I sincerely ask for your forgiveness (負荊請罪)
During the Warring States Period in China,
there was a minister named (Lin Xiangru) in the Zhao Kingdom.
Because he made a great contribution to
Zhao Kingdom.
So the king of the Zhao Kingdom hired him
as the prime minister of the kingdom.
There was a famous general in the Zhao
Kingdom, his name was (Lian Po), and he was very unhappy when he heard this.
(Lian Po) complained to other ministers.
How many victories I have won for our
kingdom, and how many injuries I have suffered to protect our kingdom. I was
finally promoted to my current position.
(Lin Xiangru) came from a humble
background, he got a higher position than me because of one contribution. So I
was very angry.
Therefore, if I meet him, I will use the
most vicious words to humiliate him.
Some of these ministers told (Lin Xiangru)
of (Lian Po)'s complaint.
(Lin Xiangru) Not angry, he did something
that puzzled everyone.
Starting from this day, as long as there is
a party that (Lian Po) attends, he will not attend.
As long as he saw (Lian Po) walking towards
him, he would immediately go another way.
He does not have direct contact with (Lian
Po).
One day, two days, one week, two weeks
passed.
(Lin Xiangru)'s good friends saw his behavior,
everyone was very angry.
These good friends said to (Lin Xiangru).
You are too cowardly, you are too timid, you have not made a mistake, why do
you want to avoid (Lian Po).
(Lin Xiangru) did not answer directly. He
asked his friends.
Let me ask you a question. If (Lian Po) and
the king of the Qin Kingdom appeared at the same time, who would you be more
afraid of?
Friends answered. Of course it is the king
of the Qin Kingdom. He controls a powerful army. Who is not afraid of him.
(Lin Xiangru) said. That's right, everyone
is more afraid of the king of the Qin Kingdom.
But at the dinner, I dared to confront him
face to face in order to win the honor of our kingdom.
I'm not afraid of the king of the Qin
Kingdom, so how can I be afraid of (Lian Po)?
The reason I will do this is because my
consideration is different from yours.
Lian Po is the bravest general in our
kingdom.
If I fight back (Lian Po) just to defend my
dignity.
The result will not only affect the two of
us, but more importantly, it will cause disharmony among all ministers.
If the ministers in our kingdom are not in
harmony, the surrounding kingdoms will take the opportunity to invade us.
My dignity is of course important, but I
think the safety of the entire kingdom is more important.
Some of these friends told (Lian Po) what
(Lin Xiangru) thought.
(Lian Po) felt very regretful.
He didn't know how to express his apology
specifically.
He has been in the military all his life
and has a very direct and frank personality.
He thought for several days, and he thought
of a way.
He went to pluck many thorns, then left his
upper body naked, carried these thorns on his back, and then walked to (Lin
Xiangru)'s home.
When the servant of (Lin Xiangru) at home
informed him that (Lian Po) was visiting, he was taken aback.
He hurried out to meet.
When (Lian Po) saw (Lin Xiangru), he said
to him.
Compared with you, you have a broad mind,
but I am a stupid and narrow-minded person.
(Lin Xiangru) ran over and took (Lian Po)'s
hand, and he saw (Lian Po)'s back was covered with blood left over from the
thorns.
(Lin Xiangru) was able to react quickly and
respond to the king of the Qin Kingdom at the dinner, but at this moment he
didn't know what to say.
The two of them stood silently.
The two of them later became best friends.
This idiom is used to describe one person
confessing his mistakes to another person and asking for forgiveness.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you have after hearing this story.
When faced with other people's rudeness to
you, will you immediately fight back or will you be tolerant? If you were (Lian
Po), how would you express your apology with specific actions?
I hope this story will give you some new
gains.
負荊請罪(I sincerely ask for your forgiveness)
中國的戰國時代，趙王國有一個大臣名字叫(藺相如)。
因為他為趙王國立下一個大功勞。
所以趙王國的國王，聘請他擔任王國的總理。
趙王國有一位著名的將軍，他的名字叫做(廉頗)，他聽到這件事就很不開心。
(廉頗)對其他的大臣抱怨。
我為了我們王國打贏了多少次勝仗，我為了保護我們的王國我受了多少的傷。我終於升任到現在的職位。
(藺相如)的出身卑微，他因為一次的功勞，就得到比我高的職位。所以我非常的氣憤。
因此，我若是遇見他，我一定會用最惡毒的言語去羞辱他。
這些大臣中，有些人就把(廉頗)的抱怨告訴了(藺相如)。
(藺相如)沒有生氣，他做了一些令大家疑惑的舉動。
他從這一天開始， 只要有(廉頗)參加的聚會，他就不參加。
只要他看見(廉頗)向他走過來，他就會立刻走別的路。
他不與(廉頗)正面的接觸。
一天，兩天，一個禮拜，兩個禮拜過去了。
(藺相如)的好朋友們看見他的這些行為，大家都很生氣。
這些好朋友對(藺相如)說。你太懦弱了，你太膽小了，你並沒有犯錯，你為何要躲避(廉頗)呢。
(藺相如)沒有直接回答。他問了自己的好朋友們。
我問你們一個問題，若是(廉頗)與秦王國的國王兩個人同時出現，你們會比較畏懼誰呢。
朋友們回答。當然是秦王國的國王啊。他掌握著著強大的軍隊。有誰不畏懼他呢。
(藺相如)說。這就對了，大家都比較畏懼秦王國的國王。
但我在晚宴上，我敢為了爭取我們王國的榮譽，我勇敢的當面與他發生衝突。
我竟然不怕秦王國的國王，我又怎麼會怕(廉頗)呢?
我會這樣做的原因，是因為我考慮的立足點與你們不同。
廉頗是我們王國中，最勇敢善戰的將軍。
我若是為了捍衛自己的尊嚴去反擊(廉頗)。
結果不只影響我們兩個人，更重要的是會造成所有大臣們的不和睦。
我們王國內的大臣們若不和睦，周圍的王國便會趁機來侵犯我們。
我的尊嚴當然重要，但是我認為整個王國的安全更重要啊。
這些朋友中，有些人就把(藺相如)的想法告訴了(廉頗)。
(廉頗)覺得很懊悔。
他不知道該如何具體的表達自己的歉意。
他一輩子從事軍職，個性很直接並且坦率。
他想了好幾天，他想到一個方式。
他去拔了許多的荊棘，然後光著上半身，把這些荊棘背在身上，然後走到(藺相如)的家。
當(藺相如)家中的僕人通報他廉頗來訪的時候，他嚇了一跳。
他急忙跑出去迎接。
(廉頗)一見到(藺相如)，就對他說。
我與你相比較，你具有廣闊的胸襟，我卻是愚昧又心胸狹窄的人啊。
(藺相如)跑過去牽起(廉頗)的手，他看到(廉頗)的背上滿是被荊棘刺傷留下來的血。
(藺相如)能夠在晚宴上快速的反應並且回應秦王國的國王，但此刻他卻不知道該說什麼。
他們兩個人就沉默的站著。
他們兩個人後來變成最好的朋友。
這句成語被用來形容一個人向另一個人承認自己的錯誤，並請求原諒。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
面對別人對你的無禮時，你會立刻反擊還是會包容呢?若你是(廉頗)，你會怎樣用具體的行動表達自己的歉意呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為史記-藺相如廉頗列傳
https://www.arteducation.com.tw/guwen/bookv_168.html