Confucius: Not Easy to Know a Person 孔子：知人不易

Yan Hui 颜回

Yan Hui, also known as Zi Yuan and Yan Yuan, was one of the outstanding students in the early teaching career of Confucius. He is from the country Lu. He also followed Confucius as he travelled around the countries. He was the most accomplished student in the category of morality and had great success in virtue and the classics. He was the only person to be praised by Confucius as a humane man. His hair went white when he was twenty-nine, and he died when he was thirty-one years old.

It was recorded that a small action by Yuan Hui had caused Confucius to misunderstand him. Although the misunderstanding was finally cleared up, the incident led Confucius to sigh with emotion that it is not easy to know a man well. Even a sage like Confucius can be confused, how about ordinary people like us?

Here is a story selected from the Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals:

Confucius and his followers were once stranded in the bordering area between the state of Chen and the state of Cai, where he was in such adversity that for seven days he hadn’t eaten a single grain of rice and had to relieve his hunger with only weeds from the woods. As he was taking his nap at midday, his pupil Yan Hui brought back some rice obtained by begging and started cooking. As the rice was almost done, Confucius saw Yan Hui eating some of it. When the rice was done, Yan Hui offered the rice to Confucius with great respect. Confucius pretended not to have seen anything, got up and said, "I have seen my deceased father in my dream, and would like to make an offering to him with this meal."

"You can’t offer the rice, it is not pure," Yan Hui said. "During the cooking, there was coal dust in the pan. Since it is a pity to throw away food messed with coal dust, I picked out the dirty grains and ate them."

After a deep sigh, Confucius said, "I always rely on my eyes to judge, but at times my eyes cannot be trusted; I always rely on our hearts to judge, but our judgment is not always reliable. People, please take note: it is not easy to know a man well."

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颜回，又称子渊与颜渊，是孔子早期的一个杰出的学生。他来自鲁国，跟随孔子周游诸国。在孔子的弟子中，颜渊以“贤”而著称，是唯一被孔子称赞为仁者。他的头发29岁时变白，31岁就去世。

据说，有一次颜回的一个小小的举动，却招致了孔子的误会。虽然误会最终冰释，孔子却不由得发出“知人不易”的感慨。连“圣人”孔子在“知人”方面都有困惑的时候，何况我们常人呢!

以下故事选自《吕氏春秋》：

孔子穷乎陈蔡之间，藜羹不斟,七日不尝粒，昼寝。颜回索米，得而 之，几熟，孔子望见颜回攫其甑中而食之。选间食熟，谒孔子而进食。孔子佯装不见之。孔子起曰："今者梦见先君，食洁而后馈。"

颜回对曰："不可，向者煤 入甄中，弃食不祥，回攫而饮之。"

孔子叹曰："所信者目也，而目犹不可信;所恃者心也，而心犹不足恃。弟子记之，知人固不易矣！"

Fairy Fox Repaid Previous Debts 狐女还债

The following story is from ‘Gossips from the Micro-reading Hall’.

Mr Chu had a young maid servant; she was rough and robust. But as she grew up she became a very pretty and charming lady. So Chu married made her his concubine. She was also bright and managed the household matters well. None of the servants would dream of cheating her on household or financial matters, as surely they would be caught. She was also quite adroit in business dealings and financial investment. Soon she acquired a considered fortune for Chu who loved and treasured her even more as years went by.

Then one day, she asked Chu, ‘Do you really know who I am?’ Chu laughed and said, ‘Are you kidding?’ He said out her pet name and asked her, 'aren’t you the former young maid?’

