Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-31-12 10:28
推己及人(Tui Ji3 Ji4 Ren2)
Put oneself in the place of another
During the Period of Spring and Autumn (春秋時代 &22BC to 481BC) of the
Zhou Dynasty (周朝 1134BC to 256BC), one day, there was a strange phenomenal
in the State of Qi (齊國 in the present day Linzi county 臨淄縣of Shandong
province 山東省). Heavy snow was falling in the whole State continuously
for three days and three nights. It was freezing cold through out the whole
State.
Wearing a fox-fur robe, Qi Jing Gong (齊景公 who ruled the State of Qi 齊
國 from 547BC to 490BC), was sitting in the hall admiring the snow scenery.
At that time, along came his Premier called Yan Zi (晏子) who stood beside
him. Thinking that Yan Zi was joining him to admire the snow scene, Qi Jing
Gong said to Yan Zi:
"This year's weather was strange. You see, it has been snowing for three
days and the ground was covered with thick snow. Yet it is not cold. In
fact it is as warm as springtime."
Seeing Qi Jing Gong wearing a fox-fur robe and sitting inside the hall,
Yan Zi purposely asked him if the weather was not really cold. Qi Jing Gong
answered positively that it was not cold and added that he was an adult
and of course he could differential whether the weather was cold or hot.
Knowing that Qi Jing Gong still could not comprehend his question, Yan Zi
told him that:
"I heard that during the ancient time when a sagacious ruler had eaten his
dinner he would wonder if all his subjects had food to eat. During the cold
weather when the ruler was warmly clothed he would wonder if any of his
subjects is without warm cloth to wear in the cold. When the ruler was easy
and comfortable he would think whether if any of his subjects is still working
hard for his living. And you, my dear Lord, why don't you think about your
subjects if they have warm clothing for this freezing cold weather?"
Qi Jing Gong knew that he was wrong and he did not say a word.
The moral of this story is to treat other people as you would yourself.
Source:
史記:
"齊景公賞雪, 晏子諫曰:
"'人飢己飢, 人溺己溺'"
Posted to aslawind.com
By CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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