Bear a Birch to offer a Humble Apology （成语 负荆请罪 英文)When Lin Xiangru returned to Zhao(1), he was made a high official ranking above Lian Po because he had rendered an outstanding service to the State.
At this, Lian Po complained to everyone:"I am a general of the State of Zhao and have rendered meritorious services on the battlefield. Now, Lin Xiangru is put in a position superior to mine for his mere eloquence. Besides, he is a man of humble birth. I can't bear to be below him, it is a disgrace." In the end he went so far as to declare:"If he comes into my sight, I'll cry shame on him." On hearing this, Xiangru decided to avoid Lian Po in every way.
When the time came for the ministers to appear at court, Xiangru always absented himself and stayed home on the pretext of ill health. This was simply to avoid contending with Lian Po for precedence at court. Later, whenever Xiangru was out driving and sighted Lian Po on the way, he would order his carriage to turn about and avoid him.
Lin's guest advisers all began to protest at his undue humility, saying:"The reason why we left our own people and came to serve you is just that we admire your noble quality. Now, you are of equal rank with Lian Po, who has been openly speaking evil of you,yet you fear him so much that you hide yourself away from him. This is more than needed and is something even the common people would feel ashamed of ,not to say a prime minister or any other ranking official. It seems we are not useful here. Please allow us to leave."
Lin,however,insisted on their staying and asked them a question:"You gentlemen please tell me who is more formid able?Lian Po? Or the King of Qin?"
"Of couse, Lian Po is not so formidable as the King of Qin," was the answer.
"Well," Lin Xiangru came to the point at issue,"despite the awesomeness of the King of Qin, I dared rebuke him in his court and bring shame on his courtiers. Incapable as I may be, I don't think I have any reason to fear General Lian. What I have been turning over in my mind is why the pewerful Qin so far dare not invade Zhao. Isn't it merely because Lian Po and I are both in the service of Zhao at court? Suppose we two 'tigers' now pitch into each other, one of us must to out of existence. That I've been treating Lian Po in the way known to you all is to show I put the safety of the state above private grievances."
When these words of Lin Xiangru were passed on to Lian Po, he was extremely moved. Stripping him self to the waist and carrying a birch on his back, he asked his guest adviser to take hime to the mansion of Lin Xiangru to offer a humble apology. Lian said to Lin,"What an ignorant man I am! I never realized how magnanimous you are." In the end , the two were on good germs and vowed to be life-and-death companions.
At this, Lian Po complained to everyone:"I am a general of the State of Zhao and have rendered meritorious services on the battlefield. Now, Lin Xiangru is put in a position superior to mine for his mere eloquence. Besides, he is a man of humble birth. I can't bear to be below him, it is a disgrace." In the end he went so far as to declare:"If he comes into my sight, I'll cry shame on him." On hearing this, Xiangru decided to avoid Lian Po in every way.
When the time came for the ministers to appear at court, Xiangru always absented himself and stayed home on the pretext of ill health. This was simply to avoid contending with Lian Po for precedence at court. Later, whenever Xiangru was out driving and sighted Lian Po on the way, he would order his carriage to turn about and avoid him.
Lin's guest advisers all began to protest at his undue humility, saying:"The reason why we left our own people and came to serve you is just that we admire your noble quality. Now, you are of equal rank with Lian Po, who has been openly speaking evil of you,yet you fear him so much that you hide yourself away from him. This is more than needed and is something even the common people would feel ashamed of ,not to say a prime minister or any other ranking official. It seems we are not useful here. Please allow us to leave."
Lin,however,insisted on their staying and asked them a question:"You gentlemen please tell me who is more formid able?Lian Po? Or the King of Qin?"
"Of couse, Lian Po is not so formidable as the King of Qin," was the answer.
"Well," Lin Xiangru came to the point at issue,"despite the awesomeness of the King of Qin, I dared rebuke him in his court and bring shame on his courtiers. Incapable as I may be, I don't think I have any reason to fear General Lian. What I have been turning over in my mind is why the pewerful Qin so far dare not invade Zhao. Isn't it merely because Lian Po and I are both in the service of Zhao at court? Suppose we two 'tigers' now pitch into each other, one of us must to out of existence. That I've been treating Lian Po in the way known to you all is to show I put the safety of the state above private grievances."
