宁静，思远，志在千里

作者： 景山教育网

      汲黯是西汉武帝时代人，以刚直正义、敢讲真话而受人尊重。他为人和做官都不拘小节，讲求实效。虽然表面上不那么轰轰烈烈，却能把一个郡治理得井井有条，因此，朝廷把他从东海太守调到朝廷当主爵都尉——一种主管地方吏任免的官职。   
      有一次，汉武帝说要实行儒家的仁义之政，为老百姓办好事了。没等皇帝把话说完，汲黯就说：“陛下内心里那么贪婪多欲，表面上却要装得实行仁政，这
是何苦呢？”一句话把皇帝噎了回去。汉武帝登时脸色大变，宣布罢朝，满朝文武都为汲黯捏着一把汗，担心他会因此招来大祸。武帝回到宫里以后，对身边的人
说，汲黯这个人也未免太粗太直了。   
      从此以后，汲黯的官职再也没有提升。他当主爵都尉的时候，公孙弘、张汤都还是不起眼的小官，后来，他们一个劲儿住上升，公孙弘当上了丞相，张汤做
上了御史大夫，可他汲黯还蹲在原地没动窝。有一天，汲黯对武帝说，陛下使用群臣，跟码劈柴一样，是“后来者居上”啊！汉武帝当然听得出这是发牢骚。于是，
转脸对臣下们说：“人真是不能不学习啊！你们听汲黯说话，越来越离谱了！”
      故事出自《史记·汲郑列传》。成语“后来居上”，往往指后起的可以胜过先前的。和汲黯说这话的原意，大不相同。

The Latecomers Surpass the Old-timers

    This set phrase is derived from the complaints Ji An made to the emperor.
    Ji Anlived at the time of Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty
(206 B.C.-A.D.24). He was respected for being upright and just and for
daring to speak the truth. He did not bother about amall matters in
personal behaviour and in being an official. He was particular about
actual effects and , although he did not cause a stir ,he could keep the
prefecture he governed in perfect order. Because of this. the imperial
court transferred him to the central government from being the perfect
of the Donghai Prefecture to being a commander in charge of the
appointment and dismissal of the local officals.
    Once,Emperor Wudi said that he would implement the policy of
benevolence and justice of Confucianism and would do good turns to the
people.Emperor Wudi Had hardly finished his remards when Ji An said
that there was no need for the emperor to say so.Why should the emperor
bother,Ji An said, about pretending to implement the policy of
benevolence and justice since he was so greedy and avaricious within
himself? This choked the emperor off. The emperor suddenly Changed his
countenance and declared the meeting over. All the civilian and
military officers at court were breathless with anxiety for fear that
Ji An might bring disaster upon himself because of this. After
returning, Emperor Wudi said to the people around him that Ji An was a
little too rude and too straightforward.
    For this reason ,Ji An was never promoted again. When he was the
commander in charge of the appointment and dismissal of the local
officials, both Gongsun Hong and Zhang Tang were low -ranking lfficials
of little importance. Later ,they were promoted continuously. Gongsun
Hong became the prime minister and Zhang Tang became the imperial
censor. However, JiAn’s post remained thesame. One day, Ji An said to
Emperor Wudi that the way the emperor used his ministers was just like
piling up firewood, which meant that the latecomers surpassed the
old- timers. Of course, Emperor Wudi could see that Ji An was
complaining. So,turning to his ministers, Emperor Wudi said, "It is
true that no one can stop learning.You see, Ji An is making more and
more indiscreet remarks."
    This story comes from The Historical Records. Later generations use
the set phrase "the latecomers surpass the old-timers " to indicate
that successors can cxcel the predecessors, which is quite different
from the original idea when Ji An said that the latecomers surpassed
the old-timers.

作者： 景山教育网

      东晋时代，秦王苻坚控制了北部中国。公元383年，苻坚率领步兵、骑兵90万，攻打江南的晋朝。晋军大将谢石、谢玄领兵8万前去抵抗。苻坚得知晋军兵力不足，就想以多胜少，抓住机会，迅速出击。
      谁料，苻坚的先锋部队25万在寿春一带被晋军出奇击败，损失惨重，大将被杀，士兵死伤万余。秦军的锐气大挫，军心动摇，士兵惊恐万状，纷纷逃跑。
此时，苻坚在寿春城上望见晋军队伍严整，士气高昂，再北望八公山，只见山上一草一木都像晋军的士兵一样。苻坚回过头对弟弟说：“这是多么强大的敌人啊！怎
么能说晋军兵力不足呢？”他后悔自己过于轻敌了。
      出师不利给苻坚心头蒙上了不祥的阴影，他令部队靠淝水北岸布阵，企图凭借地理优势扭转战局。这时晋军将领谢玄提出要求，要秦军稍往后退，让出一点
地方，以便渡河作战。苻坚暗笑晋军将领不懂作战常识，想利用晋军忙于渡河难于作战之机，给它来个突然袭击，于是欣然接受了晋军的请求。
      谁知，后退的军令一下，秦军如潮水一般溃不成军，而晋军则趁势渡河追击，把秦军杀得丢盔弃甲，尸横遍地。苻坚中箭而逃。
      故事出自《晋书·苻坚·载记》。成语“草木皆兵”，形容神经过敏、疑神疑鬼的惊恐心理。

