China's historical idioms, stories and historical allusions

At the end of Shang Dynasty, Zhou Wang was extravagant and cruel, and people's life was very hard. Jiang Ziya, the minister, couldn't stand Zhou Wang's extravagance, so he hid in the Weihe River and lived in seclusion.

Weihe area is under the jurisdiction of warlord Jichang. Ji Chang is ambitious and cherishes talents. In order to attract Ji Chang's attention, Jiang Ziya sits by the river and fishes every day. His hook is straight, without bait, three feet above the water. While fishing, he said, "Fish, take the bait quickly!" " "Someone kindly told him that you can't catch fish like this. Jiang Ziya just smiled and said, "The fish will take the bait themselves. "People laughed at him, but he ignored it.

The result reached the ears of Ji Chang. Ji Chang thought he might be a talented person, so he sent soldiers to invite him. When Jiang Ziya saw that he was a soldier, he not only ignored it, but also continued to fish, saying, "Fishing, fishing, fishing, if the fish don't bite, the shrimp will make trouble!" The soldier must report back. So Ji Chang sent another minister to invite him. Jiang Ziya is a minister, or ignored. He read: "Fishing, fishing, fishing, big fish don't bite, small fish make trouble!" " The minister had to report back. Finally, Ji Chang prepared a generous gift and personally visited Jiang Ziya. Jiang Ziya saw that he was really a talent-seeker, so he promised to help him. Ji Chang made him a squire to show his respect.

Later, Jiang Ziya successively assisted King Wen, overthrew the rule of Shang Dynasty and established the Zhou Dynasty with the longest history in China.

2, approachable

In the early years of the Western Zhou Dynasty, his son was sealed in Lu, King Taigong (Jiang Ziya) was sealed in Qi, and the Duke of Zhou also helped him become king in the Regent's Palace. Three years later, Bo Qin came in to report the government affairs to the Duke of Zhou, who said, "Why did you come so late?" Bo Qin said, "I have made great efforts to change the customs." For example, mourning must be served for three years before it can be removed. "squire here, five months later to report on activities. Duke Zhou said, "How did you come so soon? "Taigong said," I have greatly simplified the etiquette of the monarch and his subjects. Everything is simple and easy to follow. After listening to Boqin's report, Taigong sighed and said, "The descendants of Lu will definitely submit to Qi in the north." If politics is not simple and clear, people are reluctant to get close to it. People, people will join. "

"People" originally refers to political simplicity. In the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong, changed all the words "people" into "people" in order to avoid taboo, and this language was also changed into "approachable". With this change, the meaning has also changed, from politics to the attitude towards people, and sometimes the style of the article is easy to understand.

3. Daughter laughs

At the end of the Western Zhou Dynasty, after Zhou Youwang acceded to the throne, he simply ignored state affairs, ate, drank, and indulged in women. There was a vassal state in the Zhou Dynasty called Bao (bāo). Seeing that the son of heaven was so absurd, the monarch came to exhort him. Wang You didn't listen, but put him in prison.

The king's son, Hunde, was very anxious when he saw his father locked up, so he discussed with his mother how to rescue him. They heard that you Wang likes beautiful women very much, so they bought a young and beautiful girl with a lot of money, named "Si", taught her court manners, and then gave it to you Wang. Wang You was overjoyed and ordered the release of the monarch.

After he entered the palace, he was deeply loved by the king, but there was only one thing that didn't suit him, that is, he was eccentric and never laughed. Wang You made up his mind to make her smile, so he put up a notice: Who can make the new queen smile? There is a reward of 1000 yuan. As soon as the notice came out, some people rushed to enter the palace. Some people stare at each other with their tongues, and some people tell absurd jokes, which can be praised, but they still don't smile. There was a minister named Guo (guó) Shifu, who was a bad person who liked to kiss up. He came up with a bad idea, which is called "the warlord of the bonfire play". It turns out that in ancient times, when encountering enemy situations, it was mainly by beacon towers to call the police. Those beacon towers are all over the vassal States, and two adjacent beacon towers can see each other. If the enemy is found somewhere during the day, it will ignite the dried wolf dung and send a message with "wolf smoke"; If it is night, light firewood and send a message with fire. Before long, the news will spread all over the country, and local governors will lead troops to Kyoto for disposal.

You Wang was very happy when he heard the plan and decided to give it a try. One day, the weather was fine, and the king came to the top of the tower with a compliment. He stepped onto the stage, overlooking the distant mountains and near the water. Wang You ordered the bonfire to be lit, and suddenly smoke rose into the sky. Seeing the bonfire burning, the governors from far and near thought that the enemy was coming, so they withdrew their troops and ran to Hao, Beijing. They arrived at the gate of Haojing, but there was no enemy soldier in sight. They saw Wang You and Congsi sitting on the podium drinking and watching the fun. Now, I can make praise laugh. She laughed at the imprudence of the king and the credulity of the princes. He smiled approvingly, found himself in Wang Jimin, and immediately gave Guo Shifu a daughter's reward. The princes were so angry that they knew they had been cheated, cursed them and led the troops back.

Wang You didn't care, he staged this farce many times just to see that smiling face. Soon, Rong (róng) sent troops to attack Haojing. Seeing that the army really came, King Wang You quickly sent someone to light a bonfire and asked the princes for help. But this time, the princes thought that the son of heaven was playing with the queen, and they all stayed put. In this way, Haojing was breached by the Rong people, and you Wang fled to the foot of Lishan Mountain and was killed. Let someone take him away.

The idiom "daughter laughs" is very rare to describe a beauty's smile. It is priceless.

