Tying Grass and Carrying a Ring: Forever Cherishing a Grateful Heart
【Source】Zuo Zhuan, Duke Xuan, Year 15; and Hou Han Shu, Biography of Yang Zhen.
【Meaning】A metaphor meaning to repay kindness with deep gratitude, never to be forgotten even in death.
【Historical Story】
The story of "tying grass" appears in the Zuo Zhuan, Duke Xuan, Year 15. During the Spring and Autumn period, Wei Wuzi of the state of Jin had a beloved concubine. When Wei Wuzi fell ill, he told his son Wei Ke: "After I die, you must marry her off." Soon after, when Wei Wuzi's illness worsened, he again instructed Wei Ke: "After I die, she must be buried with me as a sacrifice." After Wei Wuzi passed away, Wei Ke did not kill the concubine to be buried with his father; instead, he married her to someone else. Wei Ke explained: "When a person is critically ill, their mind becomes confused and disordered. I married her off following my father's instructions when he was mentally clear."
Later, Duke Huan of Qin launched an attack on Jin. The Jin army and Qin forces clashed at Fushi (present-day Dali County, Shaanxi). There, the Jin general Wei Ke encountered the Qin general Du Hui. The two fought fiercely. At a critical moment when the battle was evenly matched, Wei Ke suddenly saw an old man using a rope made of knotted grass to trip Du Hui. The mighty Qin warrior lost his balance, fell to the ground, and was immediately captured by Wei Ke, enabling Wei Ke to defeat the Qin army in this battle.
After the Jin army's victory and return, that night Wei Ke dreamed of the old man who had tied the grass to trip Du Hui during the day. The old man said: "I am the father of the woman you married off instead of making her your father's sacrificial burial companion. What I did today was to repay your great kindness!"
The story of "carrying a ring" comes from the commentary on the Hou Han Shu, Biography of Yang Zhen, which quotes the Xu Qi Xie Ji. When Yang Bao, father of Yang Zhen, was nine years old, he saw a yellow bird injured by an eagle, fallen under a tree and surrounded by ants in the northern part of Mount Huayin. Moved with compassion, Yang Bao took the bird home, placed it in a small box, and fed it only yellow flowers. After a hundred days, the bird's feathers were fully grown, and it flew away. That night, a child dressed in yellow robes bowed deeply to Yang Bao and said: "I am an emissary of the Queen Mother of the West. Your benevolent rescue has deeply touched me and saved my life." He then presented Yang Bao with four white jade rings, saying: "These will ensure that your descendants attain the highest offices, govern with integrity, and conduct themselves in the world with purity and integrity, just like these jade rings."
Indeed, as the yellow-robed child had foretold, Yang Bao's son Yang Zhen, grandson Yang Bing, great-grandson Yang Ci, and great-great-grandson Yang Biao all rose to the position of Grand Commandant (Taiwei) over four generations. All were upright, incorruptible, and renowned for their virtue, which was celebrated by later generations.
Later generations combined the stories of "tying grass" and "carrying a ring," and the phrase has been passed down to this day as a metaphor for repaying kindness with eternal gratitude, never to be forgotten even in death.
【Lessons for Growth】
In daily life, when someone has shown us kindness, we often use the phrase "tying grass and carrying a ring" to express our desire to repay their favor. A heart that understands gratitude is the most beautiful heart in this world; a life that understands gratitude is the most worthy of respect among all lives. At the same time, these two stories also serve as a reminder to people: "Good deeds bring good results," and "Never neglect a small act of kindness."