Three Character Classic · Hundred Family Surnames · Thousand Character Characters · Disciple Guidanc

Chapter 8 Three Character Classic (7)
Xi Zhongni [1], teacher Xiang Lie [2], ancient sages, still diligent in learning.

【Note】

[1] Zhongni: Confucius, surnamed Kong and named Qiu, was born in the state of Lu (now Qufu, Shandong) in the Spring and Autumn Period, a thinker, educator, and politician. [2] Xiang Lu (tuó): a child prodigy in the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period, who taught Confucius at the age of seven and died at the age of 11.

【Translation】

In the past, Confucius was a man who was eager to learn. At that time, there was a child prodigy in the state of Lu named Xiang Lu, and Confucius asked him for advice.Sages like Confucius never forget to study hard, let alone us ordinary people.

[Interpretation]

Xiang Lian, self-taught without a teacher since he was a child, is extremely intelligent.I love to observe things since I was a child, and I like to break the casserole and ask the end when things happen.Seeing lightning and thunder in summer, he asked his father, "Why does lightning and thunder occur in summer?" Father said, "God flashes the light, and thunder strikes bad guys and monsters." Xiang Luan asked, "Then bad guys and monsters only exist in summer, but don't they exist in winter? " asked the father tongue-tied.Confucius heard of this clever child when he traveled around the world, and planned to meet this child prodigy.Confucius was riding in a carriage driven by Zilu, and Xiang Li stood in the middle of the road not to give way, and surrounded it with small stones on the ground.Confucius got out of the car and asked him why he didn't give way.Xiang Luan said: "Is the city hiding the horse? Or is the horse hiding the city?" Confucius and his disciples were also speechless, so they had to go around the "city".Confucius' robe was scratched by thorns on the road. A disciple said: "There are a lot of thorns here. They grow thorns when they are young. When they grow bigger, they are even worse. They are really useless." Xiang Lu was also among them, so he asked: " Sir, what is a 'useful material'?" Confucius said: "Among all trees, only the evergreen pine and cypress is the best." Xiang Lu then asked: "The pine and cypress are indeed useful materials, why are the pine and cypresses evergreen all the year round? "Confucius said: "Because the wood of pine and cypress is hard, the heart is red and has no holes."Throughout his life, Confucius learned music from Xiang Lu, etiquette from Tanzi, and philosophy of life from Laozi. As the saying goes, "Three people must have my teacher".A person who puts learning in a lofty position must be open-minded and ask others for advice without caring about his age, status and identity.

Zhao Zhongling [1], read Lu Lun [2], he was an official, learned and diligent.

【Note】

[1] Zhao Zhongling: Zhao Pu, prime minister in the early Northern Song Dynasty, official to Zhongshu Ling.Know the world with the statement that "half of "The Analects of Confucius" governs the world". [2] Lu Lun: The title of the book, there are three versions of "The Analects of Confucius", "Lu Lun", "Qi Lun" and "Gu Lun". The Analects we usually read is "Lu Lun".

【Translation】

During the Song Dynasty, Zhao Zhongling Zhao Pu, who was an official to the Zhongshuling, read "The Analects of Confucius" for many years. Although he has become a high-ranking official, he is still diligent and studious.

[Interpretation]

When Zhao Pu was prime minister, he learned a lot of ways to be a minister from "The Analects of Confucius". He could quote scriptures and deal with political affairs in an orderly manner.But some people attacked him for only reading "The Analects of Confucius". Zhao Pu replied: "I used half of the "Analects of Confucius" to assist Song Taizu to win the world, and half of the "Analects of Confucius" to help Song Taizong rule the world." rule the world".

Phi [1] Pu [2] compilation, cut bamboo slips [3], he has no books, and he knows how to encourage.

【Note】

[1] Phi: Phi open. [2] Pu: Also known as Cao Pu, Pu Bian, refers to the use of grass to compile a book.Lu Wenshu in the Western Han Dynasty, the family is poor and has no money to buy books.He compiled cattail grass into a book and borrowed books to copy and read. [3] Bamboo slips: cut bamboo into pieces and write on the bamboo slips.Gongsun Hong of the Western Han Dynasty cut green bamboo into bamboo slices when raising pigs in the bamboo forest, and borrowed books to copy.

【Translation】

In the Western Han Dynasty, Lu Wenshu copied "Shangshu" with cattail grass to read, and Gong Sunhong carved "Spring and Autumn" on bamboo slices made of bamboo.The two of them had no money to buy books, but they did not forget to work hard and study so hard.

[Interpretation]

The ancients created an environment without books and also read books, borrowed books when they had no money to buy them, and returned them to others after they were borrowed.So they compiled the grass into books, carved them with bamboo slips, copied and carved them for reading.Nowadays, books, notebooks, e-books, etc. are taken for granted, and there is no shortage of environmental conditions for learning. There is really no reason not to study hard.

The head hangs on the beam [1], the awl [2] stabs the thigh [3], he does not teach [4], he works hard.

【Note】

[1] Beam: The beam on the top of the column. [2] Cone: A sharp tool for drilling. [3] Strand: Thigh. [4] Teaching: Supervise.

【Translation】

Sun Jing of the Han Dynasty often studied hard, and tied his hair to the roof beam with a rope for fear of falling asleep at night.During the Warring States Period, Su Qin studied hard, and when he was about to doze off, he would prick his thigh with an awl to wake him up painfully.

[Interpretation]

Sun Jing of the Han Dynasty loved reading so much that he didn't let an inch of his time go to waste. After studying hard, he became a great Confucianist in the world.Su Qin, a famous strategist in the Warring States period, had learned the art of fighting with Guiguzi for many years.This story tells us that if we want to become a learned person, we need to study hard. Of course, it is not advocating to stimulate diligence by harming the body, but to advocate this kind of hard-working spirit, because seeking knowledge can only be learned by hard work. No one can replace it.