Every Bush and Tree Looks Like an Enemy

    During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Fu Jian, king of the State of Qin,
controlled northern China. In the year383, Fu Jian led 900,000 infantry
and cavalry troops to assault the State of Jin which was south of the
Yangtze River. Xie Shi and Xie Xuan, senior generals of the Jin army,
led 80,000 troops to offer resistance. Knowing that the Jin army was
short of men, Fu Jian wanted to seize this opportunity of being much
more numerous in armed forces to stage a quick attack.
    Unexpectedly, the van of Fu Jian’s army of 250,000 troops was
defeated in the Shouchun area by an  ingenious military move of the Jin
army and suffered heavy losses. The senior general of the van of Fu
Jian’s army was killed, and there were heavy casualties of more than
10,000 soldiers. Fu Jian’s army was dispirited and its morale was
shaken. Many soldiers were in such a great panic that they waited for
opportunities to run away. Standing on the city wall of the Shouchun
City, Fu Jian and his brother Fu Rong saw that the ranks of the Jin
army were in good order and that the morale of the Jin army was high.
Turning to his brother, Fu Jian said, "What a powerful enemy this is!
Why did people say that the Jin army was short of men?" He deeply
regretted that he had taken the enemy too lightly.
    Overshadowed by the disastrous defeat, Fu Jian ordered his troops to
be deployed in battle formation on the north side of the Feishui River,
in an attempt to regain the initiative by relying on the superior
geographical conditions. Then Xie Shi and Xie Xuan, the senior generals
of the Jin army, suggested that Fu Jian’s army retreat a little bit,
leaving some space, so that the Jin army could cross the river to
conduct ooperations. Fu Jian thought that his chance had come,
believing that the senior generals of the Jin army did not have the
elementary knowledge of warfare. It was his plan to stage a sudden
attack while the troops of the Jin army was busy crossing the river,
and he was sure that his plan would word. So he willingly accepted the
suggestion of the Jin army.
    Unexpectedly, the moment the order to retreat was given, Fu Jian’s
troops were utterly routed and could by no means be controlled. Taking
advantage of this favorable situation, the Jin army crossed the river,
pursuing and attacking the enemy. The trooops of Fu Jian’s army threw
away everything in headlong flight, and the field was littered with the
corpses of the soldiers of Fu Jian’s army. Fu Rong was killed in the
tangled fighting, and Fu Jian was hit by an  arrow and ran away. The
Jin army won a brilliant victory by defeating a big army with its
limited armed forces.
    This story comes from "The Life of Fu Jian" in the volume "Records"
of The History of the Jin Dynasty. The set phrase "every bush and tree
looks like an enemy" is subsequently used to refer to a state of
extreme nervousness.

作者： 景山教育网

      晋代文学家左思，小时候是个非常顽皮、不爱读书的孩子。父亲经常为这事发脾气，可是小左思仍然淘气得很，不肯好好学习。
      有一天，左思的父亲与朋友们聊天，朋友们羡慕他有个聪明可爱的儿子。左思的父亲叹口气说：“快别提他了，小儿左思的学习，还不如我小时候，看来没
有多大的出息了。”说着，脸上流露出失望的神色。这一切都被小左思看到听到了，他非常难过，觉得自己不好好念书确实很没出息。于是，暗暗下定决心，一定要
刻苦学习。
      日复一日，年复一年，左思渐渐长大了，由于他坚持不懈地发奋读书，终于成为一位学识渊博的人，文章也写得非常好。他用一年的时间写成了《齐都
赋》，显示出他在文学方面的才华，为他成为杰出的文学家奠定了基础。这以后他又计划以三国时魏、蜀、吴首都的风土、人情、物产为内容，撰写《三都赋》。为
了在内容、结构、语言诸方面都达到一定水平，他潜心研究，精心撰写，废寝忘食，用了整整十年，文学巨著《三都赋》终于写成了。
     《三都赋》受到谅也评，人们把它和汉代文学杰作《两都赋》相比。由于当时还没有发明印刷术，喜爱《三都赋》的人只能争相抄阅，因为抄写的人太多，京城洛阳的纸张供不应求，一时间全城纸价大幅度上升。
      故事出自《晋书·文苑·左思传》。成语“洛阳纸贵”，称颂杰出的作品风行一进。
Overwhelming Popularity of a New Work Causes Shortage of Printing Paper

