One day, Yue Guang invited his friends to drink in the hall at home. When that friend was drinking, he suddenly saw the shadow of a small snake shaking in his glass. He was disgusted, but he drank the wine anyway. After drinking it, he felt uncomfortable and uneasy. When he got home, he was ill.
A few days later, Le Guang heard the news that his friend was ill and knew the reason why he was ill. Le Guang thought, "There will never be a snake in the glass!" "So, he ran to the place where he was drinking that day. It turned out that there was a colorful bow hanging on the wall of the hall. The shadow of the bow fell right where the friend put down the glass. Le Guang ran to this friend and explained it to him. As soon as the man understood the reason, he was all right.
Later, people used the metaphor of "a cup bow and a snake shadow" to be suspicious and ask for trouble.
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Bole comments on horses-praising people who are good at discovering talents
Legend has it that the fairy who manages horses in the sky is called Bole. On the earth, people call people who are good at distinguishing the good from the bad horses Bole.
The first person called Bole, whose real name was Sun Yang, came from the Spring and Autumn Period. Because of his excellent research on horses, people forgot his original name and have simply called him Bole until now.
On one occasion, Bole was entrusted by the King of Chu to buy a fine horse that traveled thousands of miles every day. Bole explained to the king of Chu that swift horses are rare and difficult to find, so they need to travel around the world. Please don't worry, he tried his best to get things done.
Bole traveled to several countries and carefully searched Zhao Yan, which is rich in famous horses. It's hard, but I still haven't found a good horse I like. One day, Bole came back from Qi State and saw a horse pulling a salt cart on a steep slope. This horse is tired and it is difficult to take every step. Bole is always so close to the horse that he can't help going to the front. The horse was furious when he saw Bole approaching.
Bole said to the driver: "This horse gallops on the battlefield, and no horse can match it;" But pulling a cart is not as good as ordinary horses. You'd better sell it to me. "
The driver thinks Bole is a big fool. He felt that this horse was ordinary, had no strength to pull rickshaws, ate too much and was skinny, so he agreed without hesitation. Bole led the horse away and headed for Chu. Bole led the horse to the Chu Palace, patted the horse on the neck and said, "I found a good master for you." As if he understood Bole's meaning, the horse raised his front hoof and slammed on the ground, hissing his neck.
When the king of Chu saw that the horse led by Bole was so thin, he thought Bole had fooled him and was a little unhappy. He said, "I believe you can look at the horse before buying it, but what kind of horse did you buy?" This horse is difficult to walk. Can it go to war? "
Bole said: "this is indeed a swift horse, but it looks very thin after being dragged for a long time and not carefully fed." As long as it is carefully fed, it will definitely restore physical strength within half a month. "
The king of Chu was a little skeptical and ordered the groom to do his best to feed the horse. Sure enough, the horse became thin and strong. The king of Chu whipped across the horse, but he felt the wind blowing in his ear and breathing for a hundred miles.
Later, Maxima made great contributions to the galloping of the King of Chu. The king of Chu respects Bole more.
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It's hard to get
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a famous man named Mi Fei, with outstanding talent. At that time, Dr. Kong Rong paid special attention to him and recommended him to Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty. He wrote: "An emperor's palace is bound to store extraordinary treasures. It is rare to be on an equal footing with his peers. "
Emperor Xian did not dare to decide, so he handed Kong Rong's recommendation form to Cao Cao. Cao Cao likes talents very much and summoned Mi Heng. But Mi Heng looked down on Cao Cao and was rude to him. Cao Cao appointed Mi Fei as the drummer and ordered him to play drums to entertain guests at the banquet. Unexpectedly, Mi Heng beat the drums and cursed Cao Cao, which made Cao Cao very embarrassed. Cao Cao sent Mi Heng to Jingzhou to surrender Liu Biao, trying to kill him by Liu Biao's hand. Unexpectedly, Liu Biao took Mi Heng as his subordinate.
The idiom "rare" comes from this, which is very rare and rare. Often used to praise talented people.
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Desperate
In the Zhou Dynasty, there was a nobleman named KATTO. KATTO is not only brilliant in poetry, but also good at managing state affairs. Later, he was assisted by Zhou Liwang. However, Zhou Liwang is arrogant and misinterprets the law. The traitor tried every means to please him. KATTO bluntly listed the shortcomings of state affairs, but the traitor spoke ill of him in Zhou Liwang's ear. Zhou Liwang is very tired of KATTO. Since then, treacherous court officials have gone in and out of the court.
