燃犀溫嶠(Wen Qiao ignites a rhinoceros horn.)
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。
中國晉王朝的一個著名的大臣，他的名字是溫嶠(西元288-西元329)，歷史書上記載過一個關於他的故事。
西元327年，有兩個在地方政府中掌握著屬於自己的軍隊的將軍聯合起來發動叛變，這兩個將軍一個名字叫做蘇峻另一個名字叫做祖約。
這支叛亂的軍隊的戰力非常的強大，西元328年，叛軍攻佔了首都建康市，皇宮被大火燒毀，蘇峻與祖約沒有殺害當時年紀只有8歲的東晉王朝的第三任國王，但是中央政府的實際控制權落入他們兩個人的手中。
為了打敗這支叛亂的軍隊並且救回國王，溫嶠透過他的努力成功的集結了超過十個將軍組成聯合軍隊來對抗這支叛亂的軍隊。
幾個月後，在溫嶠與其他所有將軍與所有士兵的齊心合力下，叛軍最終被打敗，他們順利奪回首都並且救出被軟禁的東晉王朝的第三任國王。
在叛軍佔領首都的這幾個月中，首都城內的建築與政治體系遭受到強力的破壞，溫嶠與其他的幾個大臣又花了好幾月的時間共同重新規劃與設計，等到首都內的運作上軌道之後，溫嶠就告別國王，他啟程返回自己原本負責管理的武昌市。
武昌市位於長江的中游，南京市位於長江的下游的位置，溫嶠搭著船逆流而上返回武昌市，出發幾天後，溫嶠所搭的船到了今天的安徽省一個名字叫做(牛渚磯)的地方，這個地方江面狹窄，形勢險要，而且水深極深。
溫嶠的一個部下對他說。
我從小生活在這邊，我們這個地方有一個傳聞，這個傳聞就是在這片水域之下，住著很多怪物。
溫嶠聽到這件事情後覺得很有趣，他想起自己聽過了一個古老的傳聞，這個古老的傳聞是如果想要看到那些不屬於這個現實世界的鬼怪，那麼就可以燃燒犀牛的角，燃燒犀牛的角的光線可以讓人們看見這些原本看不見的鬼怪。
溫嶠的心中想，我剛好可以趁著這個機會，一次驗證一下這兩個古老的傳聞的真實性。
溫嶠拿出他所常用的一個犀牛角所做的杯子，在中國古代，許多將軍常隨身攜帶用犀牛角做的杯子，中國古代的人們相信用這個杯子可以解毒與帶來好運。溫嶠走到船邊並且用火點燃了這個用犀牛角做的杯子。
幾分鐘後，在用犀牛角做的杯子燃燒的光線照耀下，溫嶠突然看到水底下出現了很多長相很怪異的類似人類的生物，這些生物像人一樣搭著馬車，有很多生物穿的紅色的衣服，這些生物在火光照耀下，感覺非常的焦躁。
正當溫嶠想要再看清楚一點的時候，用犀牛角做的杯子燒完了，這個奇特的景象也結束了。
當天晚上，溫嶠睡著之後，他做了一個奇特的夢，他夢到有人對他說，我生活在陰間，你生活在陽間，你為何要用火光照我，你為何要來窺探我們的生活呢?
溫嶠從夢中驚醒，他當天晚上就無法再入睡。
隔天，溫嶠搭著船離開(牛渚磯)繼續向武昌市前進。
溫嶠之前牙痛了一陣子，這天突然疼痛加劇，經過軍醫的診斷，溫嶠立刻被拔了一顆牙齒，溫嶠拔了這顆牙齒之後就突然中風了，他搭的船立刻加速前往武昌市。
溫嶠到達武昌市的當天就有很多的中醫師立刻幫他看診想要治療他，但是都沒有效果，溫嶠到達武昌市的幾天後，溫嶠就離世了。
溫嶠離世後，所有聽到這個消息的人都感到極度的悲傷。
這句成語的直接翻譯的意思是溫嶠點燃了犀牛角。
這句成語被用來形容一個人能夠敏銳地洞察事物本質。
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。
你聽過那些無法證實其真實性的傳聞呢? 你認為溫嶠的死與他的行動有關嗎，還是這只是巧合呢?