    In the Jin Dynasty (265-420) there was a famous writer whose name was
Zuo Si who, however, was very naughty and did not like to study when he
was a small kid.His father often got angry, and yet young Zuo Si was as
naughty as ever and would not study hard.
    One day, Zuo Si’s father was chatting with his friends. his friends
envied him his clever and loverly son. Hearing this, Zuo si’s father
sighed, "Please do not mention him. My son Zuo si does not study as
well as I did when I was young, although I did not study well enough
myself. It appears that he is actually a good-for-nothing." So saying,
he looked disappointed. All this was witnessed by young Zuo Si. He felt
very sad, feeling intensely that he would not be able to have a bright
future if he did not study hard. So he was determined to study
assiduously from then on. Day after day and year after year, Zuo Si
gradually grew up. Because of his unremitting afforts in hard study, he
became an erudite scholar and wrote very excellent essays. The "Ode to
the Capital of the State of Qi", which took him one year to write,
showed his brilliant literary talent and laid the foundation for his
becoming an outstanding writer. then he planned to write an "Ode to the
Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu" with the local
conditions and customs as well as the produce of the three capitals as
its content. In order to achieve the desired effect in content,
structure and language, he applied himself to research work with great
concentration, and was so absorbed in creative writing as to forget
food and sleep. It took him ten whole years to finish the writing of
"Ode to the Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and Wu", a
literary masterpiece.
    The "Ode to the Capitals of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu Han and
Wu" was well received by the broad masses of readers after it made its
appearance to the public, and people considered it as superbly written
as the "Ode to the Western Capital (Changan) and to the Eastern Capital
(Luoyang)" written by Ban Gu (32-92) and the "Ode to the Western
Capital and to the Eastern Capital" written by Zhang Heng of the Han
Dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D.220). As the art of printing had not been
invented at that time, people who were fond of this "Ode" had to make
handwritten copies of it themselves. As there were so many people who
vied with each other in making handwritten copies, the supply of
writing paper fell short of the demand in Luoyang went up greatly.
    This story comes from "The life of Zuo Si" in the book "Literary
Field" of The History of the Jin Dynasty. Based on this story, people
have coined the set phrase "the price of writing paper went up
greatly", meaning the overwhelming popularity of a new work causes
shortage of printing paper, to show how popular an outstanding piece of
literary work is.

作者： 景山教育网

      春秋时候，晋献公听信谗言，杀了太子申生，又派人捉拿申生的弟弟重耳。重耳闻讯，逃出了晋国，在外流忘十几年。
      经过千幸万苦,重耳来到楚国。楚成王认为重耳日后必有大作为，就以国群之礼相迎，待他如上宾。
      一天，楚王设宴招待重耳，两人饮洒叙话，气氛十分融洽。忽然楚王问重耳：“你若有一天回晋国当上国君，该怎么报答我呢？”重耳略一思索说：“美女
待从、珍宝丝绸，大王您有的是，珍禽羽毛，象牙兽皮，更是楚地的盛产，晋国哪有什么珍奇物品献给大王呢？”楚王说：“公子过谦了。话虽然这么说，可总该对
我有所表示吧？”重耳笑笑回答道：“要是托您的福。果真能回国当政的话，我愿与贵国友好。假如有一天，晋楚国之间发生战争，我一定命令军队先退避三舍（一
舍等于三十里），如果还不能得到您的原谅，我再与您交战。”
      四年后，重耳真的回到晋国当了国君，就是历史上有名的晋文公。晋国在他的治理下日益强大。
      公元前633年，楚国和晋国的军队在作战时相遇。晋文公为了实现他许下的诺言，下令军队后退九十里，驻扎在城濮。楚军见晋军后退，以为对方害怕了，马上追击。晋军利用楚军骄傲轻敌的弱点，集中兵力，大破楚军，取得了城濮之战的胜利。
      故事出自《左传·僖公二十二年》。成语“退避三舍”比喻不与人相争或主动让步。

