You think the ugly Wu Yan is as beautiful
as Xi Tzu, you have offended the beautiful Xi Tzu(刻劃無鹽唐突西施)
There was a famous minister in the Eastern
Jin Dynasty of China, his name was Zhou Yi.
There is a story about him recorded in the
history books.
One day, one of his good friends said to
him
You are a great man, and we all feel that
your way of dealing with people is very similar to a famous minister of the
Western Jin Dynasty.
He asked with a smile.
Which famous minister of the Western Jin
Dynasty do you think I look like?
his best friend replied.
We think your character is like that of a
minister named (Le Guang) from the Western Jin Dynasty.
Le Guang is a very learned person. He is
not interested in fame, wealth and power. He keeps a healthy distance from his
friends.
His personality is very gentle, but he is
very principled in some important matters.
After hearing this answer, he smiled and
said.
During the Spring and Autumn Period in
China, there was a famous beauty called Xi Shi. I think Le Guang's character is
as beautiful as Xi Tzu's.
In the Spring and Autumn Period of China,
there was a famous ugly girl called Wuyan. I think my moral character is as
mediocre as no salt.
You think my moral character is as
excellent as Le Guang's. Your analogy is like saying that the ugly Wuyan is as
beautiful as Xi Tzu. You have insulted the beautiful Xi Tzu.
The meaning of this saying is that you
should not compare ugly people and things with beautiful people and things.
Your behaviour will offend and belittle the beautiful people and things.
Dear friend, what inspirations or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Among your friends, whose way of life do
you admire the most? Have you ever felt offend?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
刻劃無鹽唐突西施(You think the ugly Wu Yan is as
beautiful as Xi Tzu, you have offended the beautiful Xi Tzu)
中國的東晉王朝有一個著名的大臣，他的名字叫做(周以)。
歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
有一天，他的一個好朋友對他說。
你是一個很棒的人，我們都覺得你為人處世的方式與風格很像西晉王朝一個著名的大臣。
他笑著問。
你們覺得我像是西晉王朝哪一個著名的大臣?’
他的好朋友回答。
我們覺得你的性格像是西晉王朝那一個名字叫做(樂廣)的大臣。
樂廣是一個很有見識的人，他不會熱衷於追求名利與權位。他與他的朋友們都保持適當的距離。
他的個性很溫和但是他在一些重要的事情上面卻有很有原則。
他聽到這個回答後，他笑著說。
中國的春秋時代，有一個著名的美女，這個美女的名字叫做西施。我認為樂廣的品德就像是西施一樣的美好。
中國的春秋時代，有一個著名的醜女，這個醜女的名字叫做無鹽。我自認為我的品德就像是無鹽一樣的平庸。
你們認為我的品德跟樂廣一樣的卓越，你們這種類比方式就像是你們認為醜陋的無鹽就像是西施一樣的美麗，你們冒犯美麗的西施了。
這句成語的意思是你不應該拿醜的人事物和美的人事物相提並論，你這樣的行為會冒犯與貶低了美的人事物。
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。
你的朋友中，你最欣賞誰的為人處世的風格呢?你是否曾經覺得被冒犯呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為晉書-列傳39-周顗傳
https://www.arteducation.com.tw/guwen/bookv_6646.html
出處為晉書-卷67-郗鑒傳
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E6%99%89%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7067#%E9%83%97%E9%91%92
