樂不可極(Pleasure should not be taken to extremes.)
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。
中國的西晉王朝，有一個著名的大臣，他的名叫做(司馬冏)，他具備皇族的血統，歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
他生活在西晉王朝的末年，當時的西晉王朝中有八個皇族都想要爭奪中央政府的控制權，這八個皇族彼此之間發生了非常激烈的爭鬥，司馬冏就是其中之一。
西元301年，有一個名字叫做司馬倫的皇族發動叛變，司馬冏聯合另外兩個皇族協助當時的中央政府抵抗司馬倫的軍隊，經過許多場激烈的戰爭後，司馬倫兵敗被殺。
晉王國的國王很感謝司馬冏，經由這個事件後，國王認為司馬冏是一個對自己很忠誠的人，國王非常的信任司馬冏，國王讓司馬冏擔任晉王朝的最高軍事長官，司馬冏成為當時最有權力的人。
司馬冏掌握了權力之後，他的本性開始暴露，他非常的專制而且固執，他非常的驕傲而且不聽別人的勸告，他每天喝酒與舉辦宴會，他每天都過的奢侈又糜爛的生活。
他的行為引發了許多人的不滿，加上他得罪了另外幾個皇族的成員，西元303年，另外兩個皇室成員聯合起來發動了一場政變，司馬冏在這場政變中被殺。
歷史學家針對司馬冏的一生做出了以下的評價。
司馬冏的家族顯赫，他與他的父親都被人們所尊敬。在西晉王朝的王室遇到危難時，他主動號召了一批人來抵抗叛亂，他拯救了皇室，他讓國王可以繼續執政。
他對於西晉王朝有著極大的功勞，他的聲望在那個時期達到了人生頂峰。然而，他在到達人生高峰之後，他開始放縱自己並且沉溺滿足自己的慾望，他忘記了一句記錄在(禮記)這本書中的一句有智慧的話，這句話就是享樂不可以過於極端。
他嘲笑別人的工作能力不夠好，但是他沒有看到自己處理事情的方式比那些被他嘲笑的人更糟糕，他沒有聽取他的屬下的諍言，所以他的人生結局非常的悲 慘，如果他在人生最高峰的時候知道要離開權力核心，那麼我認為他可以安詳且富貴地過完他的人生。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是享樂不可以過於極端。。
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。
你在到達人生高峰後，你認為你會如何決定你的下一步嗎?你是否曾經只看得到別人的缺點而看不到自己本身的問題呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉書-卷59-列傳29
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E6%99%89%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7059
Pleasure should not be taken to extremes.(樂不可極)
This blog was originally created to
introduce Chinese culture to international friends. For the sake of simplicity
and ease of understanding, traditional titles such as 'Emperor' and 'King' have
been simplified, and names are used as directly as possible. This is for the
convenience of translation, not historical research. If you wish to consult
more rigorous historical materials, please refer to the sources listed at the
end of the article.
During the Western Jin dynasty in China,
there was a famous minister named Sima Jiong. He had royal blood and his story
is recorded in history books.
He lived at the end of the Western Jin
dynasty. At that time, eight royal families wanted to seize control of the
central government. The families engaged in fierce struggles for power, and
Sima Jiong was one of them.
In 301 AD, Sima Lun, a member of the royal
family, launched a rebellion. In alliance with two other members of the royal
family, Sima Jiong assisted the central government in resisting Sima Lun's army.
After many fierce battles, Sima Lun was defeated and killed.
The King of Jin was very grateful to Sima
Jiong. Following this, the king regarded Sima Jiong as a loyal subject and
trusted him implicitly. He appointed Sima Jiong as the highest-ranking military
commander of the Jin dynasty, making him the most powerful person at the time.
However, after gaining power, Sima Jiong's
true nature began to emerge. He was extremely autocratic, stubborn and
arrogant, and unwilling to listen to advice. He spent his days drinking and
holding extravagant banquets.
His behaviour aroused widespread
discontent, and, coupled with his offences against several other members of the
royal family, two other members of the royal family launched a coup in 303 AD,
in which Sima Jiong was killed.
Historians have made the following
assessment of Sima Jiong's life:
He came from a prominent family and was
respected by the people, as was his father. When the Western Jin dynasty was in
crisis, he rallied a group of people to resist the rebellion, saving the royal
family and enabling the king to continue ruling.
He made immense contributions to the
dynasty, and his prestige reached its zenith during this period. However, after
reaching this peak, he began to indulge himself and satisfy his desires. He
forgot the wise saying recorded in the Book of Rites: 'Pleasure should not be
taken to extremes.'
He mocked others for their incompetence,
but failed to recognise that his own handling of matters was far worse. He
ignored the honest advice of his subordinates, which led to a tragic end. Had
he stepped away from the centre of power at the height of his career, I believe
he could have lived a peaceful and prosperous life.
This idiom translates directly as:
'Pleasure should not be taken to extremes.'
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Having reached the pinnacle of your life,
how will you decide on your next step? Have you ever only seen the shortcomings
of others and failed to recognise your own flaws?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.