She said, ‘No, that young maid had already absconded from your house many years back. She is now married in the next village and had a seven year old son. I am actually a fairy fox. Nine generations ago you were a very rich merchant, I was your trusted accountant and you had treated me very well. Yet I misappropriated three thousand taels of gold from you. I was punished and was later born as a fox while you continued to be born as human beings. I have since been practicing the art of ascetics for hundreds of years and have completed the training. I was able to ascend to the next world but for the debt I still owe you. So when the ugly maid ran away I replaced her and later became your concubine. In the past years I have worked very hard and had earned enough money for you to repay the debts. SO I am now leaving you. And when I leave I will leave behind my fox carcass, and you ask your servant to bury me, he will certainly remove the skin of the fox to sell elsewhere. Do let him do it without stopping him, for in my previous existence as a fox I had consumed the corpse of his previous life four generations ago when I was hungry. I have to let him mutilate my body, as I have to repay that debt too.’

She then dropped on to the floor. The fairy fox left the dead body and ascended slowly out of the house. She looked completely different from the concubine. Chu didn’t want the dead body to be mutilated, he buried it secretly. But the servant knew about it and dug it out, skinned the carcass and sold the fur. When Chu heard about it he could only sigh.

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以下故事来自《阅微草堂笔记》：

朱某一婢，粗材也，稍长，渐慧黠，眉目亦渐秀媚，因纳为妾，颇有心计，摒挡井井，米盐琐屑，家人纤毫不敢欺，欺则必败。又善居积，凡所贩鬻，来岁价必贵，朱以渐裕，宠之专房。

一日忽谓朱曰：君知我为谁，朱笑曰：尔颠耶？因戏举其小名曰，尔非某耶？

曰：非也，某逃去久矣，今为某地某人妇，生子已七八岁。我本狐女，君九世前为巨商，我为司会计，君遇我厚，而我乾没君三千余金，冥谪堕狐身，炼形数百年，幸得成道，然坐此负累，终不得升仙，故因此婢之逃，幻其貌以事君。计十余年来，所入足以敌所逋，今尸解去矣。我去之后，必现狐形，君可付某仆埋之。彼必裂尸而取革，君勿罪彼。彼四世前为饿殍时，我未成道，曾啖其尸，听彼碎磔我，庶冤可散也。

俄化狐仆地，有好女长数寸，出顶上，冉冉去，其貌则别一人矣。朱不忍而自埋之，卒为此仆窃发，剥卖其皮，朱知为夙业，浩叹而已。

Han Feizi: Zheng Man Buys Shoes 韩非子：郑人置履

Han Fei, or Han Feizi (ca. 280 BC – 233 BC) was a Chinese philosopher who developed the doctrine of the School of Law or Legalism. Unlike the other famed philosophers of the time, Han Fei was a member of the ruling aristocracy, having been born into the ruling family of the state of Han during the end phase of the Warring States Period.

Han Fei's philosophy centred on the ruler who could firmly controls the state with the help of three concepts: his position of power, proper techniques, and laws. Legalism assumes that everyone acts according to one principle: avoiding punishment while simultaneously trying to achieve gains. Thus, the law must severely punish any unwanted action, while at the same time reward those who follow it.

His handbook for the ruler deals with the problems of strengthening and preserving the state, the way of the ruler, the use of power, and punishment and favour. Ironically, the ruler most influenced by Han Feizi, the king of Qin, eventually sent Han Feizi to prison, where he later committed suicide.

Here is a fable cited by him on a person who rigidly adheres to rules and regulations (or established convention), while at the same time ignoring the reality of a situation.

A man from Zheng, needing some shoes, measured his feet, but left the measurements behind on his chair. When he got to market, he forgot to bring the measurements. He found some shoes, but he murmured, ‘I forgot to bring the measurements.’ He turned around to return home and get them. By the time he got back to the market, it was closed, and so he did not get any shoes.

Someone said, "Why didn't you just try them on your feet?" The man said, "I trust the measurements, not my feet."