Retreating about Thirty Miles as Condition For Peace    

     During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), Duke Xian of
the State of Jin Killed the crown prince Sheng because he had heard
slanders about Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to arrest
Chong Er, Shen Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to arrest
Chonh Er, Shen Sheng’s brother. Hearing the news, Chong Er escaped from
the state of Jin, remaining a fugitive for more than ten years.
     After innumerable hardships, Chong Er arrived at the State of Chu
at last. King Cheng of the State of Chu treated him with high respect
as he would have treated the ruler of a state, believing that he would
have a vright fuure.
     One day, King Cheng of the State of Chu gave a banquet in honoudr
of Chong Er. Suddenly, amid the harmonious atmosphere of drinking and
talking, King Cheng of the State of Chu asked Chong Er. "How will you
repay me when you return to the State of Jin and become its ruler one
day?" After thinking for a moment, Chong Er said, "You have plenty of
beauties and attendants as well as jewelry and silk cloth, and the
state of Chu abounds in rare brides and animals. What treasure can the
State of Jin boast having to present to your majesty?" King Cheng of
the State of Chu said, "You are too modest. Nevertheless, you still
have to show your gratitude to me in one way or another, I presume?"
Smiling, Chong Er answered, "If I should be fortunate enouge to return
to the State of Jin and become its ruler, the State of Jin would be
friendly to the State of Chu. If, one day, there should be a war
between the two states, I would definitely order my troops to retreat
three SHE (one SHE is equivalent to thirty LI. The LI is a Chinese unit
of length equivalent to 1/2 kilometre. And, therefore, three SHE is
about thirty miles.) as a condition for peace. If, under that
condition, you were still not reconciled, I would have to fight with
you."
     Four years later, as might be expected, Chong Er returned to the
State of Jin and became its ruler. He was none other than Duke Wen of
the State of Jin famous in ancient Chinese history. Ruled by him, the
State of Jin became increasingly powerful.
     In the year 533 B.C., the Chu troops and the Jin troops confronted
each other in a battle. Faithful to his promise, Duke Wen of the State
of Jin ordered his troops to retreat about thirty miles. After
retreating, the Jin troops were stationed at Chengpu. Seeing that the
Jin troops were retreating, the Chu troops thought that the enemy
troops were afraid, and began chasing them. Taking advantage of the Chu
troops’ arrogance and their talking the Jin troops lightly, the Jin
troops concentrated their forces and inflicted a crushing defeat on the
Chu troops, thus winning the victory of the battle of Chengpu.
     This set phrase, "retreating about thirty miles as a condition for
peace," is derived from the Chapter "The Twenty-second Year of Duke Xi"
in ZuoZhuan, the famous commentary by Zuo Qiuming on The spring and
Autumn Annals. The idea of this set phrase is to give way to somebody
in order to avoid a conflict.

作者： 景山教育网

      春秋时候，秦国有个叫孙阳的人，擅长相马，无论什么样的马，他一眼就能分出优劣。他常常被人请去识马、选马，人们都称他为伯乐（“伯乐”本是天上的星名，据说负责管理天马）。
      有一次，孙阳路过一个地方，忽见一匹拖着盐车的老马冲他叫个不停，走近一看，原来是匹千里马，只是年龄稍大了点。老马拉着车艰难地走着，孙阳觉得
太委屈了这匹千里马，它本是可以奔跑于疆场，可以发挥更大作用的宝马良驹，现在却默默无闻地拖着盐车，慢慢地消耗着它的锐气和体力，实在可惜！孙阳想到这
里，难过得落下泪来。
      为了让更多的人学会相马，使千里马不再被埋没，也为了自己一身绝技不至于失传，孙阳把自己多年积累的相马经验和知识写成了一本书，配上各种马的形态图，书名叫《相马经》。
      孙阳有个儿子，看了父亲写的《相马经》，以为相马很容易，就拿着这本书到处找好马。他按照书上所绘的图形去找，一无所获。又按书中所写的特征去
找，最后发现有一只癞蛤蟆很像书中写的千里马的特征，便高兴地把癞蛤蟆带回家，对父亲说：“爸爸，我找到一匹千里马，只是蹄子稍差些。”父亲一看，哭笑不
得，没想到儿子竟如此愚笨，便幽默地说：“可惜这马太喜欢跳了，不能用来拉车。”接着感叹道：“所谓按图索骥也。”
　　故事出自明朝杨慎的《艺林伐山》。成语“按图索骥”，比喻机械地照老办法办事，不知变通；也比喻按照某种线索去寻找事物。
Looking for a Steed with the Aid Of Its Picture

    During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man in the State of
Qin whose name was Sun Yang. Sun Yang was very expert in looking at
horses and judging their worth. Whatever the horse might be, he could
tell whether it was good or bad at first sight. People called him Bo Le
(Bo Le was the name of one of the celestial bodies and was fabled to be
in charge of heavenly steeds), and he was often asked to appraise and
select horses.
    One day, when Sun Yang was passing a place, an old horse pulling
acart   loaded with salt suddenly neighed to him without stopping. He
came near, and saw that it was a horse that really could cover a
thousand Li a day, and that the only problem with it was that it was a
little too old. The old horse was pulling the heavy cart with
difficulties and hardships. Sun Yang felt acutely that the horse was
really unjustly treated, for it might have been a fine steed galloping
on the battlefield. It was a great pity that it was pulling the cart
loaded with salt without attracting public attention, which had taken
the edge off its spirit and consumed its energy. When he thought of
this, he was so grieved that he shed tears.
    In order to help more people learn how to appraise horses so that
fine horses which could cover a thousand LI a day would no longer fall
into oblivion, and also in order to ensure that his unique skill in
judging horses would not be lost, Sun Yang worte a book entitled The
Art of Looking at Horses and Judging Their Worth, based on his
experiences and knowledge accumulated over the years. The book was also
illustrated with the pictures of various horses.
    Sun Yang had a son who, after reading his father’s The Art of Looking
at Horses and Judging Their Worth, thought it was very esay to appraise
horses. So he took the book with him to look for fine horses
everywhere. At first he searched according to the pictures in the book,
and accomplished nothing. Then he searched according to the
characteristics of a toad fit very well the characteristics described
in the book. So he happily took the toad back home, and said to his
father, "Father, I have found a horse that can cover a thousand Li a
day, only its hoofs are not good enough." Looking at the toad, Sun Yang
did not know whether he should laugh or cry. Knowing that his son was
stupid, Sun Yang said humourously. "It’s a pity that this horse is too
fond of jumping to pull a cart." Then he sighed, "That is just what we
call looking for a steed with the aid of its picture."
    Later, people have used the set phrase "look for a steed with the aid
of its picture" to refer to handling affairs mechanically in the
outmoded ways without being flexible. Somethimes it is also used to
refer to trying to locate something by following up a clue. This set
phrase originates in Lumbering in the Forest of Art written by Yang
Shen in the Ming Dynasty （1368-1644）.

