修身慎行(Cultivating Moral Character and Being
Cautious in One's Actions)
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。
中國的南北王朝時代，有一個著名的大臣與文學家，他的名字是顏之推。
他寫了一本書分享自己的人生經驗給他的孩子，他所寫的這本書被大家所喜愛與傳播，這本書其中的許多內容至今為止仍然深刻地影響著許多中國人。
他在這本書中寫過一段話如下。
每個人都希望有好的名聲，但我們要知道要如何得到好的名聲。
一個人如果品德深厚與才能完備，那麼這個人自然就會有好的名聲，這就好像是一個長得很漂亮的女子站在鏡子前面一樣，我們不論看到這個女子的實體與影像都一樣會非常的美。
我發現我們現在的社會中有一種現象，有些人都不去加強自己本身的品德與才能，這些人把時間放在用盡各種方法讓自己有好的名聲，他們花了很多時間但是始終沒有辦法營造出自已的好名聲，我認為這些人就好像一個長得很醜的女子，他們站在鏡子前面，他們責怪鏡子不好所以鏡子中出現一個醜女，他們的行為與反應多麼可笑。
這世界上有三種人，第一種是人品很高尚的人，這種人他們非常有智慧，他們不彰顯自己的好名聲，他們可以掌握人世間各種運行的法則，他們有美好的道德，他們的行動受到各種不可知的力量的保護。
第二種是人品中等的人，這種人提高自己的品德修養與謹慎自己做的行動，他們接受自己有好的名聲，他們希望別人知道自己的好名聲。
第三種人是人品很低劣的人，他們的外表看起來很老實但內心很奸詐，他們追求那些虛假與浮華的事物，這些人他們辛苦又忙碌，他們卻永遠得不到他們想得到的好名聲。
這一句成語直接翻譯的意思是這種人提高自己的品德修養與謹慎自己做的行動，
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。
你是一個喜歡有好名聲的人嗎?你認為你看到的那些名人中，有那些人的品德與名聲相符合呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為顏之推-顏氏家訓-卷4-名實篇
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E9%A1%8F%E6%B0%8F%E5%AE%B6%E8%A8%93/%E5%8D%B7%E7%AC%AC4
Cultivating Moral Character and Being
Cautious in One's Actions(修身慎行)
This blog was originally intended as an
introduction to Chinese culture for international friends. For the sake of
simplicity and ease of understanding, traditional titles such as 'Emperor' and
'King' have been simplified to 'King', and names are used directly wherever possible.
This is for the sake of translation convenience, not historical accuracy. If
you wish to consult more rigorous historical materials, please refer to the
sources listed at the end of the text.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties
period in China, there was a famous minister and writer named Yan Zhitui.
He wrote a book in which he shared his life
experiences with his children. This book was widely loved and disseminated, and
many of its ideas still influence Chinese people today.
In the book, he wrote the following
passage:
'Everyone desires a good reputation, but we
must know how to obtain one.
If a person possesses profound virtue and
complete talent, they will naturally have a good reputation. It's like a
beautiful woman standing in front of a mirror: whether you see her physical
form or her reflection, she is beautiful.
I've noticed a phenomenon in our society:
some people don't cultivate their character or abilities. Instead, they try
every possible method to gain a good reputation. They invest a lot of time, yet
never manage to build one. These people are like an ugly woman standing in
front of a mirror and blaming the mirror for reflecting her ugliness — how
ridiculous their behaviour is!
There are three types of people in this
world. The first type are those of high moral character. These people are very
wise. They don't flaunt their good reputation. They understand the laws that
govern the world. Their actions are protected by various unseen forces because
they possess high moral character.
The second type is people of average
character. These people cultivating moral character and being cautious in one's
actions. They value their good reputation and want others to know about it.
The third type is those of low moral
character. They appear honest, but are cunning at heart. They pursue false and
superficial things. Although these people work hard and are busy, they will
never gain the good reputation they desire.
This idiom literally translates as: A
person who cultivates their moral character and is cautious in their actions.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Do you value a good reputation? Of the celebrities you have seen, which ones do you think have a character that matches their reputation?
I hope this story gives you some new insights.