Such as Nang [1] Ying, such as Yingxue, although the family is poor, he never stops studying [2].

【Note】

[1] Capsule: Packed in a bag, here the noun is used as a verb. [2] Stop: stop, stop.

【Translation】

Che Yin of the Jin Dynasty put fireflies in gauze bags to illuminate his reading, and Sun Kang used the reflection of snow to read at night.Their families are poor, but they can continue to study under difficult conditions.

[Interpretation]

Two typical stories of one summer and one winter are selected in "San Zi Jing", which is intended to tell us that no matter how poor our family is, we should not give up learning, let alone a reason and excuse for giving up learning.Not affected by the external environment, overcome difficulties, study hard, and never stop pursuing knowledge. This kind of learning spirit is admirable.Now we have a comfortable environment. We are in the midst of blessings, but we don’t know how to be blessed, and we don’t know how to cherish the learning opportunities and learning environment. It’s really a shame!

Such as negative [1] salary, such as hanging horns [2], although the body is tired, it is still bitter.

【Note】

[1] Negative: back. [2] Hanging horns: Li Mi in the Sui Dynasty herded cattle for others, hung books on the horns of the cattle, and read while herding the cattle.

【Translation】

Zhu Maichen of the Han Dynasty made a living by chopping firewood, reading while carrying firewood every day.Li Mi of the Sui Dynasty hung books on the horns of the cattle when herding cattle, and read when he had time.Although they work hard every day, they still insist on studying.

[Interpretation]

Zhu Maichen of the Han Dynasty made a living by chopping firewood, and often read and sang.His wife couldn't stand him singing and studying like this, and after a long time, she finally asked for a divorce paper and married someone else.Later, Zhu Maichen was appreciated by the emperor and served as the local prefect. Zhu Maichen invited his ex-wife and ex-wife's husband to have dinner in the prefect's mansion. I don't know if his ex-wife regretted or resented her suicide.Li Mi, the leader of the Wagang Army in the Peasant Uprising at the end of the Sui Dynasty, also studied and accumulated knowledge when he was young, and made a career in history.

Su Laoquan [1], 27, began to be angry [2], read books.

【Note】

[1] Su Laoquan: Su Xun, a famous writer in the Song Dynasty, the father of Su Dongpo. [2] Start to be angry: start, start.Just started to study hard.

【Translation】

Su Xun, one of the Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, named Laoquan, didn't want to study when he was a child. He didn't make up his mind to study hard until he was 27 years old, and later became a scholar of learning.

[Interpretation]

Learning is the need to accept cultural knowledge education step by step from an early age.If due to various reasons, such as not having a good environment or missing the opportunity, can you still learn and achieve success?The answer is yes, the so-called late bloomer is also.Su Xun, a famous litterateur in the Northern Song Dynasty, did not start studying vigorously until he was 27 years old, and his wife also understood and supported him.He started late, but made rapid progress. Together with his eldest son Su Shi and his second son Su Zhe, he was known as the "Three Sus" in history.Among the eight great families of Tang and Song Dynasties, the Su family accounted for three, which is very remarkable!
Since he is old[1], he still[2] regrets late, but Er[3] is a young student[4], so he should think early.

【Note】

[1] both old: already old.Old means old. [2] Jude: Still. [3] Er: And you. [4] Niche: Teenagers.

【Translation】

Although Su Laoquan has made achievements in his old age, he still regrets that he did not study early when he was young, and you are young, you should seize the good time and study hard to be self-reliant.

[Interpretation]

Su Xun didn't realize the importance of reading until he was 27 years old, and he still became famous later.It can be seen that as long as you want to learn, it is never too late to start.The key lies in whether you realize the significance of reading and whether you put your will into action.

Ruo Liang Hao [1], 82, against Da Ting, Kui [2] Toast.

【Note】

[1] Liang Hao: A native of the Song Dynasty, one said that he won the No. 82 Scholar at the age of 23, and another said that he won the No. 2 Scholar at the age of [-]. [[-]] Kui: Headed, first.

【Translation】

Liang Hao of the Song Dynasty won the first prize at the age of 82. He answered the emperor's questions fluently in the court hall, and all the people who took the exam were inferior to him.

[Interpretation]

Liang Hao, courtesy name Taisu, was born in Xucheng, Yunzhou in the Northern Song Dynasty. He had participated in several imperial examinations in the Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou and Early Northern Song Dynasties, and failed in all of them.Later, he stayed in Beijing.He once advised Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty to pay attention to the ability to govern the country and the people in the selection of talents, and he should not rely solely on writing poems and prose, so he was not adopted.In the second year of Yongxi's reign, at the age of 82, he won the No. [-] Scholar in the examination, and he was appreciated by Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty.The officials participated in the performance, and they were also willing to ask Liang Hao for advice.

He is already accomplished [1], everyone calls it different [2], Er Xiaosheng, it is advisable to aspire to [3].

【Note】

[1] Accomplished: It has been successful. [2] Different: Surprised, surprised. [3] It is advisable to make aspirations: You should set up your ambitions early and study hard.

【Translation】

Everyone was amazed that Liang Hao was successful at such an old age, and admired him for his studious and tireless learning.We are still young, and if we set our ambitions early and work hard, we will have a bright future.

[Interpretation]

If you want to make yourself a strong person, you should first set a goal, and then work hard to move towards the goal.Study hard and arm yourself with knowledge. There is no power more powerful and powerful than knowledge.

(End of this chapter)