆箭折斷。
阿豺看到這個情況後笑著對現場的所有人說。
你們之間有人可以徒手把這捆箭折斷嗎?
在場的所有人都搖搖頭表示自己辦不到。
阿豺收起笑容很嚴肅地對這20幾個人說。
一支箭很容易被折斷但一大綑箭就很難使之斷裂。
只要你們團結在一起，那麼我們王國就一定會越來愈強大。
這件事情發生後沒幾個小時，阿豺安詳地離開這個世界。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一支箭很容易被折斷但一大綑箭就很難使之斷裂。
這句成語被延伸用來形容一個人的力量有限但一群人團結在一起時就能產生強的力量。
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。
你的國家是一個團結的國家嗎?你跟你的家人或兄弟們的感情是團結還是分裂呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為魏書-卷101-吐谷渾傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E9%AD%8F%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7101
A single arrow can easily be broken, but a
bundle of arrows is much harder to break.(單者易折眾則難摧)
A single arrow can easily be broken, but a
bundle of arrows is much harder to break.
From 313 to 663 AD, the Xianbei people
established a kingdom called Tuyuhun in what are now the Gansu and Qinghai
provinces of China. One of its kings, Achai, is recorded in history.
Achai was the ninth king of the Tuyuhun
kingdom. He reigned for only six years, during which time the kingdom grew
stronger day by day. Unfortunately, in 424 AD, he fell ill and his condition
worsened daily. He knew he was likely to die.
Achai had several brothers and twenty sons.
Before he died, he summoned his brothers and sons, and these twenty-odd people
gathered at his bedside. He said to them:
'My elder brother passed the throne to me
after his death. I now declare that after my death, the throne must pass to my
younger brother."
A-Chai then ordered his servants to bring
him a bucket of arrows. He told his twenty-odd men to take an arrow each and
break it with their bare hands.
Upon hearing this, the men each strained to
break their arrows.
A-Chai then ordered his servants to bring
out a bundle of arrows. He said to one of his brothers, 'This bundle contains
nineteen arrows. I now command you to break this bundle with your bare hands.'
The brother took the bundle of arrows and,
despite exerting all his strength, could not break it.
Seeing this, A-Chai smiled and asked
everyone present, "Can any of you break this bundle with your bare
hands?"
Everyone shook their heads to indicate that
they could not.
A-Chai's smile faded and he addressed the
twenty or so men seriously, saying, "A single arrow is easy to break, but
a large bundle of arrows is very difficult to break."
As long as you unite, our kingdom will
surely grow stronger.
A few hours later, Ah Chai passed away
peacefully.
This idiom literally means that a single
arrow can easily be broken, but a bundle of arrows is much more difficult to
break.
It is used to describe the limited strength
of an individual and the immense power that comes from a united group.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
have you gained from this story?
Is your country united? Are your
relationships with your family and siblings united or divided?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.