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韩非，或韩非子（大约公元前280年至233年左右）发起法学说的中国哲学家。与当时其他的著名哲学家不同的是，韩非生长在战国时代韩国统治者的贵族家庭。

韩非的哲学主要是集中在统治者以势、术与法牢牢控制国家。法家假设每个人都以一个原则来行动：避免惩罚的同时获取最大利益。所以，法律应该惩罚不必要的行为，并奖励那些遵守守法的人。

他为统治者书写的指导涉及加强及维持统治的问题，统治者之道，权力的应用，奖与罚，等等。有讽刺意味的是，秦王受韩非的影响很大，最后却把韩非关进监牢，他就在牢里自杀。

这里是他讲的一个有关一个人拘守礼法而无视于现实情况的寓言：

郑人有且置履者，先自度其足，而置之其坐。至之市而忘操之。已得履，乃曰：“吾忘持度。”反归取之。及反，市罢，遂不得履。

人曰：“何不试之以足？ ”曰：“宁信度, 无自信也。”

The Rabbit and Old Chinese Sayings 成语中的兔子

This year is the Chinese year of the rabbit and there are a number of Chinese proverbs and idioms feature references to the rabbit, for example: ‘Foxes grieve over the death of rabbits’, ‘A rabbit’s tail cannot be long’, ‘When cunning hares have all been hunted, fleeing hounds will be cooked as food’, ‘A sly rabbit has three openings to its den’, ‘Waiting for a rabbit to hit upon a tree and be killed in order to catch it’ and etc.

守株待兔

The saying ‘a rabbit’s tail cannot be long’ refers to who resort to treachery cannot get away for it very long and ‘Foxes grieve over the death of rabbits’ reflect a person’s sad feeling for the death or misfortunes of his companions.

The proverb ‘When cunning hares have all been hunted, fleeing hounds will be cooked as food’ was once cited by the wise man Fan Li, an advisor in the state of Yue in the Spring and Autumn Period (722-481 BC). It is used to mean trusted aides are eliminated when they have outlived their usefulness. Fan Li was trying to advice his friend to leave the King who, in his opinion, was a man with whom one can weather difficult times together but not happiness, with whom one can weather danger together but not live peace together. It is therefore important to leave him before he harms you. Click here to read more about Fan Li’s advice.

The proverb ‘A sly rabbit has three openings to its den’ indicates having more hiding places or methods. It is used to suggest the need for backup plans or escape routes in dealing with uncertainties. It comes from a story in ‘Stratagems of the Warring States’ about Feng Xuan who had said: ‘Only with three burrows can a wily hare avoid the risk of death.’ Click here to read the story.

The proverb ‘Waiting for a rabbit to hit upon a tree and be killed in order to catch it’ comes from ‘The Five Vermin’ in ‘The Works of Han Feizi’. It advises that one should not wait for unexpected gains by leaving things to chance and luck, or one should not hope to get rewards without hard work.

Once in the Song Land there was a farmer, in whose field there was a tree. One day a rabbit ran toward the tree, too fast as to hit into the tree, broke its neck and died. From then on, he laid down his tools, doing nothing but wait under the lucky tree, hoping for another rabbit. But no more rabbit came, and the farmer turned out to be the laughing stock of his fellow countrymen.

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今年是华人的兔年，有不少华人的成语和俗语是与兔子有关的，例如：‘兔死狐悲’，‘兔子尾巴长不了’，‘兔死狗烹’，‘狡兔三窟’，‘守株待兔’，等等。

俗语‘兔子尾巴长不了’指的是背信弃义的事是维持不了多久的，而‘兔死狐悲’反映因同类的死亡或悲事而感到悲伤。

成语‘兔死狗烹’曾被春秋时期（公元前722年至481年）越国大臣范蠡引用过，比喻事情成功以后，把出过力的人杀掉。范蠡尝试劝告他的朋友离开越王，认为越王‘可与共患难，而不可共处乐；可与履危，不可与安。’所以应该在不被他杀害之前离开。请点击这里阅读有关故事。

