2010 Chinese Idioms Story Stamps(II) . PR China.
Chinese idioms are set phrases which have evolved and been used over thousands of years, succinct and expressive, vivid and figurative. Often originated from fables, literature and historical facts or personages, their stories are therefore full of references and wisdom.
1.The old man moves a mountain(Yu Gong Moving Away Mountains).
The following is a story well-known to almost every Chinese. It was written four or five centuries ago by philosopher Li Yukou in his book Lie Zi.
There was a ninety-year old man called Yu Gong in China, who had two big mountains in front of his family home, which caused his family great inconvenience. One day he gathered his family and said: "The two mountains have given us too much trouble getting outside, how about we move them away!" His children and grandchildren all agreed except his wife. She said: "We´ve been living with such an inconvenience for generations. Why can´t we just let it stay there? And where can we dispose of the stones and dirt from these mountains?" It was decided the stones and dirt would be dumped into the sea.
The work began the next day. Their only digging tools were hoes and baskets and they were a far away from the sea. But none of the hardships and difficulties could daunt the brave family. They worked on the mountains every day.
One day, a wise old man called Zhi Sou, upon seeing them attempting to move the mountains was amused, and said to Yu Gong: "You are old and you can barely climb to the mountain top, how do you expect to move the mountains?" Yu Gong replied: "Yes, I am old and I will soon be dead, but I have children, and when my children are dead, there are still my grandchildren. My family will grow and grow and the mountain will get smaller and smaller. With such determination, surely it is possible to move the mountains!"
So Yu Gong and his family carried on with their work day after day and year after year, through hot Summer to cold Winter until one day, God in heaven was moved by them and sent two immortals to take the two mountains away. The moral of the story is many tasks appear unachievable but with determination anything can be achieved.
2.Sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall.
In the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Wu defeated the State of Yue, and took the King of Yue, Goujian, and his wife prisoner. For several years, Goujian labored as a slave in Wu. When he was released and returned to Yue, Gou Jian was determined to take revenge for losing his state. In order not to forget his humiliation, he slept on a pile of brushwood and tasted gall before every meal. After ten years of careful preparations, he attacked and finally conquered the State of Wu.
This idiom is used to describe inspiring oneself and working hard to accomplish an ambition.
3.Mao Sui recommending himself.
In the Warring States Period, the State of Qin besieged the capital of the State of Zhao. Duke Pingyuan of Zhao planned to ask the ruler of the State of Chu personally for assistance. He wanted to select a capable man to go with him. A man called Mao Sui volunteered. When the negotiations between the two states were stalled because the ruler of Chu hesitated to send troops, Mao Sui approached him, brandishing a sword. At that, the ruler of Chu agreed to help Zhao, against Qin.
This idiom means to recommend oneself.
4.Rising Up upon Hearing the Crow of a Rooster to Practice Sword Playing.
Zu Ti of the Jin Dynasty（265-420）was a big-hearted and farsighted person who,however,was very naughty and did not like to study when he was a small kid.When he became a young man,he felt acutely that his knowledge was inadequate and that he could not serve his country well if he did not study hard.So he put all his energies into his study.He read extensively,seriously studied history from which he absorbed rich knowledge,and made good progress in his studies.He had been to the capital city Luoyang several times,and all the people who had to the capital city Luoyang several times,and all the people who had come into contact with him said that Zu Ti was a talented person who was capable of assisting the emperor in governing the country.When he was 24,someone recommended hem to be an official,but he refused the post.He was still making a sustained effort in his studies.
Later,both Zu Ti and Liu Kun,his close frined since early childhood,were appointed chief clerks responsible for document administration in the Sizhou Prefecture.he and Liu Kun cherished a deep affection for each other.They not only often shared the same bed in sleeping,but also shared the same lofty ideals;to render meritorious service in rejuvenating the Jin Dynasty and play the part of the pillars of the state.
Once,Zu Ti heard a cock crow in the wasteland in his dream at midnight.He kicked Liu Kun a wake,saying to him:"People say it is inauspicious to hear a cock crow in the wasteland.I don´s think so.What about getting up and practicing sword playing the moment we hear the cock crow form now on?" Liu Kun agreed readily.So every day when the cock crow,they got up and practiced sword playing,the cold steel of the swords glinting and flashing.Day by day and year in,year out,they never stopped.As the saying goes,constant effort yields sure success.Through long periods of hard study and training,they finally became versatile persons versed in both civil and military affairs.They could write good essays,and were capable of leading troops in fighting victoriously.Zu Ti was invested with the title the General for Guarding the Western Regions,thus realizing his wish of rendering meritorious service to the country.Liu Kun became a governor,and at same time was in charge of the military affairs of the three prefectures of Bingzhou,Jizhou and Youzhou.In discharging his duties,Liu Kun also fully displayed his talent in both polite letters and martial arts.
This story appears in "The Life of Zu Ti" in The History of the Jin Dynasty.From this story people have coined the set phrase" rising up upon hearing the crow of a rooster to practice sword playing´ to signify that someone is exerting himself to do something worthwhile.It is also used to signify that a person of noble aspirations exerts himself in time.
The photo is only an example.
Mint & never hinged(mnh).
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