双语中国历史故事
中国历史悠久,从盘古、女娲、后羿等神话时代算起约有5000年。在这悠长的历史长河中,中国有着不少经典的历史故事值得后人思考。下面学习啦小编为大家带来双语中国历史故事,欢迎大家阅读!
双语中国历史故事:大义灭亲
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC), there was many dukedoms under the king of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. These dukedoms often fought one another to expand their territories. And within a dukedom, the struggle for power frequently occurred. A typical case was the murder of the Duke of Wei by his younger brother Zhou Xu.
春秋时期,在东周周天子的统治下有许多小公国。这些国家常常为了扩大自己的领土而互相争斗。而且,在一个公国内部,权力之争也时常发生。卫国的州吁杀害自己的哥哥――卫国的公爵就是一个典型的例子。
Zhou Xu committed the crime with the help of an important official called Shi Hou. Eventually, Zhou Xu became duke himself. Then he launched wars against other dukedoms and the people suffered. There were complaints and resentments all around.
在一个重要的大臣石厚的帮助下,州吁杀害了他的哥哥。最后,他作了卫国的公爵。接着,他发动了同其他公国的战争,使卫国人民经受了很多痛苦。人们怨声载道。
When he learned about this, Zhou Xu was worried. He talked with Shi Hou about how to stabilize the situation and win back people's confidence. Shi Hou said: "That's easy. I'll ask my father to speak for us. He is highly esteemed by all the officials and the people. I'm sure he'll help us out."
州吁对此也很担忧。他与石厚商量如何巩固政局,赢得百姓的信任。石厚说: "这个容易。大臣和百姓们都十分尊敬我的父亲,我去请他出来为我们说话。这样我肯定他能帮我们解决这个问题。"
Shi Hou's father, Shi Que, had been a high-ranking official serving under the former duke. He resigned when Zhu Xu seized power. He hated Zhou Xu for his murder of the former duke. He also hated his own son, Shi Hou, for his part in the murder.
石厚的父亲石碏曾是前任公爵的上卿。州吁夺权后,他辞去了官职。他痛恨州吁杀害了前任公爵。 同时,他也恨自己的儿子石厚,因为他参与了这场谋杀。
Now, Shi Hou came and asked him for help. the father said, "A duke' ascendance to power should be granted by the king. If the king approved it, all the problems will be solved."
现在,石厚来向他求助。石碏说: "诸侯接位,应该得到周天子的许可。只要他同意了,所有的问题都好解决。
"But how can we bet the king's approval?" Shi Hou asked his father. The old man said, "The Duke of Chen is trusted by the king and his dukedom has good relationship with ours. If you and Zhou Xu go to the Duke of Chen and ask him for help, I'm sure he is willing to say a good word for you before the king."
"可是怎么让周天子会同意吗?" 石厚问。老人说:"陈国公爵受到周天子的信任,而且陈国和我国关系很好。如果你和州吁先去陈国,向他求助,我肯定他会乐意在周天子面前为你们说好话的。"
Shi Hou passed his father's word to Zhu Xu and they went to the Dukedom of Chen. But before they arrived, the old man sent an express letter in secret to the Duke of Chen asking him to kill the two murderers.
石厚把他父亲的主意告诉了州吁,然后他们来到了陈国。但在他们到达前,石碏已经秘密快信送至陈国公爵,要求他杀死这两名凶手。
As soon as Zhou Xu and Shi Hou arrived in the Dukedom of Chen, they were arrested. Some officials from Wei made a special trip to Chen to kill the two men. They put Zhou Xu to death but hesitated to kill Shi Hou because of his father. When the old man learnt about this, he said firmly :'My son has also committed the murder of the duke. What's the good to have him in the world! " he sent his own man to Chen and beheaded Shi Hou. Later historians commented: "To safeguard the interest of the country, Shi Que did not bend the law for the benefit of his relative.