成语‘狡兔三窟’指兔子有多个隐藏处或指多个方法。它用来指明需要后备计划或者脱险通道来应付变化无常的局势。来自《战国策》冯谖的故事：‘狡兔有三窟，仅得免其死耳。’请点击这里阅读这个故事。

成语‘守株待兔’来自《韩非子•五蠹》，劝告我们不要听天由命，以来运气，或期望不劳而获。

宋人有耕田者。田中有株，兔走，触株折颈而死。因释其耒而守株，冀复得兔。兔不可得，而身为宋国笑。

The Rabbit in Mythology 兔子的神话

Rabbits have stood out in the human imagination for centuries. All across the world, wherever rabbits are found, they have become the subject of myth, folklore, and creative speculation. It's no surprise that these playful, intelligent and mysterious creatures have attracted the attention of mystics and storytellers throughout the world.

In Chinese mythology, the Rabbit is a symbol of endurance and their essence is said to have originated from the Moon. The Moon is usually at its best in the Chinese mid-autumn night. , This is the time Chinese children carry paper lanterns made in the form of a Rabbit, and climb the hills to look at the Moon and admire the Moon Hare.

The legend of the Jade Rabbit is considered to be an extension of Chang'e Flying to the Moon. It tells about three sages who transformed themselves into pitiful old men. One day they met a fox, a monkey and a rabbit, and they begged for food. The fox and the monkey shared their food with the old men; but the rabbit, with nothing to share, jumped into a blazing fire to offer his own flesh instead. The sages were so touched by the rabbit's kindness that they sent it to live in the Moon Palace, where it became the Jade Rabbit.

Chang'e, who lived alone after arriving in the moon, liked the Jade Rabbit at the first sight, and therefore kept it company. As the time went by, Chang'e and Jade Rabbit became inseparable friends.

Hearing about the story of Chang'e and Hou Yi, the Jade Rabbit felt sympathetic to them and decided to make a special heavenly medicine, which could help Chang'e return to Earth. Unfortunately, the Jade Rabbit has still not been able to make it even though he has worked hard for thousands of years. Observing the moon on the Mid-Autumn Day carefully, we can still see the Jade Rabbit making his heavenly medicine.

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自古以来，兔子一直保留在人们的想象之中。世界各地，只要是有兔子的地方，它们都会成为神话、民间故事与创意推断的主题。这些顽皮、机灵与神秘的动物会吸引神秘主义者与讲故事人的注意力，那是不令人感到惊奇的。

在中国神话中，兔子是耐力的象征，它们的精髓来自月亮。中秋晚上的月最圆最亮。孩子会在这时候提着兔形灯笼登山看月，欣赏月里的兔子。

玉兔的故事可以说是嫦娥奔月神话的延续。它说的是三个神仙把自己变成可怜的老人。有一天，他们碰到狐狸、猴子与兔子，就向他们讨食。狐狸与猴子同老人分享它们的食物。可是兔子没有食物可以分享，就跳进烈火中，奉献它们的肉。老人为兔子的善心所感动，就把它带到月宫居住，变成玉兔。

嫦娥来到月球以后，孤独生活，一看到玉兔就很欢喜，所以结伴而居。随着日子的过去，他们变成不可分离的朋友。

听到嫦娥与后羿的故事后，玉兔可怜起他们，决定制造特别仙药来帮助嫦娥回返地球。可是，虽然经过几千年的苦干，玉兔一直没法把要制成。在中秋月仔细观察月亮，我们就可以发现玉兔还在制造它的仙药。

The Metal Rabbit Forecast 2011 兔年运程

2011 is the year of Xin Mao, which is known as Metal Rabbit year or Golden Rabbit year. The Heavenly Stem which is represented by Metal Xin is sitting on top of Earthly Branches Wood Mao. This terminology of Metal sitting on Wood is similar to 2010 Metal Geng and Wood Yin except that 2011 is Yin Metal and Yin Wood while 2010 is Yang Metal and Yang Wood.