4. High mountains and flowing water

During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a man named Yu Boya, who was proficient in temperament and superb in piano skills. He was a famous pianist at that time.

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, I heard someone screaming on the shore. Boya came out of the boat and saw a woodcutter standing on the shore. 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 really my bosom friend. "This woodcutter is Zhong Ziqi. Since then, the two have become very good friends.

The idiom "high mountains and flowing water" is a metaphor for bosom friends and wonderful music.

5, don't pick up on the road.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the son of a politician in the State of Zheng became the official minister of the State of Zheng because he actively suppressed the rebellion of the old aristocratic forces. He took a series of measures to promote Zheng's economic development; At the same time, it also advocates governing the country according to law and has formulated strict criminal laws to deal with criminal acts. So, there are no thieves in China. "Don't pick up things" (things lost on the road, others won't pick up); The peach trees and jujube trees in the street are all covered with fruits, and no one climbs up to pick them. Because real estate has managed the country well, Zheng has become rich and strong. Although it has been affected for three consecutive years, the people have not suffered from hunger and cold.

This idiom is often used with "not closing the door at night" to describe a good social atmosphere.

6, the righteousness above family loyalty

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Wei Guo really killed his brother Huan and became king on his own.

Zhou Xu drove people to fight and aroused people's dissatisfaction. Worried about the instability of his throne, he consulted with Shi Hou, a confidant minister. So I went to ask my father Wei Xiangqu how to consolidate his dominant position. Shi said to his son, "when a vassal ascended the throne, he should get the permission of the Zhou Emperor, so as to consolidate his position." Shi Hou said, "Zhou Xu killed his brother to find a job. What if Emperor Zhou doesn't allow it? " Shi said: trusted by Zhou, Shi Hou, a friendly neighbor with Chen and Wei, said before his father finished, "Do you mean to ask Chen Huangong for help?" Stone nodding.

Zhou Xu and Shi Hou prepared many gifts, but they were detained by Chen Huangong. So this is the arrangement of stones. Guo Wei sent someone to Chen Guo to execute Zhou Xu. Ministers of Wei thought it was Shi's son and should be lenient. Shi sent home ministers to Chen State and killed them. Historians believe that stoning a child to death is "putting righteousness above family".

The idiom "putting righteousness above family members" means not favoring relatives who commit crimes in order to safeguard the interests of the country and the people.

7. Be ambitious

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Jin Xiangong was angered by his favorite concubine and killed the prince. His son and Yiwu fled to Di and Liang respectively.

Later, Jin Xiangong died, and with the help of Qin Mugong and Qi Huangong, Yiwu became the monarch. He was afraid that Zhong Er would come back for the throne, so he sent someone to kill him. So, after all the difficulties and obstacles, I fled from Di to Qi.

Qi Huangong gave preferential treatment to Zhong Er and his followers, such as Zhao Shuai and Hu Yan (y m: n), and married his girl Qi Jiang to Zhong Er. Zhong Er lived in Qi for seven years, and his life was very comfortable. He doesn't want to go back to the state of Jin.

After Qi Huangong's death, Duke Xiao of Qi became the monarch of Qi, and Qi began to weaken. Zi, Zhao, Hu Yan and others came to Sangyuan to discuss secretly, trying to let Qi leave.

This let Zhong Er's wife Qi Qiang know. Qi Jiang, the heroine of the female middle school, hoped that her husband could do great things, so he said to Zhong Er, "Son, I'm glad you have great ambitions. You go! Men have to do something, and it is not enough to think that their wives are greedy for ease! "

Zhong Er was surprised and said, "I won't leave you, leave Qi, I won't go!" Hearing this, Qijiang knew that he didn't want to go, so he discussed a plan with Zi and others. After getting Zhong Er drunk, he was sent out of Qi.

Later, at the age of sixty-two, Zhong Er finally returned to the State of Jin and became the monarch of the State of Jin, known as Jin Wengong in history.

This idiom often means that people should set up lofty aspirations.

8. Stay out of the way

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Zhong Er fled to Chu. The king of Chu thought that Zhong Er would do something in the future, so he greeted him with a gift from the monarch and regarded him as a distinguished guest.

One day, the king of Chu gave a banquet in honor of Zhong Er, and suddenly asked, "If one day you return to the State of Jin and become a monarch, how can you repay me?" Zhong Er thought for a moment and said, "Beautiful waiter, precious silk, your majesty, you have a lot;" Chu is rich in rare bird feathers and ivory skins. What rare items are there for the king in Jin State? " The king of Chu said, "Your son is too modest. Having said that, you should show me something, right? Zhong Er replied with a smile: "If thanks to you, I can really return to China to take power, and I am willing to get along well with your country." . If one day, there is a war between Chu Jin and China, I will definitely order the troops to retreat first (a house is equal to 30 miles). If I can't get your forgiveness, I will fight you again. "

Four years later, Zhong Er really returned to the State of Jin and became a monarch. This is the famous Jin Wengong in history. The state of Jin became stronger and stronger under his rule.

In 633 BC, the two armies of Chu and Jin fought. In order to fulfill his promise, Jin Wengong ordered the troops to retreat 90 miles and stay in Chengpu. When Chu Jun saw that 8 Jin J was retreating, he thought the other side was afraid and immediately pursued it. The Jin army took advantage of the weakness of the Chu army's pride in underestimating the enemy, concentrated its forces and defeated the Chu army greatly, and won the battle of Chengpu.

The idiom "avoid three places" is now often used to mean not arguing with others or making concessions on your own initiative.