In the torrent of changing times, language is also changing, new words are constantly being produced, and old words are constantly being eliminated. Some words have been misinterpreted by us, and some have been given new meanings by us. Let's take stock of the misunderstood idioms.
"Cloaked Beast"
In fact, the word "clothed crown animal" was originally a positive word, from the Ming Dynasty Ling Mengchu's "Second Moment Shooting Surprise": "Not only the animals in the crown, but also the jackals in the animals." "Because the officials of the Ming Dynasty often embroidered various birds and beasts on their official uniforms to echo the dragons on the emperor's dragon robes, so at that time, the meaning of the clothed crowned beasts was that the clothes were embroidered with birds and beasts, representing the official, which was the word of Guangzong Yaozu.
So why did it become a derogatory term? This is from the Qing Dynasty Li Ruzhen's "Mirror Flower Edge". The forty-third time in the "Mirror Flower Edge": "Since it is not filial piety, the so-called clothed beast, what is the use of that talented woman?" ”
In this sentence, "clothed beast" means: a beast in a cloaked hat, alluding to a despicable little person who is well-dressed but behaves like a beast. From here on, "clothed beast" was given a new meaning, and it became a pejorative term.
"A woman's talentlessness is virtue"
Many people think that this sentence is a feudal society in which men demean women, believing that women do not need education. In fact, this sentence is a pair of couplets in the lower link, the upper link: men have virtue is talent. The meaning of this sentence is that men should act as masters with virtue, supplemented by talents, and do not mean that men do not need to have talents. And the lower link is: women without talent is virtue. It is to emphasize that women should be based on virtue and talent as a supplement, not to prevent women from learning. Women should have both moral integrity and ability like Li Qingzhao.
Li Qingzhao
"Revenge with virtue"
The idiom "repaying grievances with virtue" comes from the Analects of the Constitution
Original text: Or: "How about repaying grievances with virtue?" Zi Yue: "Why repay virtue?" Repay grievances with directness, and repay virtue with virtue. ”
This sentence means: Some people ask, how about repaying resentment with kindness? Confucius said, then what is the use to repay Kindness? Treat the resentment fairly, and Ender will repay Ender. It seems that Confucius was dissatisfied with the behavior of "repaying grievances with virtue" and standing on the moral high ground.
Later, however, in order to facilitate their rule, the feudal monarchs hoped that the people would "repay their grievances with virtue" and that the peasants would "repay their grievances with virtue" to the landlords, so this idea that Confucius considered wrong was widely disseminated. Later, Empress Dowager Cixi also used actions to interpret the "noble" behavior of "repaying grievances with virtue", and in the face of Western invasion, "measuring China's material strength and the joy of building a big country" cannot be said to be without "morality".
"No adultery, no business"
In fact, this word was originally "no sharp and no quotient", and it is a positive word. Ancient rice merchants did business, in addition to filling the bucket, but also to scoop a little more, let the rice tip, ensure that the rice is sufficient, as far as possible to show the behavior of profit, show their own atmosphere. The original term was also a compliment to businessmen who would do business. Later, it was passed down as "no adultery and no business", and the meaning of this word is self-evident.
In fact, with the change of times, it is normal for the nature of some words to change, just like the idiom "Wolong Phoenix" is often used as a derogatory term. The author believes that we should look at this phenomenon with a rational and objective mentality, because this is inevitable, but the author believes that this idiom rich in Chinese history and culture is best preserved. Friends, what do you think?