The colours White (for Silver) and Gold represent the Metal Element. Yin Metal is like a small knife which is sharp and swift in strike. Once provoked, it implies potential hidden threats. As such, beware of undercover robberies and petty thieves. Guard your homes with alarm and security. Yin Wood resembles small plants though subtle but flexible. Imagine that during a heavy storm, the tall trees will fall first.

Yin Metal and Yin Wood in conflict implies that disputes may even occur over minor issues. Therefore, be mindful and avoid offending others. Minor errors may lead to serious consequences. Also, do be prepared for new rulings at work or from your superiors. At home, pay more attention to your teenage children. It is a year in which the family will come first.

Having two Yins (Yin metal and Yin wood) could mean polarisation of opinions resulting in conflicting ideologies, arguments and clashes, which may lead to destructive relationship.

Things will move slowly, although they will get done more correctly. People will reveal their bunny-side and will listen to their heart rather than their mind. Discussions and consensus will be catch words of the year. Art, culture and ethnicity will come to the forefront. Leisurely travels and personal growth will be more visible.

Inauspicious industries are: shipping, transportation, energy, gas, timber, travel, pulp and paper, stationery, publishing and media. These industries will face stiff competition and price wars.

Metal industries such as gold, silver, jewellery, automobile and steel related products will be in demand. The property prices will continue to rise in 2011 but at a slower pace compared to 2010. People involved in singing and acting, concerts and road shows, teaching and law professions will be in good demand. There will be still more medical and scientific inventions and highly beneficial innovations in Communications, Internet and IT industries. The IT industry will be launching a bigger range of new communication products.

Click here also to read more on Chinese Zodiacal Years.
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2010年是辛卯年，也是金兔或玉兔年。天干以辛代表金在上，地干以卯代表土在下。这就如2010年的金庚与木寅。可是，2011年是阴金与阴木，而2010年却是阳金与阳木。

白色（或银色）与金代表金元素。阴金就如一把短刀，尖锐而行动迅速。被激怒时，潜在危机更大。所以，要注意内贼与小偷。应以防盗安全系统来保护你的家的安全。阴木犹如小植物，细微而有弹性。想象狂风暴雨时，大树先折倒。

阴金与阴木之间的冲突表明就算小事也可能引起争执。所以，小心并避免得罪别人。同时，对来自工作或上司要执行新条例要有心理准备。在家，要关注少年期的孩子。今年是以家为主的一年。

两阴（阴金与阴木）同时出现可能表示意见分歧，引起理念与争论的抵触，冲突，并导致恶劣关系。

工作可能进行得比较慢，但是会做得好。人们会显露出诙谐的一面，以情感而不是心智来倾听。今年常常会听到的词语应该是：讨论与共识。艺术、文化与民族会站在第一线。休闲旅游与个人成长明显重要。

艰难行业包括：航运、交通、能源、瓦斯、木料、旅游、纸业、文具、印刷业与媒介。这些行业会面对激烈竞争与削价行为。

与金属有关的行业如黄金、银、汽车、钢铁有关的工业则有需求。产业的价格在2011年会继续上扬，但比起2010年缓慢得多。从事有关歌唱、表演、音乐表演、街边秀、教书与法律的人，需求大增。医药与科学发明会增多。交通、互联网与信息工业会有高度实用创新产品。

请点击这里阅读有关华人生肖本命年的详情。

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2011: The Chinese Year of The Rabbit 2011年是兔年

The upcoming Chinese New Year falls on 3 February 2011. According to the Chinese Zodiac, it is the Year of the Rabbit. The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animal signs.

According to Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. It is a time for negotiation. Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.

People born in the Year of the Rabbit share certain characteristics: keen, wise, fragile, tranquil, serene, considerate, fashionable, and kind. Generally, they are quite calm, do not exhibit aggressive behaviour, and will avoid confrontation at all costs. When angry about something, they will approach it calmly and considerately, hardly ever raising their voice. And they are quite keen and pay close attention to the situations developing around them. They are intelligent and quick, and can talk themselves in or out of most situations with no problem.

