There is a sentence in the famous book Caigen Tan, which combines the truth and wisdom of the three religions of Confucianism, Taoism and Shijia:
The fat and spicy are not the true taste, the true taste is only light; the magic is not to the human, to the human is only constant.
The gist of it is: strong wine, fat meat, spicy and stimulating, sweet and delicious, these are not really delicious, the real delicacy is light and peaceful; the behavior of magically superior, maverick people, they are not truly perfect people of virtue, people of real perfection of virtue, their behavior is no different from ordinary people.
The first half of the sentence reminds me of a sentence in the Maxim of the Patriarch of Zhu Bolu:
"Self-worship must be frugal, and the guests must not linger.
The quality of the utensils is clean, and the tiles are better than the gold and jade;
The diet is exquisite, and the vegetables in the garden are more and more delicious. ”
Portrait of Zhu Bolu
Zhu Bolu believes that in life, we must be diligent and thrifty, and we must not stay on the banquet. The clay tableware made of clay is simple and clean, which is better than the precious and gorgeous gold and jade utensils; the vegetables and fruits grown in the vegetable garden are better than the strange and expensive mountain treasures and seafood.
I don't know if you have such an experience, when you were a child (1960s and 1970s), we found a cucumber in the vegetable garden, which felt particularly refreshing; later, we began to enjoy big fish and meat, so obesity, three highs (high blood pressure, high blood lipids and high blood sugar), gout and other diseases followed; now, we still like to go to the farmer's market to buy vegetables and fruits grown by farmers, and we feel that we have found the taste of childhood again.
Sweet peaches produced next to Moon Lake
The second half of the sentence reminds me of many celebrities in history who have outstanding merits, perfect virtues but simple food and clothing, and ordinary behaviors, such as YanZi, the elder of the Three Dynasties of the State of Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period, and Fan Zhongyun, a counselor and governor in the Northern Song Dynasty.
Today we will look at Yanzi's demeanor.
Yanzi, formerly known as Yan Bao, "Yanzi" is the honorific title given to him by historians. He was a famous politician, thinker, and diplomat of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period.
A child image
As the Minister of State, Yan Zi successively assisted the Duke of Qi Ling, the Duke of Qi Zhuang and the Duke of Qi Jing for more than 50 years.
Yanzi was known to the princes for his political foresight, diplomatic skills, and simple style.
At home, Yan Zi repeatedly advised the monarch of the State of Qi. For example, when it was freezing cold and snowing, the monarch in a fur coat said to Yanzi, "Strange! It's snowing heavily, how come it's not cold at all? ”
Yan Zi did not righteously accuse the monarch, but looked at the monarch meaningfully and said, "Yeah, why isn't it cold?"
Yan Zi advised the monarch
The monarch immediately understood and ordered that the clothes and grain in the treasury be distributed to the poor people.
In dealing with other princely states, Yan Zi was courteous and courteous, always maintaining the national character and national prestige of the State of Qi.
For example, Yan Zi sent two envoys to the Chu State, and in the face of the chu monarch's sinister intentions, Yan Zi not only did not lose his gentlemanly demeanor, but also gave a powerful counterattack.
When the Chu people only opened a small door to him and wanted him to enter through the small door, Yan Zi said, "Those who go out to the dog country, enter through the dog hole."
Yan Zi makes Chu
The Chu people stole chickens and did not become eroded rice, so they had to obediently open the gate and greet Yanzi with solemn etiquette.
When the king of Chu maliciously mocked a captured Qi person as a thief, Yan Zi used the phrase "oranges born in Huainan are oranges, and those born in Huaibei are oranges", comparing the Qi people in the simple and simple Qi state of Qi to keep to themselves, and when the chu state with corrupt customs becomes a thief.
Yan Zi fought back against the King of Chu
Yan Zi's answer left the King of Chu speechless and humiliated himself.
Where does such a meritorious Yanzi live all year round?
YanZi lived next to the equivalent of the current farmers' market, the house was simple and dilapidated, low and damp, and the cries of the market and the sound of bargaining were one after another.
The Duke of Qi Jinggong took advantage of Yanzi's envoy to the princely states and built a mansion for Yanzi that was in line with Yanzi's identity, but Yanzi refused the reward of the monarch and asked to return to his old mansion.
Yanzi refused the reward
Yan Zi lived in an ordinary person's house, eating "grain removal food" and "moss", which is our coarse tea and light rice and vegetarian food today.
Su Shi spoke highly of Yan Zi: "Xianzai Yan Pingzhong, the king does not take matters into his own hands."
Yan Zi is such a selfless duke, he takes the country as his home, is loyal to his duties, has outstanding merits, lives frugally, is optimistic and open-minded, so he has won the respect of the monarch of the State of Qi and the love of the people, and has also won the praise of posterity.
What are we going to learn from Yanzi?
In our careers, we must strive for excellence; in life, we must be content and happy, so that we can be honest and happy.
Do friends agree with me?