作者： 景山教育网

      春秋时代末期，吴国国王夫差连续征服了越国、鲁国和齐国，雄心勃勃，又继续向西北进军，打算一鼓作气征服晋国。
　　可正在这个时候，越王勾践抄了吴王的后路。他带领军队一直打到吴国的国都姑苏（苏州），又派人马占据淮河，把吴王的退路切断了。
　　这消息给吴王夫差当头泼了一盆冷水，他非常震惊，立即召集文臣武将商量对策。大家说，现在退回去等于两关打了败仗，还会两头挨打；如果能打败晋国，就等于在诸候国中当定了霸主，再回去收拾越王勾践也不算晚。
　　大主意已经拿定，当务之急是尽快征服晋国。考虑再三，决定出奇制胜。
　　一天傍晚，吴王下达了命令。全军将士吃得饱饱的，马也喂足了草料。从全军中挑出三万精兵强将。每一万人摆成一个方阵，共摆三个方阵。每个方阵横竖都是
一百人。每一行排头的都是军官司。每十行，也就是一千人，由一个大夫负责。每项一个方阵由一名将军率领。中间的方阵白盔白甲，白衣服，白旗帜，白弓箭，由
吴王自己掌握，称为中军；左边的方阵，红盔红甲、红衣服、红简直就像深不可测；右边的方阵则一水儿黑色。半夜出发，黎明时分到达离晋军仅有一里路的地方。
天色刚刚显出亮色，吴军鼓声大作，欢呼之声震天动工地。
　　晋军从梦中醒来，一看吴军那三个方阵和声威气势，简直都惊呆了：那白色方阵，“望之如荼”——像开满白花的茅草地；那红色方阵，“望之如火”——如像熊熊燃烧的火焰；而那黑色的方阵，简直就象深不可测的大海。
　　故事出自《国语·吴语》。成语“如火如荼”，形容某种人群或事物阵容之大，气势之盛。

Like Fire and Flowering Rush

    In the years around 480 B.C.,China was in the last phase of the
Spring and Autumn Period.Fu Chai, King of the State of Wu,conquered the
states of Yue,Lu and Chi one after another.Then Fu Chai, overweeningly
ambitious,led his army marching into the Northwest in an attempt to
conquer the State of Jin in one vigorous effort.
    But just at that time,Gou Jian,king of the State of Yue,outflanked Fu
Chai and attacked him in the rear.Gou Jian’s army fought one battle
after another and arrived in Gu Su,capital of the State of Wu,at
last,and took away the big boats of the State of Wu.Gou Jin also sent
his troops to occupy the Huai River immediately,thus cutting off Fu
Chai’s retreat
    The shocking news reached Fu Chai,king of the State of Wu,like a
head-on blow to him.So he called his civilian officials and military
generals at once to find a way to deal with this serious situation.His
civilian officials and military their troops now would mean defeat,and
that they would be attacked by both the troops of the Jin army and the
troops of the Yue army.But ,if they could defeat the State of Jin,Fu
Chai would become a powerful chief of the princes at that time,and it
would not be too late for Fu Chai to settle with Gou Jian after that.
    Having made this decision,they knew that a pressing matter of the
moment was to conquer th State of Jin as quickly as possible.After
considering over and over again,they decided to try to defeat the Jin
army by a surprise move.
     One day towards evening,the king of the State of Wu gave his
orders.The officers and men of the whole army ate their fill,and the
steeds were well fed with fodder.30,000 officers and men were chosen
from the whole army to from three phalanxes,with 10,000officers and men
each.The solders in the middle phalanx wore white suits of armour,and
carried white flags and white bows and arrows, and they were led by king
of the State of Wu Fu Chai himself.The other two phalanxes were led by
senior generals.The soldiers in the left phalanx wore red suits of
armour,and carried red flags and red bows and arrows.The in dealing
with the case,because the empress would certainly blame him and punish
him.How could he solve the problem then? He turned the problem over and
over in his mind, and finally thought out a "brilliant scheme".
    Lai Junchen had a sumptuous feast prepared,and invited Zhou Xing to
his home. The two of them urged each other to drink,and they talked
while drinking.After the wine had gone round three times,I often come
across prisoners who stubbournly refuse to admit they are guilty.I
wonder if you have any effective measures." Hearing this,Zhou Xing
said,"Get a big vat,scorch it hot with charcoal fire all around,and
then let the prisoner come into the vat.Will the prisoner fail to make
a comfession of his crime?"Hearing this,LaiJunchen nodded his head in
approval repeatedly.He then ordered his subordinates to bring a big vat
,and had a charcoal fire lit all around it as Zhou Xing had said.He
then turned to Zhou Xing and said,"Someone in the rebellion.The empress
has ordered me to deal with the case severely.So I beg your pardon,but
would you kindly step into the soldiers in the right phalanx wore black
suits of armour,and carried black flags and black bows and arrows.The
whole army set out at midnight,and arrived at dawn at a place within a
LI’s distance of the Jin army. When the day was beginning to break,the
soldiers of the Wu army began to berat the drums heavily and their
shoutings resounded like rolls of thunder.
    Awakening from their dreams,the solders of the Jin army were almost
stupefied by the imposing manner of the three phalanxes of the Wu
army.The white phalanx was like a field covered with flowering rush,the
red phalanx was like a burning fire,and the black phalanx was simply
like a sea too deep to fathom.
    This story comes from Comversations from the States.Later generations
often use the set phrase "like fire and flowering rush"to refer to
tremendous momentum.