"incorrigible": terminally ill, medicine can't save it.
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Ignorance and incompetence
During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Huo Guang, a general, was an important official of the imperial court and won the trust of Emperor Wu. Before Liang Wudi died, he entrusted his youngest son Liu Fuling (Zhao Di) to Huo Guang for assistance. After Zhao Di's death, Huo Guangli became Emperor of Liu Xun (Xuan Di). Huo Guang has been in charge of state affairs for more than 40 years and made great contributions to the Western Han Dynasty.
After Liu Xun succeeded to the throne, she made Xu Fei queen. Huo Guang's wife Huo Xian is a greedy woman. She wanted to marry her little daughter to Liu Xun as the queen, so she took advantage of Empress Xu's illness to bribe a female doctor and poisoned her. The poisonous trick was exposed and the female doctor was jailed. Huo Guang didn't know about it beforehand. When he came out, Huo Xian told him. Huo Guang was very scared and accused his wife of not doing such a thing. After careful consideration, I still hid this unnatural thing. After Huo Guang's death, someone reported the case to Xuan Di, and Xuan Di sent someone to investigate and deal with it. When Huo Guang's wife heard about it, she discussed the countermeasures with her family and cronies and decided to gather people to rebel. Don't want to let the cat out of the bag, they sent troops to surround the Huo family.
Ban Gu, a historian of the Eastern Han Dynasty, commented on Huo Guang's merits and demerits in The Biography of Han Huo Guang, saying that he was "unlearned and in Dali", which meant that Huo Guang didn't study and had no knowledge, so he didn't know the truth concerning the overall situation. The idiom "without learning and skills" means that he has no knowledge and skills.
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Be endowed with great/extraordinary talents
Xie Lingyun in the Southern Dynasties was a writer who wrote a lot of landscape poems. He was smart and studious, and read a lot of books. He was deeply loved by his grandfather Xie Xuan since he was a child.
Born in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he was called Xie by the world for attacking the duke's title. As a duke, he had no real power and was sent to Yongjia as a satrap. Xie Lingyun lamented his incompetence, often leaving his official duties behind, but went to travel. Later, he resigned and moved to Huiji, often drinking and having fun with friends. The local satrap sent someone to persuade him to restrain himself, but he was angered.
After Song Wendi ascended the throne, he was recalled to Beijing as an official and praised his poetry and calligraphy as "two treasures". Xie Lingyun is even more proud. He said: "There is only one stone in the world, and Cao Zijian has eight fights. I want to fight, and the world is divided into one fight."
This idiom comes from this, which describes people's extraordinary literary talent.
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Every bush and every tree seems to be enemies-in a state of extreme panic.
During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Fu Jian, king of Qin, controlled China in the north. In 383, Fu Jian led 900,000 infantry and cavalry to attack the rulers in the south of the Yangtze River. Jin generals Xie Shi and Xie Xuan led eighty thousand troops to resist. Fu Jian learned that 8 jin j strength is insufficient, just want to seize the opportunity, quick attack.
Unexpectedly, 250,000 vanguard troops in Fu Jian were unexpectedly defeated by Jin Jun in Shouchun area, and suffered heavy losses. The general was killed and more than ten thousand soldiers were killed or injured. Qin Jun's spirit fell sharply, his morale was shaken, and the soldiers fled. At this time, Fu Jian saw the 8 jin j team in Shouchun city, with high morale, and then looked north at Bagong Mountain. I saw every grass and tree on the mountain like 8 jin j soldiers. Fu Jian turned around and said to his brother. How can you say that 8 jin j is insufficient? "He regretted underestimating his enemy.
The poor start has cast an ominous shadow on the heart. He made the troops rely on the north bank of Feishui in an attempt to reverse the war by virtue of geographical advantages. At this time, Xie Xuan, the general of the Jin army, asked to step back and make room for crossing the river. Fu Jian did Sarah laugh that the general of the Jin army didn't understand the common sense of fighting. He wanted to take advantage of the fact that the Jin army was busy crossing the river and it was difficult to fight, so he readily accepted the request of the Jin army.
Who knows, with the retreat of the military orders, it collapsed, but the Jin army took advantage of the situation to cross the river in pursuit, and killed it with abandon, and Fu Jian escaped with an arrow.
