Returning from the Yellow River during a Westward Journey
文、攝影 / 歐修梅
故事出處：《史記．孔子世家》
The story comes from Records of the Grand Historian: The House of Confucius
孔子既不得用於衛，將西見趙簡子。
至於河而聞竇鳴犢、舜華之死也，臨河而嘆曰：「美哉水，洋洋乎！丘之不濟此，命也夫！」
子貢趨而進曰：「敢問何謂也？」
孔子曰：「竇鳴犢，舜華，晉國之賢大夫也。趙簡子未得志之時，須此兩人而後從政；及其已得志，殺之乃從政。丘聞之也：刳胎殺夭，則麒麟不至郊；竭澤涸漁，則蛟龍不合陰陽；覆巢毀卵，則鳳皇不翔。何則？君子諱傷其類也。夫鳥獸之於不義也尚知辟之，而況乎丘哉！」
乃還，息乎陬鄉，作為〈陬操〉以哀之。
Confucius, finding no favor in the State of Wei, resolved to journey west to seek an audience with Zhao Jianzi. However, as Confucius reached the banks of the Yellow River, tidings of the deaths of Dou Mingdu and Shun Hua fell upon his ears. Standing by the river, he lamented, “How splendid the river is, vast and boundless! That I shall never cross it is indeed my fate!”
Zi Gong stepped forward and inquired, “May I ask, Master, what do you mean?”
Confucius replied, "Dou Mingdu and Shun Hua were virtuous ministers in the land of Jin. Before Zhao Jianzi ascended to his power, he leaned upon these men to govern. But when his ambition was fulfilled, he had them slain. I have heard it said, ‘If a land slays the unborn by cutting open the womb, the Chinese unicorn shall not wander its fields; if the waters be drained and the fish taken, the scaled dragon shall not stir the clouds to rain; if the nests be overturned and the eggs destroyed, the Phoenix shall not grace the skies above. Why so? Because the noble abhor harming their own kind. If even birds and beasts shun injustice, how much more should I!”
And so he returned, taking refuge in the town of Zou, where he composed the Zou Melody to mourn their tragic fate.
孔子由於在衛國不受重用，所以就準備往西走，想到晉國見晉國執政上卿趙簡子。沒想到，剛走到黃河岸邊，就聽到了晉國兩位賢良的大夫竇鳴犢和舜華被趙簡子殺害的消息！孔子就對著河水感慨地說：「多麼美麗的黃河啊！如此浩浩蕩蕩！我一輩子不能渡過黃河往西行，恐怕也是命裡注定的吧！」
Confucius, feeling unappreciated in the State of Wei, decided to head west with the intention of meeting Zhao Jianzi, the Chief Minister of the State of Jin. However, upon reaching the banks of the Yellow River, he unexpectedly heard news that Zhao Jianzi had murdered two virtuous ministers of Jin, Dou Mingdu and Shun Hua. Confucius, gazing at the river, lamented, “How beautiful the Yellow River is! It seems that I am destined never to cross you and journey west!”
子貢趨進向孔子請教：「老師您這話是什麼意思呢？」
Zi Gong took a step forward and asked, “What do you mean, my teacher?”
孔子說：「竇鳴犢和舜華都是晉國的好大夫，趙簡子在還沒有得勢之前，都是靠這兩個人才得以執掌朝政，現在他得勢了，就首先把這兩個人殺掉了。我聽前人這樣說：『如果有一地方的人剖開母體殺死胎內小獸，那麼麒麟就不會到那個地方去；如果有一地方的人抽乾了水去捕魚，那麼蛟龍就不會到那裡下雨；如果有一地方的人翻覆了鳥巢去毀取鳥蛋，那麼鳳凰就絕不會到那裡去，為什麼呢？這是因為君子人是不會願意看到自己的同類受害的。那鳥獸對於不仁不義的事情都還知道躲避，更何況是孔丘我呢！』」
Confucius replied, “Dou Mingdu and Shun Hua were both virtuous ministers of Jin. Zhao Jianzi relied on their talents to gain control of the government. Now that he has consolidated his power, he murders them first. As a saying goes, ‘If there is a place where people cut open the wombs of animals and kill the unborn, the Chinese unicorn will not go there. If there is a place where people drain water to catch fish, the scaled dragon will not bring rain there. If there is a place where people overturn nests to take eggs, the phoenix will never go there.’ Why? It is because noble people do not want to see their kind get hurt. Even birds and beasts know they should avoid cruelty and injustice, let alone me, Kong Chiu!”
於是孔子就退回到陬鄉，並在陬鄉那裡譜了一曲〈陬操〉來哀悼竇鳴犢和舜華的不幸。
So, Confucius returned to Zouxiang and wrote a Tsou Melody in memory of the unfortunate Dou Mingdu and Shun Hua.
此畫便是描繪孔子將西見趙簡子，來到黃河邊而聽聞竇鳴犢、舜華之死，隨即返駕的這段事跡。
This painting depicts the story of Confucius returning swiftly halfway on his westward journey to Zhao Jianzi upon learning the death of Dou Mingdu and Shun Hua.
