弱不勝衣(His body was extremely frail, unable
to support the weight of his clothing.)
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，例如將官員職稱，統一簡化轉譯為現今通用的名稱。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。
中國的南宋王朝有一個中階的官員，他的名字叫做陳繼周。
因為他對國家很忠誠而且他做人很公正，他的人生故事被記錄在歷史書中。
歷史書中對他的記載不多，我們不知道他出生與死亡的正確時間，但我們從歷史書中的文字可以看出他的行事風格與個人樣貌。
陳繼周出生在現在的中國的江西省，他年輕的時候曾經協助地方政府抓補強盜，由於他在這次的行動之中表現出他的智慧與勇敢，所以當這批強盜被逮捕後，江西省的地方政府的領導推薦他進入政府體系內工作。
西元1127年，有一個名字叫做趙構的北宋王國的王室成員與一些逃難到中國南方的大臣還有貴族們，在現在中國的南京市宣布重新建立宋王朝，歷史學者稱接下來的這個時期為南宋王朝。
南宋王朝從建立的第一天開始，國力就非常的弱，南宋王朝建立初期受到中國北方的金王國欺負，幾十年後，金王國的軍事力量開始衰弱，中國北方的蒙古王國開始變得愈來愈強大，南宋王朝在晚期經常遭受到蒙古王國的軍事威脅，南宋王朝於西元1279年被蒙古王國的軍隊所消滅。
陳繼周就生活在這個南宋王朝晚期的年代。
西元1274年，蒙古王國的軍隊對南宋王朝的首都所在地發動攻擊，南宋王朝的國王立刻發布緊急命令，要求中國各地的掌握軍隊的將軍立刻帶領軍隊回到首都共同抵抗蒙古王國的激烈攻擊。
這一年，陳繼周剛好回到他的家鄉擔任一個中階官員。
歷史書上這樣形容陳繼周，他的身體非常柔弱，他身上穿的那些衣服好像可以把他的身體壓垮。
他的身材應該很瘦小但是他的智慧與組織力非常的強大，他立刻協助駐守在江西省的將軍清點並且徵召所有江西省的可以上戰場的男子加入軍隊，
這個時候的陳繼周的年紀已經超過中年了，由於他在自己的家鄉中是一個很有名望且受到尊重的人，所有所有江西省的加入軍隊的男子都非常的尊重他並且聽從他的指揮，陳繼周在這次的協助中央政府抵抗蒙古王國的軍隊的戰役中發揮了很大的作用。
陳繼周後來死在這場戰役中。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是他的身體非常柔弱，他身上穿的那些衣服好像可以把他的身體壓垮。
這句成語被用來形容一個人的身體非常的柔弱。
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。
誰是你心中的不出名但你很敬佩的英雄呢?你在你的家鄉有沒有好的名聲呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為宋史-卷454-陳繼周傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E5%AE%8B%E5%8F%B2/%E5%8D%B7454
His body was extremely frail, unable to
support the weight of his clothing.(弱不勝衣)
This blog was originally created to
introduce Chinese culture to international friends. For the sake of simplicity
and ease of understanding, official titles have been translated into their
modern, commonly used names. This is for the convenience of translation, not
historical accuracy. If you wish to consult more rigorous historical materials,
please refer to the sources listed at the end of the article.
During the Southern Song dynasty in China,
there was a mid-ranking official named Chen Jizhou.
Due to his loyalty to the country and
impartial conduct, his life story was recorded in history books.
There are few historical records about him;
we do not know the exact dates of his birth and death, but we can gain some
insight into his character and appearance from historical texts.
Chen Jizhou was born in what is now Jiangxi
Province, China. In his youth, he helped the local government to catch bandits.
Due to the intelligence and courage he demonstrated during this operation, the
leaders of the Jiangxi provincial government recommended him for a position within
the government system after the bandits were arrested.
In 1127 AD, Zhao Gou, a member of the
Northern Song dynasty royal family, along with some ministers and nobles who
had fled to southern China, declared the re-establishment of the Song dynasty in
present-day Nanjing, China. Historians refer to this period as the Southern
Song Dynasty.
From its inception, the Southern Song
Dynasty was very weak. In its early years, it was bullied by the Jin dynasty in
the north. Decades later, the Jin Dynasty's military power began to decline
while the Mongol Empire in the north grew increasingly powerful. The Southern
Song Dynasty frequently faced military threats from the Mongols in its later
years and was finally destroyed by the Mongol army in 1279.
Chen Jizhou lived during the late Southern
Song dynasty.
In 1274 AD, the Mongol army attacked the
Southern Song capital. The emperor immediately issued an emergency order
requiring generals throughout China to return to the capital with their troops
and resist the Mongol attack together.
That year, Chen Jizhou had just returned to
his hometown to take up a mid-level official position.
History books describe his body was
extremely frail, unable to support the weight of his clothing.
He was likely small in stature but
possessed exceptional wisdom and organisational skills. He immediately helped
the general in Jiangxi Province count and conscript all able-bodied men into
the army.
By this time, Chen Jizhou was already
middle-aged. As a highly respected and revered figure in his hometown, all the
men from Jiangxi who joined the army obeyed his commands and respected him
greatly. He played a significant role in the campaign to support the central
government in resisting the Mongol army.
He later died in the battle.
The idiom literally translates as 'His body
was extremely frail, unable to support the weight of his clothing.
It is used to describe someone who is
physically very frail.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Who is your unsung hero whom you deeply
admire? Do you have a good reputation in your hometown?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.