There are always fish willing to be caught byanglerJiang Taigong
薑太公釣魚,願者上鉤
Jiang Taigong is a popular name for Jiang Ziya,statesman and strategist.
薑太公字子牙,是中國古代的一位影響久遠的傑出的韜略家、軍事家和政治家。
As an adviser of King Wen of the Zhou State inancient China, he, at the age of 80, helped the youngKing Wu overthrow the Shang Dynasty and establish the Zhou Dynasty.
他在八十高齡,輔佐文王,興邦立國,幫助年輕的周武王滅掉商朝,建立起周朝。
Jiang Ziya lived near the Weishui River about 3 000 years ago.
大約3千多年前,薑子牙居住在渭水北岸,
The area was the feudal estate of Count Ji Chang.
屬於西伯姬昌的封建領地。
Jiang Ziya knew Ji Chang was very ambitious so he hoped to get Ji’s attention.
薑子牙聽說西伯姬昌尊賢納士,年逾七旬的他便千裏迢迢投奔西歧。
He often went fishing at the Weishui River,
此後,他每日垂釣於渭水之上,等待聖明君主的到來。
but he would fish in an unusual way. He hung a straight fishhook, without bait, three feetabove the water .
薑子牙的釣法奇特,短竿長線,線係直鉤,不用誘餌之食,釣杆也不垂到水裏,離水麵有三尺高,
He often said to himself, “Fish,if you don’t want to live any more, come and swallow the hookyourself. ”
並且一邊釣魚一邊自言自語,“不想活的魚兒呀,你們願意的話,就自己上鉤吧。”
Soon his strange way of fishing was reported to Ji Chang.
太公奇特的釣魚方法,終於傳到了姬昌那裏。
Ji sent a soldier to fetch him.
姬昌知道後,派一名士兵去叫他來。
Jiang saw the soldier conning, but ignored him.
但太公並不理踩這個士兵,
Jiang just went on with his fishing, and was saying to himself,“Fishing, fishing,no fish hasbeen hooked. A shrimp is up to mischief. ”
隻顧自己釣魚,並自言自語道:“釣啊,釣啊,魚兒不上鉤,蝦兒來胡鬧!”
The soldier reported this back to Ji Chang, who became more interested in Jiang.
姬昌聽了士兵的稟報後,
Ji sent an official to invite Jiang this time.
改派一名官員去請太公來。
But Jiang again ignored the invitation.
可是太公依然不答理,
He just carried on fishing,and was saying,“Fishing,fishing,the big fish has not been hooked.A small one is up to mischief”
邊釣邊說:“釣啊,釣啊,大魚不上鉤,小魚別胡鬧! ”
Then Ji Chang realized Jiang may be a great talent so he went to invite Jiang himself andbrought many generous gifts with him.
姬昌這才意識到,這個釣者必是位賢才,要親自去請他才對。於是他帶著厚禮,前往磘溪去聘請太公。
Jiang saw his sincere desire so decided to work for him.
太公見他誠心誠意來聘請自己,便答應為他效力。
Jiang helped Ji Chang and his son turn over the Shang Dynasty and establish the ZhouDynasty.
後來,薑尚輔佐文王,興邦立國,還幫助文王的兒子武王姬發,滅掉了商朝,建 立了周朝。
Today, people use this old idiom to describe someone who willingly falls in a trap or doessomething regardless of the result.
成語“薑太公釣魚,願者上鉤”比喻心甘情願地上別人的圈套或是做事不計後果。