Thousand Characters

Chapter 45

[Original text]

Yijue Jiayou encourages him to only plant.The province bows and ridicules, favors and resists.

【Note】

Yi: gift, extended to bequeath, leave behind.Jue: its.Jia: Good meaning.You: the meaning of planning and strategy.Only: respectfully.Plant: establish, establish.Bow: yourself, yourself.Pet: Grace, honor, here refers to the good times in life.This tells us that parents should lead by example, set a good example for the next generation, and pass on the experience and good morals accumulated in their lives to their children.

【Interpretation】

The best thing that the ancestors bequeathed to future generations is their own experience and advice, and they should be encouraged to be cautious no matter how they behave or do things.Hearing other people's sarcasm, admonition and criticism, you should reflect on yourself, change it if you have something, and encourage you if you don't. Even if you are favored, don't get carried away and fight against authority, otherwise you will go to extremes.

【allusion】

At the end of the Shang Dynasty, Zhou Gongdan, the younger brother of King Wu, and Jiang Ziya and others assisted King Wu in defeating Zhou, established the Zhou Dynasty, and was named Duke of Lu.Later, King Wu passed away. Because King Cheng was still young, Duke Zhou was worried about the chaos in the world, so he temporarily acted as King Cheng to handle state affairs.Zhou Gongdan assisted Cheng Wang wholeheartedly, never disregarding gossip.One day, Zhou Gongdan asked his son Boqin to go to Lu State to handle affairs instead of him. Before leaving, he warned Boqin repeatedly: "I am the son of King Wen, the younger brother of King Wu, and the uncle of King Cheng. My status is no longer low. However, I often stroke my hair three times when I wash my hair, spit out the food in my mouth three times when I eat, and rush to treat the sages in a hurry, lest I miss the talents of the world. After you arrive in Lu State, be careful, Don't treat people with arrogance because you own Lu." Three years later, Boqin reported the situation of Lu to Zhou Gongdan.Zhou Gongdan was very upset. He asked Boqin why it took three years to report the situation of Lu.Bo Qin said that he was committed to reforming the living habits and etiquette of the Lu State, so it took three years to complete it.At the same time, Jiang Ziya also came from Qi to report the situation there to Zhou Gongdan.Jiang Ziya came to report the situation there only five months after he was entrusted to the state of Qi. Zhou Gongdan didn't believe it was true, and even suspected that Jiang Ziya came back to report in a hurry without finishing his investigation, so he asked him in surprise: "You Why did you come to report the situation so quickly? Is there something difficult to do in Qi State?" Jiang Ziya replied: "No. I have completed the matter you asked, and I came here to report to you." Zhou Gongdan couldn't believe it.But Jiang Ziya told him with certainty: "It's true, Ziya dare not lie to you. The reason why I completed the task so quickly is because I simplified the etiquette between the monarch and his ministers, and the political affairs also obeyed the customs of the people, so it was very easy for me. It will be cured soon." Once Duke Zhou heard this, he immediately fell silent.After pondering for a while, he said to himself: "Alas, if this continues, the state of Lu must not be governed well. Make the etiquette between the monarch and his ministers so complicated and cumbersome that the common people cannot get close to you, and they will You are getting farther and farther away from you. If you treat the common people more modestly, don't put on airs, and are approachable, the people will submit to you." So he asked Boqin to govern Lu State in the same way that Jiang Ziya governed Qi State.After Boqin returned to Lu State, he took approachable measures and quickly settled many political affairs.

(End of this chapter)