When these words of Lin Xiangru were passed on to Lian Po, he was extremely moved. Stripping him self to the waist and carrying a birch on his back, he asked his guest adviser to take hime to the mansion of Lin Xiangru to offer a humble apology. Lian said to Lin,"What an ignorant man I am! I never realized how magnanimous you are." In the end , the two were on good germs and vowed to be life-and-death companions.
_____________remark_______________
(1) see the story "Return the Jade Intact to Zhao"
(1) see the story "Return the Jade Intact to Zhao"
负荆请罪(chinese idioms)
...回国后,由于相如功劳大，被封为上卿，位在廉颇之上。廉颇说：“我是赵国将军，有攻城野战的大功，而蔺相如只不过靠能说会道立了点功，可是他的地位却在我之上，况且相如本来是卑贱之人，我感到羞耻，在他下面我难以忍受。”并且扬言说：“我遇见相如，一定要羞辱他。”相如听到后，不肯和他相会。相如每到上朝时，常常推说有病，不愿和廉颇去争位次的先后。没过多久，相如外出，远远看到廉颇，相如就掉转车子回避。
于是相如的门客就一起来直言进谏说：“我们所以离开亲人来侍奉您，就是仰慕您高尚的节义呀。如今您与廉颇官位相同，廉老先生口出恶言，而您却害怕躲避他，您怕得也太过分了，平庸的人尚且感到羞耻，何况是身为将相的人呢！我们这些人没出息，请让我们告辞吧！”蔺相如坚决地挽留他们，说：“诸位认为廉将军和秦王相比谁厉害？”回答说：“廉将军比不了秦王。”相如说：“以秦王的威势，而我却敢在朝廷上呵斥他，羞辱他的群臣，我蔺相如虽然无能，难道会怕廉将军吗？但是我想到，强秦所以不敢对赵国用兵，就是因为有我们两人在呀，如今两虎相斗，势必不能共存。我所以这样忍让，就是为了要把国家的急难摆在前面，而把个人的私怨放在后面。”
廉颇听说了这些话，就脱去上衣，露出上身，背着荆条，由宾客带引，来到蔺相如的门前请罪。他说：“我是个粗野卑贱的人，想不到将军您是如此的宽厚啊！”二人终于相互交欢和好，成为生死与共的好友。
负荆请罪,形容主动向人认错、道歉，自请严厉责罚。
...回国后,由于相如功劳大，被封为上卿，位在廉颇之上。廉颇说：“我是赵国将军，有攻城野战的大功，而蔺相如只不过靠能说会道立了点功，可是他的地位却在我之上，况且相如本来是卑贱之人，我感到羞耻，在他下面我难以忍受。”并且扬言说：“我遇见相如，一定要羞辱他。”相如听到后，不肯和他相会。相如每到上朝时，常常推说有病，不愿和廉颇去争位次的先后。没过多久，相如外出，远远看到廉颇，相如就掉转车子回避。
于是相如的门客就一起来直言进谏说：“我们所以离开亲人来侍奉您，就是仰慕您高尚的节义呀。如今您与廉颇官位相同，廉老先生口出恶言，而您却害怕躲避他，您怕得也太过分了，平庸的人尚且感到羞耻，何况是身为将相的人呢！我们这些人没出息，请让我们告辞吧！”蔺相如坚决地挽留他们，说：“诸位认为廉将军和秦王相比谁厉害？”回答说：“廉将军比不了秦王。”相如说：“以秦王的威势，而我却敢在朝廷上呵斥他，羞辱他的群臣，我蔺相如虽然无能，难道会怕廉将军吗？但是我想到，强秦所以不敢对赵国用兵，就是因为有我们两人在呀，如今两虎相斗，势必不能共存。我所以这样忍让，就是为了要把国家的急难摆在前面，而把个人的私怨放在后面。”
廉颇听说了这些话，就脱去上衣，露出上身，背着荆条，由宾客带引，来到蔺相如的门前请罪。他说：“我是个粗野卑贱的人，想不到将军您是如此的宽厚啊！”二人终于相互交欢和好，成为生死与共的好友。
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