作者： 景山教育网

      相传在两千年前，燕国寿陵地方有一位少年，不知道姓啥叫啥，就叫他寿陵少年吧！
　　这位寿陵少年不愁吃不愁穿，论长相也算得上中等人材，可他就是缺乏自信心，经常无缘无故地感到事事不如人，低人一等——衣服是人家的好，饭菜是人家的
香，站相坐相也是人家高雅。他见什么学什么，学一样丢一样，虽然花样翻新，却始终不能做好一件事，不知道自己该是什么模样。
　　家里的人劝他改一改这个毛病，他以为是家里人管得太多。亲戚、邻居们，说他是狗熊掰棒子，他也根本听不进去。日久天长，他竟怀疑自己该不该这样走路，越看越觉得自己走路的姿势太笨，太丑了。
　　有一天，他在路上碰到几个人说说笑笑，只听得有人说邯郸人走路姿势那叫美。他一听，对上了心病，急忙走上前去，想打听个明白。不料想，那几个人看见他，一阵大笑之后扬长而去。
　　邯郸人走路的姿势究竟怎样美呢？他怎么也想象不出来。这成了他的心病。终于有一天，他瞒着家人，跑到遥远的邯郸学走路去了。
　　一到邯郸，他感到处处新鲜，简直令人眼花缭乱。看到小孩走路，他觉得活泼、美，学；看见老人走路，他觉得稳重，学；看到妇女走路，摇摆多姿，学。就这样，不过半月光景，他连走路也不会了，路费也花光了，只好爬着回去了。
　　故事出自《庄子·秋水》。成语“邯郸学步”，比喻生搬硬套，机械地模仿别人，不但学不到别人的长处，反而会把自己的优点和本领也丢掉。
Imitating Another without Success and Losing What Used to Be One’sOwn Ability

　　Tradition has it that more than 2,oooyears ago,there lived a young
man in the Shouling area of the State of Yan.As his name is not known
,we just call him Shouling young man for convenience’s sake.
　　self confident He was at a loss as to how to behave all the time.
　　His family members advised him to overcome this shortcoming,but he
thought they were fond of poking their noses into his business and were
unwilling to provide him with tuition fee.His relatives and neighbours
sneered at him,saying that he would never be able to learn
anything.Asthe days went by,he even began to doubt whether he should
walk the way he did,for he felt more and more that his walking gestures
were too clumsy and awkward.
　　One day,he met some people on the road who werechattingand
laughing.One of themsaid that people in Handan walked most
gracefully.And thatwas just what he was most concerned about,so he
hurreed towards themand wanted to make further inquiries.To his
surprise,when these people saw him,they stalked off laughing.
　　He could not picture to himself in what way their walking gestures
were graceful,no matter how hard he racked his parents one day.He went
to Handanwhich was far away to learn how to walk.
　　As soon as he arrived in Handan,he was dazzled to find that
everything was novel.He learned from the children there how to
walk,because he thought that the children’s walking gestures were
lively and pleasing to the eye.He learnd from the old people there how
to walk,because he thought the old people’s walking gestures were
steady .He learnd from the women there how to walk, because he thought
the women’ swaying walking gestures were beautiful.That being the case
with him ,in less than half a month he even forgot how to walk.As he
had already used up his traveling expenses,he had to crawl back home.
　　Thisstory come from the article"Autumn Water"in The Works of Xhuang
Zi(Zhuang Zi was a famous ancient Chinese philosopher of about
300B.c.).Later the set phrase"initating another without success and
losing what used to be one’s own ability"is used to refer to acts of
copying others mechanisally in disregard of specififc conditions.

