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水深火热 (shui3 shen1 huo3 re4) - Water or fire option
August 30, 2009, Sunday
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FEW people are able to survive without water or fire, but no one wants too much of them either. For instance, is there anyone who's willing to live in deep water or scorching fire?
Mencius, a famous Chinese scholar, obtained a good understanding of this ambivalence more than 2,000 years ago. He created the Chinese saying "shu(r)°‰ sh(r)?n hu(r)? r(r)(r)" or "deep water and scorching fire" to describe a situation where people experience great suffering.
During the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), the troops of the State of Qi invaded the State of Yan by taking advantage of the latter's protracted civil war.
When Qi troops entered the territory of Yan, they were actually welcomed by local residents. However, a few months later, people in many parts of Yan began to fight the invaders, largely because some Qi officers and soldiers acted indiscreetly and harmed the feelings of the Yan people.
One day, the Qi king invited the visiting scholar Mencius to his court to discuss the issue of the State of Yan. The king told the scholar that some people had suggested Qi annex Yan, while others said Qi troops should withdraw from Yan as early as possible. The ruler then asked for the opinion of Mencius.
The scholar said if the Yan people welcomed the annexation, Qi should take over Yan, but if the Yan people were unhappy about the annexation, Qi troops should pull out of Yan. Mencius said: "When the Qi troops first invaded Yan, they were warmly received by local people, which meant they were fed up with the civil war and wished to see someone who could bring them peace.
"However, now it seems the Qi troops have instead brought great suffering to the Yan people. So, Your Excellency would better order the withdrawal at an early date.
"This is because although everyone needs water and fire, no one wants to live in deep water or scorching fire. If the Yan people are made to suffer, they will look for other liberators, just as they did with the Qi troops."
Unfortunately, the scholar's advice fell on deaf ears. The king gave the go-ahead to the plan to annex Yan. But in the face of strong resistance from the Yan people, who were backed by some other states, the Qi troops were eventually forced to pull out of Yan a few months later.
Nowadays, "shui3 sheng1 huo3 re4)the wise saying created by Mencius, is often quoted by Chinese speakers to refer to anyone who is living in the depth of suffering.
Mencius, a famous Chinese scholar, obtained a good understanding of this ambivalence more than 2,000 years ago. He created the Chinese saying "shu(r)°‰ sh(r)?n hu(r)? r(r)(r)" or "deep water and scorching fire" to describe a situation where people experience great suffering.
During the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), the troops of the State of Qi invaded the State of Yan by taking advantage of the latter's protracted civil war.
When Qi troops entered the territory of Yan, they were actually welcomed by local residents. However, a few months later, people in many parts of Yan began to fight the invaders, largely because some Qi officers and soldiers acted indiscreetly and harmed the feelings of the Yan people.
One day, the Qi king invited the visiting scholar Mencius to his court to discuss the issue of the State of Yan. The king told the scholar that some people had suggested Qi annex Yan, while others said Qi troops should withdraw from Yan as early as possible. The ruler then asked for the opinion of Mencius.
The scholar said if the Yan people welcomed the annexation, Qi should take over Yan, but if the Yan people were unhappy about the annexation, Qi troops should pull out of Yan. Mencius said: "When the Qi troops first invaded Yan, they were warmly received by local people, which meant they were fed up with the civil war and wished to see someone who could bring them peace.
"However, now it seems the Qi troops have instead brought great suffering to the Yan people. So, Your Excellency would better order the withdrawal at an early date.
"This is because although everyone needs water and fire, no one wants to live in deep water or scorching fire. If the Yan people are made to suffer, they will look for other liberators, just as they did with the Qi troops."
Unfortunately, the scholar's advice fell on deaf ears. The king gave the go-ahead to the plan to annex Yan. But in the face of strong resistance from the Yan people, who were backed by some other states, the Qi troops were eventually forced to pull out of Yan a few months later.
Nowadays, "shui3 sheng1 huo3 re4)the wise saying created by Mencius, is often quoted by Chinese speakers to refer to anyone who is living in the depth of suffering.
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