州吁和石厚一到陈国,就被抓了起来。卫国的大臣特地到陈国去执法处死这两个人。他们斩了州吁,但对石厚是否要被斩首很迟疑,因为他毕竟是石碏的亲儿子。 当老人得知这个情况后,他坚定的说: "我儿子杀卫公有罪,留他在这世上何用?" 他派家臣去陈国斩了石厚。
It's really a case of cutting off consanguinity for the sake of righteousness!" Hence comes the idiom "Uphold justice at the cost of one's blood relation".
后来,史学家们评论道: "为了维护国家的利益,石碏不因亲人而违法。实在是大义灭亲呀!"成语"大义灭亲"由此而来。
双语中国历史故事:网开一面
Beginning with Yu the GREat, the Xia Dynasty had lasted about four hundred years before Jie became the supreme ruler.
从大禹到桀,夏朝一共持续了四百多年的历史。
And that was in the 18th century BC. Jie was extremely tyrannical and dissolute. This aroused GREat resentment among the people. Tang, the Chief of the tribe Shang took advantage of this situation to overthrow the Xia Dynasty and established the Shang Dynasty in the early 17th century BC. Among the preparations for the overthrow had been the winning over of popular support.
那是在公元前十八世纪。桀是个极端残暴,放荡的人。他激起了人民的极度不满。部落商的领袖汤利用这个形势,推翻了夏朝,并在公元前十七世纪早期建立了商朝。在准备这场推翻夏朝的行动中,汤赢得了广泛的支持。
One day, Tang was having a walk in the open country. He saw a man catching birds with a big net spread in a box-like and mumbling: "Come on, birds! Come into my net. All of you, whether you are flying high or low, east or west. Come into my net!"
一天,汤在一片开阔的田野里散步。他看见一个人正在捕鸟。那人支开一张像笼子般的大网,喃喃的说: "来吧,鸟儿们!飞到我的网里来。无论是飞得高的还是低的,向东还是向西的,所有的鸟儿都飞到我的网里来吧!"
Tang walked over and said to the man, "This method is ruthless! You'll spare no birds this way!"
汤走过去对那个人说: "你这种方法太残忍了!这样作你连一只鸟也不放过!"
With these words, he cut the net down on three sides. Then he murmured in a light voice as if praying: "Oh, birds! Fly to the left or right as you like. And if you're really tired of your life, come into this net!"
一边说着,汤砍断了三面网。然后,像做祈祷那样,他轻轻的低声说道, "哦,鸟儿们,喜欢向左飞的,就向左飞;喜欢向右飞的,就向右飞;如果你真的厌倦了你的生活,就飞入这张网吧!"
When chiefs of other tribes heard about this, they were all moved. They said, "Tang is a good king indeed. He is so kind even to birds and beasts. He must be more merciful to human beings." And very soon, about forty tribes pledged allegiance to Tang.
一边说着,汤砍断了三面网。然后,像做祈祷那样,他轻轻的低声说道, "哦,鸟儿们,喜欢向左飞的,就向左飞;喜欢向右飞的,就向右飞;如果你真的厌倦了你的生活,就飞入这张网吧!"
From that story came the idiom "Open the net on three sides". Later, people changed it into "Give the wrong-doer a way out.", indicating to be lenient to the wrong-doers.
其它部落的首领得知这件事后都非常感动。他们说: "汤真是一位贤王啊。他对鸟兽都如此仁慈,何况是对人呢?" 不久就有四十多个部落宣誓效忠汤。
"网开三面"这个成语就是由此而来的。后来,人们把它改为"网开一面",表示宽容的对待做错事的人。
双语中国历史故事:退避三舍
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), Duke Xian of the State of Jin Killed the crown prince Sheng because he had heard slanders about Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to arrest Chong Er, Shen Sheng and believed them. He also sent his men to arrest Chonh Er, Shen Sheng's brother. Hearing the news, Chong Er escaped from the state of Jin, remaining a fugitive for more than ten years.
