Lord Jing’s Reverence and Humility
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
景公問政孔子，孔子曰：「君君，臣臣，父父，子子。」
景公曰：「善哉！信如君不君，臣不臣，父不父，子不子，雖有粟，吾豈得而食諸！」
他日又復問政於孔子，孔子曰：「政在節財。」景公說，將欲以尼谿田封孔子。
Lord Jing of Qi sought counsel from Confucius on governance. Confucius replied, "Let kings be kings, ministers be ministers, fathers be fathers, sons be sons.”
Lord Jing responded, “Wonderful! For if the king is not as a king should be, the minister not as a minister should be, the father not as a father should be, and the son not as a son should be, even though there may be grain in the granary, how would I possibly enjoy it?”
On another day, Lord Jing again inquired Confucius about the principles of governance. Confucius said, “Good governance lies in frugality.” Pleased, Lord Jing considered bestowing upon Confucius the lands of Ni Creek.
這是孔子中年時期的故事，當時魯國發生內亂，魯國國君魯昭公被國內三大家族打敗，出逃到齊國，孔子也離開魯國去到齊國，也得到機會謁見齊景公。
This story took place during Confucius’ middle years, a period when the State of Lu was plagued by civil warfare. Lord Zhao of Lu was defeated by the three most powerful families in the state and fled to the State of Qi. Confucius also left Lu and traveled to Qi, where he had the opportunity to meet Lord Jing of Qi.
齊景公向孔子請教治理國家的道理，孔子提出「君君、臣臣、父父、子子」，也就是做國君的，要像個國君；做大臣的，要像個大臣；做父親的，要像個父親；做兒子的，要像個兒子。
Lord Jing of Qi consulted Confucius on the principles of ruling a country. Confucius advised, “Let kings be kings, ministers be ministers, fathers be fathers, and sons be sons.” In other words, kings should act like kings, ministers should act like ministers, fathers should act like fathers, and sons should act like sons.
齊景公說：「說得太好了！如果國君不像國君、大臣不像大臣、父親不像父親、兒子不像兒子，那麼即使倉庫裡有很多糧食，我又哪裡能吃得著呢？」
Lord Jing of Qi replied, “Well said! If kings do not act like kings, ministers do not act like ministers, fathers do not act like fathers, and sons do not act like sons, even there is plenty of grain in the warehouse, how will I ever get to enjoy it?”
過了幾天，齊景公又向孔子詢問如何治理國家，孔子說：「治理國家要注意節省財力。」齊景公聽了很開心，想要把尼谿的一塊領地封給孔子。
A few days after, Lord Jing of Qi consulted Confucius again about the principles of ruling a country. Confucius advised, “Be mindful of conserving financial resources when ruling a country.” Lord Jing of Qi was delighted by this advice and wished to bestow a piece of land near Ni Creek to Confucius.
可惜這件事因為晏嬰的阻擾而作罷。
Pitifully, the plan was thwarted due to the intervention of Yan Ying.
此畫描繪的，就是孔子謁見齊景公之事。背景是野外的一棵松樹之下，齊景公後方有兩位隨從，一人執傘，另一人持燈，孔子則略居於下方，主賓二人拱手揖讓，展現出和諧的氛圍。
This painting depicts the audience between Lord Jing of Qi and Confucius. The scene is set in the wilderness beneath a pine tree. The lord is accompanied by two guards, one holding an umbrella and the other a lamp. Confucius is positioned slightly lower. The lord and his esteemed guest are shown bowing to each other in mutual respect.