They are good teachers, counsellors and communicators; they also often make ideal diplomats or politicians. They can also make great painters or musicians due to their sense of beauty and their love of creativity.

Although rabbit people get on well with everyone, at heart they are basically reserved creatures and need their own space, and are only really happy when they are engrossed in some sort of scholarly or intellectual activity.

The average rabbit person emphasizes the importance of small details. They pay attention to everything from colour, design and furniture to food and conversation. And only when they are sure that everything has been arranged as they wished, these people can relax and have fun. Opting for safety over risk they may miss good opportunities.

Calm as they are, it is not easy to provoke rabbit people. They are sentimental and compassionate. Yes, and they cry easily too. They can be moved by personal problems you share with them. Therefore, if you work as a salesman for a living, you will have much better luck with rabbit people - Nine out of ten Rabbit people will definitely buy your products!

They will become depressed and withdrawn if their homes do not consist of beautiful possessions that make them comfortable. Their homes and offices usually are clutter-free. Rabbit people are usually relatively careful when it comes to their finances. They use much of their money for possessions such as their homes, cars or furniture. They love hunting for antiques, arts and crafts and will tend to make sound investments in these types of things.

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今年华人新年是在阳历2月3日。根据华人生肖，今年是兔年。兔子在华人生肖十二个动物之中，排名第四。

根据华人传统，兔子给我们带来松一口气与舒静神经的机会。也是磋商好时机。不要硬来盲闯，那将导致最终的失败。这个时候，应该争取最大利益，关心家庭、家人、安全、交际、你与女性及孩子的关系。立定目标，营造安全平和生活方式，这样你就可以安稳地应对可能出现的问题。

出生于兔年的人有一些共同的特点：热忱、聪明、虚弱、宁静、安详、体贴、时髦与友好。一般上，他们相当平静，不会做出闯劲行为，并不计成本来避免对峙。对一些事感到愤怒，他们会平静、友好以待，很少会提高声调。他们热心与关注身边事务。他们聪明与机灵，善以口舌脱离困境而无事。

他们是好老师、辅导员、交流者；他们也是理想的外交家，或者政治家。他们也会成为伟大的画家或音乐家，鉴于他们对美的特别触觉与对创作的热爱。

虽然生于兔年的人与人相处得很好，可是他们的内心基本上是内向的，需要有个人空间；只有在全神贯注于学识与理智活动时，他们才会得到真正的欢愉。

一般的生于兔年的人，强调细节的重要。他们注重每一细节，从颜色、设计、家具、食物到交谈。只有他们肯定每一细节都按照他们的意思去安排后，他们才会放轻松与玩乐。由于选择安全多过选择机会，他们可能失去好的机会。

他们虽然平静，但是不容易被惹怒。他们感情用事、有怜悯之心。是的，他们容易哭啼。他们容易被你同他们分享的事而感动。所以，如果你以卖物品为生，你能卖给兔年出世的人的机会最多，百分之九十会给你生意。

如果家里没有令他们舒服的东西，他们会变成沮丧、不与人交往。他们的家与办公室一般清洁干净。他们对钱财相对来说很小心。他们把大部分的钱花在家居、汽车与家具之类的产品。他们喜欢古董、手工艺术品，善于投资在这些东西上。 

The Chinese Winter Solstice Festival 冬至节

This year the winter solstice will occur on 21 December at 23:38 pm.

The Dongzhi Festival or Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians.

Dongzhi literally means the extreme of winter in Chinese. It occurs exactly when the Earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. As early as 2,500 years ago, about the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), China had determined the point of Winter Solstice by observing movements of the sun with a sundial. It is the earliest of the 24 seasonal division points. The time will be on either 21 or 22 December according to the Gregorian calendar.