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
Wen Qiao ignites a rhinoceros horn.(燃犀溫嶠)
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 directly wherever 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.
Wen Qiao (288–329 AD), a renowned minister
of the Jin dynasty in China, is recorded in history as being involved in a
particular incident.
In 327 AD, two generals who commanded
armies within local governments joined forces to launch a rebellion. One
general was named Su Jun and the other Zu Yue.
The rebel army was extremely powerful. In
328 AD, they captured the capital, Jiankang, and burned the imperial palace. Su
Jun and Zu Yue did not kill the eight-year-old third king of the Eastern Jin
dynasty, but they seized control of the central government.
In order to defeat the rebels and rescue
the king, Wen Qiao successfully assembled a united army of more than ten
generals.
Several months later, the rebels were
finally defeated thanks to the combined efforts of Wen Qiao and all the other
generals and soldiers. They recaptured the capital and rescued the third king
of the Eastern Jin dynasty, who had been imprisoned by the rebels.
During the months that the rebels occupied
the capital, severe damage was inflicted on the city's architecture and
political system. Wen Qiao and several other ministers spent several months
replanning and redesigning the city. Once the capital was back in order, Wen
Qiao said goodbye to the king and returned to Wuchang, the city he had
originally been in charge of governing.
Wuchang City is located in the middle
reaches of the Yangtze River, whereas Nanjing City is located in the lower
reaches. Wen Qiao travelled back to Wuchang City by boat, going upstream.
Several days later, his boat reached Niuzhuji, a place in present-day Anhui
Province. This area had a narrow river, treacherous terrain and extremely deep
water.
One of Wen Qiao's subordinates told him,
'I've lived here since I was a child. There's a local legend that many monsters
live beneath these waters.'
Wen Qiao found this intriguing. He recalled
an ancient legend which said that if one wanted to see ghosts and monsters from
another world, one could burn a rhinoceros horn, and the light from the burning
horn would make these creatures visible.
Wen Qiao thought to himself, 'This is the perfect
opportunity to verify the truth of these two ancient legends.'
He took out a rhinoceros horn cup that he
often used. In ancient China, many generals carried such cups, as it was
believed that they could neutralise poison and bring good luck. He went to the
side of the boat and lit the horn cup.
A few minutes later, illuminated by the
light, he suddenly saw many strange humanoid creatures emerging from the water.
These creatures rode in horse-drawn carriages like humans and wore red
clothing. They appeared very agitated in the firelight.
Just as Wen Qiao tried to get a closer
look, the rhinoceros horn cup burned out and the strange sight disappeared.
That night, after falling asleep, Wen Qiao
had a strange dream. In it, someone said to him, 'I live in the underworld; you
live in the world of the living. Why do you shine your light on me? Why do you
spy on our lives?'
Wen Qiao awoke with a start and was unable
to fall asleep again that night.
The next day, Wen Qiao left Niuzhuji by
boat to continue his journey to Wuchang City.
He had been suffering from a toothache for
a while, and the pain suddenly worsened that day. After being examined by a
military doctor, he had a tooth extracted immediately. However, after the
procedure, he suddenly suffered a stroke and the boat sped towards Wuchang
City.
On the day he arrived, many traditional
Chinese medicine doctors examined him and tried to treat him, but to no avail.
A few days later, Wen Qiao passed away.
Everyone who heard the news was deeply
saddened by his death.
The literal translation of this idiom is
'Wen Qiao lit a rhinoceros horn'.
It is used to describe someone who can
keenly perceive the essence of things.
Dear friend, what are your thoughts or
feelings after hearing this story?
Have you ever heard rumours that could not
be verified? Do you think Wen Qiao's death was related to his actions, or was
it just a coincidence?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.