He is very old but continues to study those
classic books(皓首窮經)
From 220 AD to 280 AD, the 60 years between
the Han and Jin dynasties in China is called the Three Kingdoms Period.
At that time China was divided into three
kingdoms, the three kingdoms were Wei Kingdom, Wu Kingdom and Shuhan Kingdom.
In the Ming Dynasty of China, there was a
famous novelist whose name was (Luo Guanzhong).
He wrote a book that dramatized the story
of the three kingdoms.
The book he wrote is known as one of the
four most important novels in ancient China.
In chapter 43 of this book, there is a
short story as follows
The Kingdom of Shuhan hoped to form an
alliance with the Kingdom of Wu, and the two kingdoms would fight against the
most powerful kingdom of Wei.
The prime minister of the Shuhan Kingdom
was named (Zhuge Liang), and he represented the Shuhan Kingdom to meet the king
of the Wu Kingdom.
He met the King of Wu Kingdom and proposed
to the King of Wu Kingdom that he hoped to form an alliance with each other.
Many strategic advisors in the Kingdom of
Wu were opposed to this alliance, so these strategic advisors raised many
questions about what he said was the plan
But he explained the benefits of the
alliance in a very calm and gentle manner, and the doubts of these strategic
advisers were resolved by him one by one.
Before the meeting was about to end, a
strategic adviser of the Kingdom of Wu spoke to him contemptuously.
Although you have already answered the
questions we raised just now, I still do not agree with your views.
I think you just have better debating
skills, you are very young, you are not a highly qualified scholar, you do not
have a profound academic background.
What you said, in the eyes of us scholars,
we can only find it ridiculous.
He replied with a smile.
According to my observation, I divide the
scholars in this world into two kinds.
The first type of scholars is characterized
by their pursuit of truth and knowledge because they love justice and hate
evil. They love their country, they apply the truth and knowledge they have
learned around their lives, and they hope to make this society a better place
through what they have learned.
After the death of these scholars, they are
often still remembered by future generations.
The characteristics of the second type of
scholars are that they specialize in some very obscure knowledge, and they like
to use very professional terms to write many articles that the general public
cannot understand.
They live in their own world, and they are
often still studying those ancient classics when they are full of gray hair.
They are very critical of the things around
them, but if they are asked to come up with a specific reform plan, they can't
come up with a single one.
What kind of scholars are you scholars?
When the scholar heard his answer, he
didn't know how to respond.
This idiom is often used to compliment a
person who is old but still learning hard.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Have you learned any new knowledge in
recent years? What books have you read in the last year?
I hope this story will give you something
new to gain.
皓首窮經(He is very old but continues to study
those classic books)
西元220年到西元280年，中國的漢王朝與晉王朝中間的這60年間被稱為三國時代。
當時中國分裂成三個王國，這三個王國是魏王國與吳王國和蜀漢王國。
中國的明王朝有一個著名的小說家，這個小說家的名字叫做(羅貫中)。
他寫了一本書，這本書用戲劇化的方式描寫這三個王國的故事。
他寫的這本書，被稱為中國古代四本最重要的長篇小說之一。
這本書的第43章中，有一小段故事如下
蜀漢王國希望與吳王國結盟，兩個王國一起對抗武力最強大的魏王國。
蜀漢王國的宰相名字叫做(諸葛亮)，他代表蜀漢王國去會見吳王國的國王。
他見到了吳王國的國王並向吳王國的國王提出他希望可以彼此結盟的構想。
吳王國的很多位戰略顧問們都反對這次的結盟，所以這些戰略顧問們針對他所說的這個方案提出了許多質疑
但是他用很平靜很溫和的態度很有條理地說明結盟的好處，這些戰略顧問的質疑被他一一的化解。
這場會議即將結束前，有一個吳王國的戰略顧問很輕蔑地對他說。
雖然我們剛才提出的質疑你都已經提出回答，但是我還是不認同你的看法。
我認為你只是辯論技巧比較好，你的年紀很輕，你並不是一個資歷很深的學者，你沒有深厚的學術底蘊。
你所說的這些話，聽在我們這些學者眼中，我們只會覺得可笑。
他笑著回答。
根據我的觀察，我將這世界上的學者分成兩種。
第一種學者的特點是，他們追求真理與知識，是因為他們熱愛正義並且厭惡邪惡。他們熱愛自己的國家，他們把自已所學到的真理與知識運用在他們的生活周遭，他們希望可以透過自己的所學讓這個社會變得更好。
這些學者死後，他們往往都還能受到後世的懷念。
第二種學者的特點是，他們專門研究一些很冷僻的知識，他們喜歡用很專業的術語寫很多一般大眾都看不懂的文章。
他們活在自已的世界裡，他們往往到了滿頭白髮都還在研究那些古代的經典，。
他們對於生活周遭的事物他們很會批評，但是如過要他們提出具體的改革方案他們一個都提不出來。
你們這些學者是屬於哪一種學者呢?
這個學者聽到他的回答後，不知道該如何回應。
這句成語通常被用來讚美一個人年紀很大但還是很用心學習。
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。
你最近幾年有學習那些新的知識嗎?你最近一年看了些甚麼書呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為三國演義-43回-14條-諸葛亮舌戰群儒魯子敬力排眾議