After the Winter Solstice, days will become longer and longer. As ancient Chinese thought, the yang, muscular, or positive things will become stronger and stronger after this day, so it should be celebrated. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. So, Dongzhi is a turning point and the philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram Returning.

The Winter Solstice became a festival during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and thrived in the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279). In the Tang and Song dynasties, the Winter Solstice was a day to offer scarifies to Heaven and ancestors. Emperors would go to suburbs to worship the Heaven; while common people offered sacrifices to their deceased parents or other relatives.

There is a Chinese saying that ‘the Winter Solstice is more important than the new year Spring Festival’. So the Winter Solstice festival is highly valued by the Chinese.

Traditionally, the Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during the get together (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyan or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion. The Tangyuan are normally brightly coloured and stuffed with various ingredients such as black sesame paste, peanut paste and red bean paste and cooked in a sweet soup. Each family member receives at least one large Tangyuan in addition to several small ones.

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汤圆 Glutinous Rice Balls

今年的冬至发生在阳历12月21日晚上11时38分。

冬至节是华人与东亚人所庆祝的最重要的节目之一。

中文‘冬至’指的是冬天的至极，发生在太阳直射的纬度为23° 26'，离开地球最远的时候。早在2千5百年前的春秋时代（公元前770至476年），中国人已经用日晷仪来欢察太阳的运行以断定冬至的时间点了。它是二十四节令的起点。在阳历，冬至大约在12月21日或22日。

冬至以后，白天越来越长。古老华人看法认为在这天以后，阳气、刚强或正面的东西会逐渐强大，所以值得庆祝。庆祝过后，昼长夜短，所以刚正之气的流入增加。所以，冬至是个传折点，它的哲学性的重要就以《易经》中的‘复’卦为代表。

冬至于汉朝（公元前206年至公元220年）成为一个节日，而在唐宋（618-1279）盛行。在唐宋时期，冬至是一个祭拜天与祖先的日子。皇帝会到郊外祭天，而一般老百姓则祭拜死去的父母与其它亲戚。

华人俗语说：‘冬大过年。’可见华人对冬至节的重视。

传统上，冬至节是一家团聚的时候。团聚时所进行的一项活动，尤其是在中国南方与华人集聚的海外，是做与吃汤圆。汤圆象征团圆。一般上，汤圆都染上亮丽颜色，里面塞满了如芝麻、花生、红豆糊之类，以糖水来煮。每个家庭成员最少要吃一粒大汤圆加上几个较小的汤圆。

Zhuangzi: I Prefer to Wag my Tail in the Mud 庄子：吾将曳尾于涂中

Zhuangzi was born in a poor family, lived primarily on making straw sandals. However, he was indifferent to fame and gain, which seemed to him like devils rather than angels, and had long pursued spiritual freedom. Zhuangzi advocates respecting life and nourishing life instead of being caught up by outside matters and being destroyed by desires.

Zhuang Zi preferred non-action. He has always been viewed as the paragon of high moral character and purity of spirit. One story (extracted from the book ‘Zhuangzi’) illustrates these qualities well.

Zhuangzi was fishing on the Pu River when the king of the state of Chu sent two high officials to see him and said, "Our king desires to burden you with the administration of the Chu State."

Zhuangzi went on fishing without turning his head and said, "I have heard that in Chu there is a sacred tortoise which died when it was three thousand years old. The king keeps this tortoise carefully enclosed in a chest in his ancestral temple. Now would this tortoise rather be dead and have its remains venerated, or would it rather be alive and wagging its tail in the mud?"

"It would rather be alive," replied the two officials, "and wagging its tail in the mud."

"Begone!" cried Zhuangzi. "I too will wag my tail in the mud."