春秋时候,晋献公听信谗言,杀了太子申生,又派人捉拿申生的弟弟重耳。重耳闻讯,逃出了晋国,在外流忘十几年。
After innumerable hardships, Chong Er arrived at the State of Chu at last. King Cheng of the State of Chu treated him with high respect as he would have treated the ruler of a state, believing that he would have a vright fuure.
经过千幸万苦,重耳来到楚国。楚成王认为重耳日后必有大作为,就以国群之礼相迎,待他如上宾。
One day, King Cheng of the State of Chu gave a banquet in honoudr of Chong Er. Suddenly, amid the harmonious atmosphere of drinking and talking, King Cheng of the State of Chu asked Chong Er. "How will you repay me when you return to the State of Jin and become its ruler one day?" After thinking for a moment, Chong Er said, "You have plenty of beauties and attendants as well as jewelry and silk cloth, and the state of Chu abounds in rare brides and animals. What treasure can the State of Jin boast having to present to your majesty?" King Cheng of the State of Chu said, "You are too modest. Nevertheless, you still have to show your gratitude to me in one way or another, I presume?" Smiling, Chong Er answered, "If I should be fortunate enouge to return to the State of Jin and become its ruler, the State of Jin would be friendly to the State of Chu. If, one day, there should be a war between the two states, I would definitely order my troops to retreat three SHE (one SHE is equivalent to thirty LI. The LI is a Chinese unit of length equivalent to 1/2 kilometre. And, therefore, three SHE is about thirty miles.) as a condition for peace. If, under that condition, you were still not reconciled, I would have to fight with you."
一天,楚王设宴招待重耳,两人饮洒叙话,气氛十分融洽。忽然楚王问重耳:“你若有一天回晋国当上国君,该怎么报答我呢?”重耳略一思索说:“美女待从、珍宝丝绸,大王您有的是,珍禽羽毛,象牙兽皮,更是楚地的盛产,晋国哪有什么珍奇物品献给大王呢?”楚王说:“公子过谦了。话虽然这么说,可总该对我有所表示吧?”重耳笑笑回答道:“要是托您的福。果真能回国当政的话,我愿与贵国友好。假如有一天,晋楚国之间发生战争,我一定命令军队先退避三舍(一舍等于三十里),如果还不能得到您的原谅,我再与您交战。”
Four years later, as might be expected, Chong Er returned to the State of Jin and became its ruler. He was none other than Duke Wen of the State of Jin famous in ancient Chinese history. Ruled by him, the State of Jin became increasingly powerful.
四年后,重耳真的回到晋国当了国君,就是历史上有名的晋文公。晋国在他的治理下日益强大。
In the year 533 B.C., the Chu troops and the Jin troops confronted each other in a battle. Faithful to his promise, Duke Wen of the State of Jin ordered his troops to retreat about thirty miles. After retreating, the Jin troops were stationed at Chengpu. Seeing that the Jin troops were retreating, the Chu troops thought that the enemy troops were afraid, and began chasing them. Taking advantage of the Chu troops' arrogance and their talking the Jin troops lightly, the Jin troops concentrated their forces and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chu troops, thus winning the victory of the battle of Chengpu.
公元前633年,楚国和晋国的军队在作战时相遇。晋文公为了实现他许下的诺言,下令军队后退九十里,驻扎在城濮。楚军见晋军后退,以为对方害怕了,马上追击。晋军利用楚军骄傲轻敌的弱点,集中兵力,大破楚军,取得了城濮之战的胜利。
This set phrase, "retreating about thirty miles as a condition for peace," is derived from the Chapter "The Twenty-second Year of Duke Xi" in ZuoZhuan, the famous commentary by Zuo Qiuming on The spring and Autumn Annals. The idea of this set phrase is to give way to somebody in order to avoid a conflict.
