Ch5nese Idioms - 桃李不言，下自成蹊

vann0000

February 11, 2009, 05:28 PM posted in General Discussion

Peaches and Plums Do Not Have to Talk, Yet the World Beats a Path to Them--Natural Attraction (桃李不言，下自成蹊 tao li bu yan xia zi cheng xi)


桃李不言，下自成蹊Peaches and Plums Do Not Have to Talk, Yet the World Beats a Path to Them--Natural Attraction

Duing the Western Han Dynasty(206 B.C.- A.D.24)Period, there was a very famous general whose name was Li Guang. He was very brave and skillful in battle, and had fought more than seventy battles with the Huns, an ancient nationality in China.

Having made brilliant achievements in war, he was deeply loved and esteemed by the officers and men as well as the common people.   However,he did not claim credit for himself and become arrogant, although he held a high post,commanding a big army, and had rendered outstanding service in defending the county. 

He was not only polite and amiable, but also shared wealth and woe with the soldiers. He always had the troops under his commandat heart, and whenever gifts were bestowed to him by the imperial government, he distributed the gifts to his officers and men.

When marching, he endured the torments of hunger and thirst as the soldiers did when food and water were in short supply. When fighting, he charged at the head of his men,and ,when he gave the order,every soldier advanced bravely to engage in fighting, not fearing death.

When the sad news of the heath of General Li Guang reached the militaty camp,the officers and men of the whole army wept bitterly.

tao2     li3     bu4     yan2           xia4     zi4     cheng2     xi1
桃     李     不     言     ，     下     自     成     蹊

西汉时候,有一位勇猛善战的将军,名叫李广,一生跟匈奴打过七十多次仗,战功卓著,深受官兵和百姓的爱戴.李广虽然身居高位,统领千军万马,而且是保卫国家的功臣,但他一点也不居功自傲.他不仅待人和气,还能和士兵同甘共苦.每次朝廷给他的赏赐,他首先想到的是他的部下,就把那些赏赐统统分给官兵们;行军打仗时,遇到粮食或水供应不上的情况,他自己也同士兵们一样忍饥挨饿;打起仗来,他身先士卒,英勇顽强,只要他一声令下,大家个个奋勇杀敌,不握牺牲.这是一位多么让人崇敬的大将军啊!

后来,当李广将军去世的噩耗传到军营时,全军将士无不痛哭流涕,连许多与大将军平时并不熟悉的百姓也纷纷悼念他.在人们心目中,李广将军就是他们崇拜的大英雄.

汉朝伟大的史学家司马迁在为李广立传时称赞道:"桃李不言,下自成蹊."意思是说,桃李有着芬芳的花朵,甜美的果实,虽然它们不会说话,但仍然会吸引人们到树下赏花尝果,以至树下都走出一条小路,李广将军就是以他的真诚和高尚的品质赢得了人们的崇敬.

"桃李不言,下自成蹊"这则成语出自《史记·李将军列传》,比喻为人真诚,严于律已,自然会感动别人,自然会受到人们的敬仰.