作者： 景山教育网

      相传在战国时代宋国，有一个农民，日出而作，日入而息．遇到好年景，也不过刚刚吃饱穿暖；一遇灾荒，可就要忍饥挨饿了．他想改善生活，但他太懒，胆子又特小，干什么都是又懒又怕，总想碰到送上门来的意外之财。
　　奇迹终于发生了。深秋的一天，他正在田里耕地，周围有人在打猎。吆喝之声四处起伏，受惊的小野兽没命的奔跑。突然， 有一只兔子，不偏不倚，一头撞死在他田边的树根上。
　　当天，他美美地饱餐了一顿。
　　从此，他便不再种地。一天到晚，守着那神奇的树根，等着奇迹的出现。
　　成语“守株待兔”，比喻亡想不劳而得，或死守狭隘的经验，不知变通。Staying by a Stump Waiting for More Hares To Come and Dash Themselves Against It

    This story took place more than 2,000 years ago,in the Warring States
period（475-221 B.C.）.Tradition has it that in the State of Song at that
time there was a man who was famous for staying by a stump waiting for
more hares to come and dash themselves against it.
    He was a yong farmer,and his family had been farmers for
generations.Year after year and generation after generation, farmers
used to sow in spring and harvest in autumn,beginning to work at
sunrise and retiring at sunset.In good harvest years,they could only
have enough food to eat and enough clothing to wear.If there was a
famine due to crop failure,they had to go hungry.
    This young farmer wanted to improve his life.But he was too lazy and
too cowardly.Being lazy and cowardly over everything,he often dreamed
of having unexpected blessings.
    A miracle took place at last. One day in late autumn,when he was
ploughing in the field, two groups of people were hunting nearby.As
shoutings were rising one after another,scared hares were running
desperately.Suddenly,a blind hare dashed itself headlong against the
stump of a dead tree in his field and died.
    That day,he ate his fill.
    From that day on,he no longer went in for farming again.From morning
till night,he stayed by that miraculous stump,waiting for miracles to
take place again.
    This story comes from"The Five Vermin"in The Works of Han Feizi.Later
generations often use the set phrase"staying by a stump waiting for
more hares to come and dash themselves against it"to show grusting to
chance and windfalls or dreaming to reap without sowing.It is also used
to show adhering to narrow experiences and not being able to be
flexible.

作者： 景山教育网

      春秋时代，有个叫俞伯牙的人，精通音律，琴艺高超，是当时著名的琴师。俞伯牙年轻的时候聪颖好学，曾拜高人为师，琴技达到水平，但他总觉得自己还不能出神
入化地表现对各种事物的感受。伯牙的老师知道他的想法后，就带他乘船到东海的蓬莱岛上，让他欣赏大自然的景色，倾听大海的波涛声。伯牙举目眺望，只见波浪
汹涌，浪花激溅；海鸟翻飞，鸣声入耳；山林树木，郁郁葱葱，如入仙境一般。一种奇妙的感觉油然而生，耳边仿佛咯起了大自然那和谐动听的音乐。他情不自禁地
取琴弹奏，音随意转，把大自然的美妙融进了琴声，伯牙体验到一种前所未有的境界。老师告诉他：“你已经学了。”
      一夜伯牙乘船游览。面对清风明月，他思绪万千，于是又弹起琴来，琴声悠扬，渐入佳境。忽听岸上有人叫绝。伯牙闻声走出船来，只见一个樵夫站在岸
边，他知道此人是知音当即请樵夫上船，兴致勃勃地为他演奏。伯牙弹起赞美高山的曲调，樵夫说道：“真好！雄伟而庄重，好像高耸入云的泰山一样！”当他弹奏
表现奔腾澎湃的波涛时，樵夫又说：“真好！宽广浩荡，好像看见滚滚的流水，无边的大海一般！”伯牙兴奋色了，激动地说：“知音！你真是我的知音。”这个樵
夫就是钟子期。从此二人成了非常要好的朋友。
　　故事出自《列子·汤问》。成语“高山流水”，比喻知己或知音，也比喻音乐优美。Understanding and Appreciative Friends
    During the Spring and Autumn Period（770-476B.C.）.there was a man
whose name was Yu Boya.Yu boya famous music master at that time, having
a good command of the temperament and superb skills in playing the
musical instrument.He was bright and eager to learn when he was
young.He had formally acknowledged several experts as his teachers,and
his skills in playing the musical instrument had already reached a
fairly high level.But he still felt that he could not superbly express
the various things which had deeply impressed him.Knowing what was in
his mind, his teacher took him to the penglai Island,a fabled abode of
immortals,on the East China Sea by boat.On the island,his teacher let
him enjoy the natural scenarios and listen to the roaring of the great
waves.looking into the distance,Boya saw that the waves were turbulent
and that the white breakers leapt skywards.Sea birds were circling in
the air,and their crying was very pleasant to the ear.Trees were green
and intriguing feeling welled up in his mind,as if he had heard the
harmonious and charming music of nature.He couldn’t help taking his
musical instrument and playing it. He followed his inclinations while
he was playing,and incorporated the beautiful nature with his
music, thus reaching a realm of thought he had never experienced
before.Seeing this,the teacher said to hime,'’You have mastered the art
of playing."
    Once,on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month,he was boating for
sight-seeing.The moon was bright and a cool breeze was blowing
gently.With myriads of thoughts welling up in his mind,he began to play
the musical instrument.The melodious music became more and more
beautiful when a man on the bank shouted "bravo!"Hearing the
shouting,Boya came out of the boat,and saw a woodcutter standing on the
bank.He knew that this man was keenly appreciative of his
talents, because he understood his music.He immediately invited the
woodcutter to his boat and ,full of zest, he played the musical
instrument for him.When Boya played a piece of music eulogizing the
high mountains,the woodcutter said,"wonderful!The melody is as
magnificent and dignified as Mount Tai which reaches to the sky!"When
he played a piece of music depicting the turbulent waves,the woodcutter
said,"Wonderful!The melody is as vast and mighty as the great
rivers!"Boya was excited,and siad,"Bosom friend!You are really my bosom
friend!"That woodcutter was Zhong Ziqi.Since then,they had been very
good friends.
    This story appears in The Works of Lie Zi.From this story,people
havederived the set phrase"high mountain and running water" to refer to
understanding and appreciative friends.This set phrase is also used to
refer to melodious music.