故事出自《左传·僖公二十二年》。成语“退避三舍”比喻不与人相争或主动让步。
双语中国历史故事:势如破竹
In the last years of the Three Kingdoms period,Sima Yan conquered the Kingdom of Shu and seized the state power of the Kingdom of Wei, and became Emperor Wudi of the Jin Dynasty. Then he planned to send his troops to attack the Kingdom of Wu so as to unify China. He called his civil and military officials to discuss the plan to destroy the Kingdom of Wu. Most of them thought that it would be difficult to try to destroy the Kingdom of Wu with one action because the Kingdom of Wu was still powerfull. So it would be better to wait until fuller preparations were made.
三国末年,晋武帝司马炎灭掉蜀国,夺取魏国政权以后,准备出兵攻打东吴,实现统一全中国的愿望。他召集文武大臣们商量灭大计。多数人认为,吴国还有一定实力,一举消灭它恐怕不易,不如有了足够的准备再说。
However,General Du Yu did not agree with them, so he wrote a memorial to the throne. According to Du Yu, it would be better to destroy the Kingdom of Wu as soon as possible, because it was still weak at that time. It would be more difficult to defeat the Kingdom of Wu later if it became stronger. After reading it, Emperor Wudi decided to send troops to attack the Kingdom of Wu as early as possible, so as to avoid future trouble. So Emperor Wudi made up his mind, and appointed Du Yu the Grand General for Conquering the south . In 279, sima Yan, Emperor Wudi of the Jin Dynasty, mustered more than two hundred thousand troops who were divided into six army divisions to proceed by both land and water to attack the kingdom of Wu. Battle drums thundering and the colours fluttering, the soldiers were full of power and grandeur. The next day, Jiangling city was captured, and a general of the Kingdom of Wu was killed. And the Jin army pushed on in the flush of victory. Hearing this, the troops of the Kingdom of Wu south of the Yuanjiang River and the Xiangjiang River were overwhelmed with fear, and they opened the gates of cities and surrendered one after another. Sima Yan ordered Du Yu to advance to Jianye, capital city of the Kingdom of Wu, by water.Someone feared that the Yangtze River might have a sharp rise and thought it more advantageous to withdraw the troops for the time being and wait until winter came. Du Yu resolutely opposed the idea, saying ," Now our army's morale is high,and our army is winning one victory after another, just like a sharp knife splitting a bamboo. It won't be too strenuous to conquer the Kingdom of Wu with one action. " Under Du Yu's command , the Jin army charged at the capital city Jianye, occupied it ,and thus destroyed the Kingdom of wu. In this way, Emperor Wudi of the Jin Dynasty unified the whole country.
大将杜预不同意多数人的看法,写了一道奏章给晋武帝。杜预认为,必须趁目前昊国衰弱,忙灭掉它,不然等它有了实力就很难打败它了。司马炎看了杜预的奏章,找自己的最信任的大臣张华征求意见。张华很同意杜预的分析,也劝司马炎快快攻打吴国,以免留下后患。于是司马炎就下了决心,任命杜预作征南大将军。 公元279年,晋武帝司马炎调动了二十多万兵马,分成六路水陆并进,攻打吴国,一路战鼓齐鸣,战旗飘扬,战士威武雄壮。第二年就攻占了江陵,斩了吴国一员大将,率领军队乘胜追击。在沅江、湘江以南的吴军听到风声吓破了胆,纷纷打开城门投降。司马炎下令让杜预从小路向吴国国都建业进发。此时,有人担心长江水势暴涨,不如暂收兵等到冬天进攻更有利。杜预坚决反对退兵,他说:“现在趁士气高涨,斗志正旺,取得一个又一个胜利,势如破竹(像用快刀劈竹子一样,劈过几节后竹子就迎刃破裂),一举攻击吴国不会再费多大力气了!” 晋朝大军在杜预率领下,直冲向吴都建业,不久就攻占建业灭了吴国。晋武帝统一了全国。
This story appears in "The Life of Du Yu "in The History of the Jin Dynasty. Later the set phrase" like splitting a bamboo" is used to refer to irresistible force or victorious advance.
故事出自《晋书·杜预传》。成语“势如破竹”,形容战斗节节胜利,毫无阻挡。
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