In ancient China, there were many such stories and characters, and every time I think of them, my heart warms up.
Kong Rong gives up the biggest pear
Kong Rong was a famous writer in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. When he was young, every time he ate pears with his brother, he only took the smallest one. When his father asked him why, he said, "I am the youngest brother, so I should eat small." Later, "Kong Rong made pears" became an allusion to unity and friendship.
stand outside the door on a snowy day waiting for Cheng Yi（程颐）to wake up and give instructions —revere the teacher and respect his teachings
In the Northern Song Dynasty, Yang Shi and You Zuo went to the teacher Cheng Yi for advice, and happened to catch up with Cheng Yi at rest. They couldn't bear to disturb him, so they quietly waited for the teacher to wake up. In a short time, it began to snow outside, and the weather was cold. When Cheng Yi woke up, the snow was already a foot deep. And "Cheng Men Li Xue" has also become a model of respecting teachers.
Su Wu Shepherd
During the Western Han Dynasty, Su Wu was ordered to be an envoy to Xiongnu. Xiongnu nobles wanted to surrender Su Wu, threatened him with inducements many times, and exiled him to the remote Beihai to shepherd sheep. Su Wu clung to Fu Jie, the representative of the Han Dynasty, for a moment. As the years passed, the three layers of yak tails on the pole were all gone. Despite all the hardships, he always refused to betray his country.
David and Jonathan
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Bao Shuya was Qi Huangong's counselor. His good friend Guan Zhong used to work under the enemy's door in Qi Huangong, but he was captured after his failure. Qi Huangong asked Bao Shuya to be a prime minister, but he strongly recommended Guan Zhong. In the end, Guan Zhong became the prime minister and Bao Shuya became his subordinate, but they were still good friends. This friendship has been passed down as a beautiful talk in history.
a promise that will be kept
At the end of the Qin Dynasty, there was a man named Ji Bu in Chu, with a honest and frank temperament, who was chivalrous and helpful. As long as it is what he promised, no matter how difficult it is, he will try to do it. Therefore, there is a widespread proverb among Chu people that "it is better to get a promise than a hundred pounds of gold". This is also the origin of the idiom "a promise is worth a thousand dollars", which describes people's faithfulness and honesty.
Zhao rou sells plows
Zhao Rou was from the Northern Wei Dynasty. Once he went to the streets to sell plows, a man wanted to buy Zhao Rou's plows, and Zhao Rou asked for twenty silks. Another man saw that his asking price was too low, so he wanted to buy thirty silks. Zhao Rou said, when dealing with people, it's a deal. How can you be tempted if you are profitable? Or sold the plow to the original man.
Ti Ying saved his father.
In the Western Han Dynasty, Chunyu Yi, an official, was sentenced to corporal punishment and was escorted to Beijing. His youngest daughter, Chunyu Ti Ying, insisted on going to Beijing with her father all the way. In order to save her father, she wrote to Emperor Wendi, saying that corporal punishment made the criminal not turn over a new leaf, and she was willing to enter the palace as a handmaiden to pay her father's charges. Emperor Wen of Han was very moved and abolished corporal punishment, and "Ti Ying saved his father" became a famous allusion to filial piety.
Raise the earthquake and refuse gold.
There was a minister in Heze named Yang Zhen, who was an honest official and often recommended talents to the court. One night, Wang Mi, who was recommended by him as an official, went to visit Yang Zhen. Wang Mi presented gold to Yang Zhen, but Yang Zhen refused him. Wang Mi insisted: "At night, no one will know." Yang Zhen said: "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know, how can it be said that no one knows?"
Cui Shu returns the pearl
Cui Shu was a native of the Tang Dynasty. He lived with a businessman when he took the exam. Later, the businessman fell seriously ill and died, and gave him a treasure pearl of great wealth. Cui Shu buried the merchant, but instead of taking the orb, he buried it in the grave together. His greed for money was later passed down as a beautiful talk.
Jubo Xun gave his life to save his friends.
Jubo Xun was a wise man during the reign of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Once he went to visit his sick friend, which coincided with the siege of Hu Bing. He refused to leave his friend and run away alone, and was willing to replace his friend's life with his own. Hu Bing was greatly moved and led the army to withdraw, and the whole city was saved. Jubo Xun's loyalty to friendship has also been passed down through the ages.
goose feather sent from a thousand li away―small gift sent from afar testifies to deep affection
In the Tang Dynasty, Mian Bogao, a special envoy from a certain place in Yunnan, was ordered to present swans to Emperor Taizong. On the way, the swan flew away, leaving only a few goose feathers. Mian Bogao still sent gifts all the way, and said, "Gifts are light and affectionate, but goose feathers are sent all the way.". Since then, "a thousand miles to send goose feathers" has been used to describe the gift as thin, but the affection is extremely strong.
Xu Heng doesn't eat pears.
Xu Heng is a meta-agent. Once when he was walking in midsummer, he was very thirsty. When he met a pear tree by the roadside, everyone else scrambled to pick pears to eat. Only Xu Heng sat alone. People nearby advised him that this pear tree has no owner now, so why should you mind? He replied, "The pear tree has no owner, but my heart has a master. I can't accept what others have lost. "
Jubo Xun tanyou
Yan zi refused to reward
In Qin Qiu, Yan Zi, the prime minister of the State of Qi, went to court with an ill-gotten car, which was very humble. Qi Jinggong sent someone to give him a luxury cart for many times, but he declined it. He thought that he should start from himself, be thrifty and set an example for officials and the people.
read by the light of bagged fireflies or the reflected light of snow—pursue knowledge under difficult conditions
In the Jin Dynasty, there were two poor people who were diligent and enterprising. One is Lee Lyle, who studies with fireflies in small bags in summer, and the other is Sun Kang, who studies with the reflection of snow in winter. As a result, people describe hard work as a capsule firefly reflecting snow.
Zhang Liang is a master
Before Zhang Liang became Liu Bang's military adviser, he walked on the bridge one day and met an old man who deliberately dropped his shoes under the bridge and asked Zhang Liang to pick them up and put them on him. Although Zhang Liang was surprised by the old man's behavior, he did it out of respect for the old man. The old man happily called him an obedient boy and gave him a book, which was the military classic The Art of War. This story later became an allusion to respecting the elderly.
Li Shiqian is charitable.
Li Shiqian of the Northern Dynasties had a well-off family. One year, he lent thousands of stones of grain to villagers. However, when the people who borrowed the grain were unable to repay it, he burned all the loans. The next year, when the crops were harvested, the borrower came to return the grain, but he still refused resolutely. This has also become a model of helpfulness.
Fan Zhongyan is concerned with the world.
Fan Zhongyan was a patriotic minister in the Northern Song Dynasty. He heard that some places built official mansions and cut down precious trees, so he strongly protested against it; Knowing that there was a drought and locust plague in Jianghuai, he advised the emperor to open a warehouse for disaster relief. And his famous expression of ambition, "Worry about the world first, and enjoy the world later", is widely circulated in later generations.
Paradigm Zhang Shao makes friends and pays attention to honesty.
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Shao and Paradigm lived together and studied in Imperial College. They were very good friends. When they left school, the two agreed to meet again at Zhang Jian's home in the Mid-Autumn Festival two years later. Two years later, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhang Shao killed the chicken for dinner, and his family said that after so long, his friends would definitely not come. Unexpectedly, on this day, the paradigm really came from thousands of miles away. The story of the two men keeping their promises and honoring their promises has also been circulated.