The story comes from the Book of Jin; Fu Jian notes. The idiom "all plants are soldiers" describes nervous and paranoid panic psychology.
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riding the winds and breaking the waves
In the ancient Southern and Northern Dynasties, there was a general named Ming Zong in the State of Song. He was brave and ambitious since he was a child. One day, Zong Yi's uncle asked him what his ambition was, and Zong Yi replied, "I would like to ride the wind and waves." I must break through all obstacles, go forward bravely and make a difference. Zong Yi.
Later, people used "braving the wind and waves" to describe the spirit of facing difficulties.
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Use more and use less-use less and use less talents.
At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, the State of Jin invaded south continuously. Xin Qiji joined Kang Dajin. Later, he served as an envoy to Hubei, Jiangxi, Hunan, Jian 'an and other places in the Southern Song Dynasty.
He is not only a patriotic hero, but also wrote many poems full of fighting passion. He spent 18 years in seclusion by the lake in Shangrao because of the attack of the pacifists. In 65,438+0203, the court appointed him as an Anfu ambassador in eastern Zhejiang and a magistrate in Shaoxing. He often discusses state affairs with Lu You, a patriotic poet who lives by the Jianhu Lake in Shaoxing. The following spring, Song Ningzong asked him to go to the capital for advice.
When Xin Qiji arrived in Beijing, the emperor only arranged for him to be the magistrate of Zhenjiang Prefecture. Soon, the patriotic hero died of grief and indignation.
Later, people used the idiom "overqualified" to mean that talents are high and their status is low, so they can't give full play to their functions.
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unselfish
During the Spring and Autumn Period, one day, Qi Huangong Jinping asked Qi Huangyang, "There is a vacancy in Nanyang County. Who do you think is the most suitable? " Qi Huangyang thought for a moment and said, "It is most appropriate to send Xie Hu!" Jin Pinggong felt very strange: "Xie Hu is not your enemy, why do you recommend him?" Qi Huangyang replied: "You only ask me who is the most suitable for this position, not whether Xie Hu is my enemy!" "
Duke Jinping adopted Qi Huangyang's suggestion and sent Xie Hu to take office in Nanyang County. Sure enough, Xie Hu did a lot of good things for the local people and was praised by people.
One day, Jin Pinggong asked Qi Huangyang again, "Now there is a lack of a judge in the imperial court. Who do you think is qualified? " Qi Huangyang replied: "Wuqi is the most capable!" Duke Ping of Jin said, "Wuqi is your son. You recommend your own son. Aren't you afraid of being discussed? " Qi Huangyang said: "You only asked me who is qualified to be a judge, not whether Wu Qi is my son!"
After becoming a judge, Wu Qi was very capable and deeply loved by the people.
Confucius praised Qi Huangyang very much, saying that he was a fair and strict man, which could be called "selfless".
The idiom "selfless" describes being single-minded for the public and not selfish. It also means to handle things without taking sides.
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place righteousness above family loyalty
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhou Xu of Wei killed his younger brother Wei Huangong and became a monarch.
Zhou Xu encouraged people to go to war, which aroused people's dissatisfaction. Worried that his throne was unstable, he consulted with his confidant Shi Hou.
Shi Hou went to ask his father, Minister Wei, how to consolidate Zhou Xu's dominant position. Shijie said to his son, "When a vassal ascended the throne, he should get the permission of Zhou Tianzi, so that his position can be consolidated." Shi Hou said, "Zhou Xu killed his brother and sought a position. What if Zhou Tianzi doesn't allow it? " Shijie said: "Chen Huangong is deeply trusted by Zhou Tianzi and is a friendly neighbor with Chen Wei." Shi Hou didn't wait for his father to finish, so he said, "Do you mean to ask Chen Huangong for help?" Ding Wei nodding.
Zhou Xu and Shi Hou prepared many gifts, but they were detained by Chen Huangong. It turned out that this was Shi Jie's arrangement.
Guo Wei sent people to Chen State to execute Zhou Xu. Guo Wei's ministers thought that Shi Hou was Shi Jie's son, so he should be lenient. Shijie sent his retainer to Chen to assassinate Shi Hou. Historians believe that the killing of a child by Shijie is "putting righteousness above family".
The idiom "Righteousness is higher than family" now means to protect the interests of the country and the people without favoring relatives who commit crimes.
