勢傾天下(Their power was so great it could
overturn the entire country)
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。
中國唐朝的第九任國王的名字叫做李隆基，他統治唐王朝長達44年的時間。
李隆基剛繼任為國王的時候，他非常用心的管理整個巨大的唐王朝，他虛心地聽從很多忠誠的大臣的意見，唐王朝的國力一步一步到達顛峰，這個時期的他被後代的人們認為是一個非常偉大的國王。
李隆基領導唐王朝成為當時代最強大的帝國之後，李隆基的心態開始變得放鬆，他認為唐王朝會持續的繁榮下去，他開始放縱自己的慾望，他開始每天舉辦宴會，他喝酒玩樂，這個時期的他被認為是一個非常昏庸的國王。
李隆基在60歲的時候，娶了一個名字叫做楊玉環的女子為嬪妃。
楊玉環的體態很豐滿，她的容貌豔麗，她還很擅長歌舞且精通音律，她的觀察力與對於周遭環境的敏感度超過大多數人，她很擅長去迎合李隆基的心態並且說出一些讓李隆基覺得很舒服的話，她甚至可以運用李隆基對自己的寵愛來讓李隆基做出一些重大的決定。
李隆基非常喜歡這個當時年紀只有26歲的女子，楊玉環在很短的時間內就成為地位僅次於皇后的高階嬪妃。
由於這個時期的李隆基的心態已經變了，他在國家管理上失去了年輕時的謹慎，他對於中央政府內的人員安排與職位的調度非常的隨意，他隨著自己的喜好安插中央政府的職務給任何他覺得好的人。
在楊玉環的影響之下，楊玉環的父親與母親還有三個姊姊還有兩個哥哥都受到李隆基的重視，李隆基讓楊玉環的家人們擁有正式的榮譽職位與實際掌握權力的職位，楊玉環的家人們還受到李隆基的非常多的賞賜，他們還擁用許多特權，楊玉環與她的家人們很快地就成為當時代最具有影響力的家族，他們的勢力大到可以傾覆整個國家，中央政府內的官員們奉承與巴結楊玉環的家族，楊玉環的家族中每天都有許多人想要來拜訪，她的家中就如同市場一樣熱鬧。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是他們的勢力大到可以傾覆整個國家
這句成語被引申用來形容一個人或一個家族的勢力非常的巨大。
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。
你是否曾經因為愛情而做出錯誤的判斷呢?你認為李隆基的這種做法會給國家帶來怎樣的危害呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為舊唐書-卷51-楊貴妃傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E8%88%8A%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B751
Their power was so great it could overturn
the entire country(勢傾天下)
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 to 'King', and the given name is used as much as possible. This is
for the convenience of translation, not historical research. If you wish to
consult rigorous historical materials, please refer to the sources listed at
the end of the article.
The ninth emperor of the Tang dynasty in
China was Li Longji, who ruled for 44 years.
When Li Longji first ascended the throne,
he managed the vast Tang Dynasty diligently. He humbly listened to the advice
of his loyal ministers, and the dynasty's national strength gradually reached
its peak. During this period, he was regarded as a great king by later
generations.
However, after leading the Tang Dynasty to
become the most powerful empire of its time, Li Longji's mindset began to
change. Believing that the Tang Dynasty would continue to prosper, he began to
indulge his desires. He started holding banquets every day and spending his
time drinking and having fun. During this period, he was considered an
incompetent king. At the age of 60, Li Longji took a woman named Yang Yuhuan as
a concubine.
She was voluptuous and beautiful. She was
also a skilled singer and dancer, and proficient in music. Her observational
skills and sensitivity to her surroundings surpassed those of most people. She
was adept at catering to the Li Longji's desires and saying things that pleased
him. She could even use his favour to influence important decisions.
The Li Longji was very fond of this
26-year-old woman. She quickly rose to become a high-ranking concubine, second
only to the Empress.
However, Li Longji's mindset had changed by
this time. The caution he had shown in governing the country in his youth had
disappeared. He appointed people to positions in the central government very
arbitrarily, basing his decisions on his own preferences and deeming whoever he
wanted suitable.
Under the influence of Yang Yuhuan, her
father, mother, three sisters and two brothers all received the favour of Li
Longji. He granted them official titles and positions of real power, showering
them with gifts and privileges. As a result, Yang Yuhuan and her family quickly
became the most influential family of their time. Their power was so great it
could overturn the entire country. Officials in the central government fawned
over her family and her home was bustling with visitors, like a marketplace.
The idiom literally translates as
"their power was so great it could overturn the entire country".
It is used to describe individuals or
families with immense power.
Dear friend, what are your thoughts or
feelings after hearing this story?
Have you ever made a misjudgement because of love? What harm do you think Li Longji's actions would have caused the country?
I hope this story gives you some new insights.