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庄子生长于贫苦家庭，主要以作草鞋为生。但是，他不热衷于名利，对他而言这些是恶不是善。他追求的是精神自由。庄子提倡尊敬生命，丰富生活，而不是拘禁于外在事物与为欲所毁。

庄子主张无为。所以常常被认为是高尚品德与纯净精神的模范。以下出自《庄子》一书的故事可说明他的这些素质。

庄子钓于濮水，楚王使大夫二人往先焉，曰：“愿以境内累矣！”

庄子持竿不顾，曰：“吾闻楚有神龟，死已三千岁矣，王巾笥而藏之庙堂之上。此龟者，宁其死为留骨而贵乎？宁其生而曳尾于涂中乎？”

二大夫曰：“宁生而曳尾涂中。”

庄子曰：“往矣，吾将曳尾于涂中。”

The Lady of Yanzhou 延州妇人

The Taiping Anthologies is a collection of about 7000 stories compiled under the editorship of Li Fang of Song Dynasty, first published in 978. The stories were selected from over three hundred books and novels from the Han Dynasty to the early Song Dynasty, many of which have long been lost. Some stories are historical or naturalistic anecdotes, each is replete with historical elements, and qualifies as fiction, but the topics are mostly supernatural, about Buddhist and Daoist priests, immortals, ghosts, and various deities.

One of the most unexpected stories is about a lady of Yanzhou who is willing to have sex with any man she came across. She turned out to be an incarnation of Bodhisattva.

Once there was a lady in Yanzhou in eastern Shaanxi who was of fair complexion and quite beautiful, about 24 or 25 years of age. She wandered through the city alone, and the young lads would follow her around. She had sexual relations with them all, rejecting none of them.

Several years later she died, and the people of Yanzhou were all grieved at this and felt sorry for her. They collected a sum of money and paid her funeral expenses. Because she had no home, they buried her beside a road.

In the middle of the reign of Tang Daicong Dali (766-779 AD), a Central Asian monk came from the northwest. He saw the lady's grave, and immediately set up a prayer mat there, prostrating himself and burning incense while praising the virtue of the deceased for several days.

People saw this and said to him, "This was an immoral woman who treated every man like her husband, and we buried her here because she had no family. Why do you as a monk show such respect to her?"

The monk replied, "My benefactors, there is something you do not know. This lady was a holy being indeed, compassionate and generous in submitting to the desires of all worldly men. She is the Chained-bone Bodhisattva, and she has fulfilled her destiny and achieved enlightenment. If you do not believe me, you can open up the grave and see."

The people exhumed the grave, and sure enough all the bones were linked as in a chain. They were astonished and held a Buddhist feast for her, and also built a pagoda to honour her.

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宋代李昉编的《太平广记》大约收集了7000个故事，第一次出版于978年。故事选自汉朝至宋初超过300本书与小说，其中有不少已经失传了。这些故事有历史或自然奇闻逸话，充满了历史元素，创造素质，内容则都是一些有关超自然、佛教、道士、长生不老、鬼怪及各种神仙的事物。

其中一个令人意想不到的故事是有关一个延州妇女对所有男人来者不拒，而她原来是菩萨的化身。

昔，延州有妇人，白皙，颇有姿貌，年可二十四五，孤行城市，年少之子，悉与之游，押呢荐 枕，一无所却。

数年而殁，州人莫不悲惜，共醵丧具，为之葬焉。以其无家，瘗于道左。

（唐代宗）大历中（776－779），忽有胡僧自西域来，见墓，遂趺坐，具礼焚香，围绕赞叹数日。

人见，谓之日：此一淫纵女子，人尽夫也。以其无属，故瘗于此，和尚何敬耶？

僧曰：非檀越所知，斯乃大圣，慈悲喜舍，世所之 欲，无不徇焉。此即销骨菩萨，顺缘已尽。圣者云耳不信，即启以验之。

众人即开墓，视遍身之骨，钩结皆如锁状。果如僧言。州人异之，为设大斋起塔焉。