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Imitate clumsily
In ancient times, there were two women in the state of Yue. One is beautiful, the other is ugly. Dong Shi envies Xi Shi's beauty and always imitates her every move. One day, Shi had a heart attack and was walking in the street. He put his hand over his chest and frowned. When he saw it, Dong Shi thought Shi was beautiful, so he imitated her appearance. I dare not go to see her. Later, people used "learning from others" to mean imitating others without knowing their strengths and weaknesses. "Effect" means "imitation" and "frown" means "frown".
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Natural flow of cursive script
Shi Yalou was a monk in the Tang Dynasty. He lived in a temple for a long time, burning incense and chanting. Other monks secretly play chess and sleep in their spare time, but Shi Yalou bought inkstone, ink, pen and paper to practice calligraphy. Sometimes, he still practices hard at midnight. A year has passed, and his writing skills are getting deeper and deeper. Many people who burn incense and worship Buddha also ask him to write. He promised all of them. His cursive script is particularly elegant and unrestrained. Someone asked him. Shi Yalou wrote eight words: "Birds out of the forest, frightened snakes into the grass!" " "
"A bird scares a snake" describes a font as elegant as a bird flies, and its brushwork is vigorous, even the snake is scared.
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High mountains and Running water
In the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man named Yu Boya, who was a famous pianist at that time. When Yu Boya was young, he was smart and eager to learn. He used to be a teacher, but he always felt that he could not express his feelings about all kinds of things in a superb way. After his teacher knew his idea, he took him to Penglai Island in the East China Sea by boat, so that he could enjoy the natural scenery and listen to the sound of the waves. Boya lifted up his eyes and saw rough waves. Seabirds are roaring and singing; The trees in the mountains are lush, just like entering a fairyland. A wonderful feeling arises spontaneously, and the harmonious and beautiful music of nature seems to echo in his ears. He couldn't help playing the piano, his voice turned at will, and the beauty of nature was integrated into the piano, and Boya experienced an unprecedented realm.
One night, Boya traveled by boat. Facing the cool breeze and bright moon, he was full of thoughts, so he played the piano again, and the sound of the piano was melodious and getting better. Suddenly, he heard someone shouting on the shore. When Boya heard the sound, he got out of the boat and saw a woodcutter standing on the shore. Knowing that the man was a bosom friend, he immediately invited the woodcutter aboard and played for him with great interest. Boya played a tune praising the mountains, and the woodcutter said, "How wonderful! Majestic and solemn, such as Mount Tai towering into the clouds! " When he played the surging waves, the woodcutter said, "How wonderful! Vast and boundless, it seems to see rolling water and boundless sea! " Boya was very excited and said excitedly, "bosom friend!" You are my bosom friend. "This woodcutter is Zhong Ziqi. Since then, they have become very good friends.
This story comes from Liezi Tang Wen. The idiom "Mountain Flowing Water" is a metaphor for bosom friends and wonderful music.
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Imitate others and lose your personality.
According to legend, two thousand years ago, there was a young man in Shouling, Yan State. He was not worried about food and clothing, but he lacked self-confidence. He often felt that nothing was like others for no reason-good clothes, delicious food and elegant people. He learned everything he saw and lost everything he learned. Although the pattern is refurbished, he can never do a thing well.
His family advised him to change this habit. He thought it was because his family cared too much. Relatives and neighbors all said that he was a bear breaking a stick, but he didn't listen at all. Over time, he doubted whether he should walk like this, and the more he looked at it, the more he felt that his walking posture was too stupid and ugly.
One day, he met several people talking and laughing on the road, only to hear someone say that Handan people walk beautifully. Hearing this, he hurried forward to find out. Unexpectedly, those people saw him and left with a smile.
How beautiful is the walking posture of Handan people? He can't imagine, this has become his heart disease. Finally, one day, he went to Handan, a distant place, to learn to walk without telling his family.
When I arrived in Handan, I felt fresh and dazzling everywhere. Seeing the children walking, he felt lively, beautiful and learned. Seeing the old man walking, he felt steady and learned; Watching women walk and stagger to learn, that's it. After half a month, he couldn't even walk, and his travel expenses were spent, so he had to climb back.
The story comes from Autumn Water in Zhuangzi. The idiom "Walking in Handan" is a metaphor for copying mechanically. Instead of learning from others' strengths, you will lose your own strengths and skills.