 作者： 景山教育网

      有一年夏天，曹操率领部队去讨伐张绣，天气热得出奇，骄阳似火，天上一丝云彩也没有，部队在弯弯曲曲的山道上行走，两边密密的树木和被阳光晒得滚烫的山石，让人透不过气来。到了中午时分，士兵的衣服都湿透了，行军的速度也慢下来，有几个体弱的士兵竟晕倒在路边。
      曹操看行军的速度越来越慢，担心贻误战机，心里很是着急。可是，眼下几万人马连水都喝不上，又怎么能加快速度呢？他立刻叫来向导，悄悄问他：“这
附近可有水源？”向导摇摇头说：“泉水在山谷的那一边，要绕道过去还有很远的路程。”曹操想了一下说，“不行，时间来不及。”他看了看前边的树林，沉思了
一会儿，对向导说：“你什么也别说，我来想办法。”他知道此刻即使下命令要求部队加快速度也无济于事。脑筋一转，办法来了，他一夹马肚子，快速赶到队伍前
面，用马鞭指着前方说：“士兵们，我知道前面有一大片梅林，那里的梅子又大又好吃，我们快点赶路，绕过这个山丘就到梅林了！”士兵们一听，仿佛已经吃到嘴
里，精神大振，步伐不由得加快了许多。
      故事出自《世说新语·假谲》。成语“望梅止渴”，比喻用空想安慰自己或他人。

Quenching Thirst by Watching Plums
　　Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms period (220-265) was not only a capable
politician in managing state affairs, but also a strategist good at
leading troops in going to war.
　　One summer, Cao Cao was leading his troops in a punitive expedition
against Zhang Xiu. It was extraordinarily hot. The burning sun was like
a fire, and the sky was cloudless. The soldiers were walking on the
winding mountain paths. The dense forest and the hot rocks exposed to
the sun on both sides of the paths made the soldiers feel suffocated.
By noontime the soldiers’ clothes were wet through with sweat, and the
marching speed slowed down. Some solders of weak physique even fainted
on the roadside.
　　Seeing that the marching speed was slower and slower, Cao Cao was
very worried because he feared that he might bungle the chance of
winning the battle. But how could they quicken their speed? Cao Cao at
once callde the guide and asked him on the quiet whether there was a
source of water nearby. The guide shook his head, saying that the
spring water was on the other side of the mountain, which was very far
to have to make a detour to reach. Cao Cao realized that time didn’t
permit them to make such a detour. After thinking for a moment, he said
to the guide, "Keep quiet. I’ll find a way out." He knew that it would
be to no avail to order his troops to quicken the steps. He had a brain
wave and found a good solution. He spurred his horse and came to the
head of the column. Pointing his horsewhip to the front, Cao Cao said,
"Soldiers, I know there is a big forest of plums ahead. The plums there
are both big and delicious. let’s hurry along, and we will reach the
forest of plums after bypassing this hill." When the solders heard
this, they immediately slobbered. Picturing in their minds the sweet
and sour flavour of the plums, the soldiers felt as if they were
actually eating the plums, the soldiers felt as if they were actually
eating the plums themselves. The morale greatly boosted, the soldiers
quickened their steps a great deal automatically.
　　This story comes from "The Fake Tangery" in Anecdotes of This World
by Liu Yiqing of the Southern Dynasties period (420-589). From this
story, people have derived the set phrase "quenching thirst by watching
plums" to refer to trying to comfort oneself of others by idle dreams.