棟樑之任(You are like the most important
pillar in a house; I entrust you with great responsibilities.)
中國的晉王朝時代有一個著名的大臣，他的名字是溫嶠，歷史書上記載過一個關於他的故事。
西元316年，中國北方一個由遊牧民族建立的前漢王國攻佔了西晉王朝的首都後，西晉王朝的國王被殺，西晉王朝滅亡，中國北方的許多土地都被前漢王國所佔領。西晉王朝中的許多大臣與官員們逃亡到中國的長江的南邊。
西元317年，一個名字叫做司馬睿的西晉王朝的王室成員在幾個重要的大臣的協助下，自行宣布自己成為國王並且建立了東晉王朝，然後這個國王設立建康市為首都。
司馬睿有一個兒子的名字是司馬紹，司馬紹是東晉王朝中預定的接班人，他的年齡比溫嶠小11歲。
溫嶠是一個很正直且忠誠的人，他沒有因為司馬紹的身分去巴結他，相反的，他常常對司馬紹提出很多規勸與建議。
司馬紹的個性非常的寬容，他是一個虛心的人，他接受並且聽取溫嶠的建議，他們兩個人經過一段時間的相處後就自然地變成關係很好的朋友。
有一次，司馬紹決定要花一大筆錢為自己興建一間漂亮的大樓，溫嶠聽到這個消息之後，他對司馬紹說。
東晉王朝朝廷剛剛建立不久，對外有前漢王國的威脅，對內有很多制度與規則要制定，我們應該把國家的預算放在農業與軍事這兩項最重要的地方。
你的身分是王儲，你應該成為所有百姓的表率，你應該表現出節儉的態度，
司馬紹聽完溫嶠的話後思考了幾分鐘、最終他決定聽取溫嶠的建議。
晉王朝有幾個著名的家族，這幾個家族中勢力最大而且名人最多的就是王氏家族，東晉王朝的中央政府內有很多的官員都是王氏家族的成員，這個家族所實際掌握的權力甚至超越了王室。
有一次，一個掌握了東晉王朝最大軍事力量的名字叫做王敦的王氏家族的成員率領軍隊包圍首都，王敦的真實企圖是想要顛覆當時的王室，但是王敦對外宣稱自己發動軍隊是為了打擊那些中央政府內的思想與行為有問題的大臣。
司馬紹看到王敦的軍隊包圍住首都後，他非常的生氣，他想要帶領一支首都內軍隊去對抗王敦的軍隊。
溫嶠阻攔司馬紹並且對司馬紹說。
老子所寫的道德經中有兩句話，一個擅長在戰場上作戰的將軍不會輕易的發怒，一個能夠取得勝利的將軍不會衝動地做出展示出自己掌握的武力。
你是東晉王朝的皇位接班人，你不應該做出這種不理智且衝動的行為，
司馬紹聽完溫嶠的話後思考了幾分鐘、最終他決定聽取溫嶠的建議。
溫嶠與司馬紹兩個人的關係非常的好，所以當司馬紹接任成為東晉王朝的第二任國王後，他對溫嶠說。
你就像是一間房子中最重要的那根樑柱一樣，我要讓你承擔重大的責任。
由於司馬紹非常的重視溫嶠的意見與看法，他們兩個人的關係太好了，所以有許多大臣非常忌妒溫嶠。
這句成語的直接翻譯的意思是你就像是一間房子中最重要的那根樑柱一樣，我要讓你承擔重大的責任。
這句成語被用來形容一個人就像是一間房子中最重要的那根樑柱一樣，這個人能夠承擔重大的責任。
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。
你是否能夠虛心地接受別人的意見呢?你是否曾經因為衝動而做出讓你後悔的事呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉書-卷67-溫嶠傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%99%89%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7067
You are like the most important pillar in a
house; I entrust you with great responsibilities.(棟樑之任)
During the Jin dynasty in China, there was
a famous minister named Wen Qiao, whose story is recorded in history books.
In 316 AD, the Former Han Kingdom, which
was founded by nomadic people in northern China, captured the capital of the
Western Jin Dynasty. The Western Jin king was killed and the dynasty collapsed,
with much of northern China being occupied by the Former Han Kingdom. Many of
the Western Jin Dynasty's ministers and officials fled south of the Yangtze
River.
In 317 AD, Sima Rui, a member of the
Western Jin royal family, declared himself king with the help of several
important ministers and established the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He then
established Jiankang as the capital.
Sima Rui had a son named Sima Shao who was
the designated successor of the Eastern Jin dynasty. He was 11 years younger
than Wen Qiao.
Wen Qiao was an upright and loyal man. He
did not fawn over Sima Shao because of his status; on the contrary, he often offered
him advice and suggestions.
Sima Shao was a very tolerant and humble
person. He listened to and accepted Wen Qiao's advice, and the two men became
good friends through spending time together.
One day, Sima Shao decided to spend a large
sum of money building himself a magnificent mansion. Upon hearing this, Wen
Qiao said to Sima Shao:
'The Eastern Jin Dynasty has only recently
been established. Externally, it faces the threat of the Former Han Kingdom.
Internally, many systems and rules still need to be established. We should
focus the national budget on the two most important areas: agriculture and the
military.'
As the crown prince, you should set an
example to the whole population. You should demonstrate frugality.
After listening to Wen Qiao, Sima Shao
thought for a few minutes and ultimately decided to heed his advice.
The Jin dynasty was home to several
prominent families, the most powerful of which was the Wang family, who
produced many notable figures. Many of the officials in the central government
of the Eastern Jin Dynasty were members of the Wang family, and they held more
power than the royal family.
On one occasion, Wang Dun, a member of the
Wang family who controlled the largest military force in the Eastern Jin
Dynasty, led an army to besiege the capital. While Wang Dun's true intention
was to overthrow the royal family, he publicly claimed that he was launching a
military campaign to suppress problematic ministers within the central
government.
Sima Shao was furious when he saw Wang
Dun's army surrounding the capital. He wanted to lead a contingent of troops
from the capital to confront Wang Dun's army.
However, Wen Qiao stopped him and said:
'There are two sentences in Lao Tzu's Tao
Te Ching: "A general skilled in battle does not easily lose his temper; a
general capable of victory does not impulsively display his military
might."
'You are the heir to the throne of the
Eastern Jin dynasty. You shouldn't act so irrationally and impulsively.'
After listening to Wen Qiao, Sima Shao
pondered for a few minutes and ultimately decided to heed his advice.
The two men had a very good relationship,
and so when Sima Shao became the second emperor of the Eastern Jin dynasty, he
told Wen Qiao, 'You are like the most important pillar in a house; I entrust
you with great responsibilities..'
Because Sima Shao valued Wen Qiao's
opinions so highly and their relationship was so good, many ministers were
jealous of him.
This idiom translates directly as "You
are like the most important pillar in a house; I entrust you with great
responsibilities.."
This idiom is used to describe someone who
is the backbone of a family or community, capable of bearing great
responsibilities.
Dear friend, what are your thoughts or
feelings after hearing this story?
Can you humbly accept other people's
opinions? Have you ever done something impulsive that you later regretted?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.