Idiom story

During the reign of Emperor An of Han, the Qiang tribes frequently raided the borders of the Han dynasty. On one occasion, they even surrounded Wudu Commandery. Emperor An quickly appointed General Yu Xu to lead troops against the Qiang forces. Yu Xu and his men marched overnight toward Wudu, but upon reaching the area of Chen Cang and Xiao Valley, they were blocked by a large Qiang army.

During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Jin experienced internal turmoil. Duke Xian of Jin, believing slanderous rumors, executed his crown prince, Shensheng, and sent men to capture Shensheng's younger brother, Chong'er. Upon hearing the news, Chong'er fled Jin and spent over a decade in exile. During this time, he lived for a while in the state of Chu. King Cheng of Chu believed Chong'er would achieve great things in the future and welcomed him with the highest state honors, treating him as a distinguished guest.

Li Chui, styled Shungong, was a native of Liaocheng, Shandong, and an official of the Northern Song Dynasty. He passed the imperial examination during the Xianping era and successively served as Zuo Lang (Editorial Writer) and Guan Ge Xiao Li (Imperial Library Proofreader). He authored a three-volume work titled "Dao He Xing Sheng Shu" ("Book on the Strategic Features of River Diversion"), offering many valuable suggestions for managing old river channels. Erudite and upright, Li Chui deeply resented the vulgar court practice of flattery and sycophancy. Because he refused to go along with the corrupt crowd, he offended many powerful officials and was never given important positions.

At the end of the Qin Dynasty, in the Chu region, there was a man named Ji Bu. He was upright in character, chivalrous, and always ready to help others. Whatever he promised, no matter how difficult, he would find a way to fulfill it, earning him widespread praise. During the struggle between Chu and Han, Ji Bu served under Xiang Yu and had devised several strategies that inflicted defeats on Liu Bang's army. After Xiang Yu's defeat, Ji Bu fought his way out of the encirclement alone and began a life on the run. When Liu Bang became emperor, he remembered these events with fury and immediately issued an order to arrest Ji Bu.

Zilu (also known as Zhong You), a native of the State of Lu during the late Spring and Autumn period, was one of Confucius’s most prominent disciples, renowned for his expertise in governance. He was a favored student of Confucius, known for his straightforward, courageous character and profound filial piety. However, in his youth, Zilu came from a poor family and lived on coarse grains and wild vegetables for years. Once, his elderly parents wished to eat rice, but there was not a single grain at home. What could he do? Zilu thought that if he crossed several mountains to borrow some rice from relatives, he could fulfill his parents’ wish. So, the young Zilu climbed over hills and traveled over ten miles to fetch a small bag of rice from his relatives. Seeing his parents enjoying the fragrant rice, Zilu forgot his exhaustion. Neighbors all praised Zilu as a brave and filial child.

"Four Corners of the World" refers to the entire world. It describes having lofty aspirations and refusing to remain confined within one's own small, comfortable sphere. It characterizes possessing grand ambitions and ideals, and being willing to travel far and wide to achieve great accomplishments.

During the Song Dynasty, there was a highly learned monk in Changsha named Jingcen, also known as Master Zhaoxian. He possessed profound knowledge of Buddhist teachings and frequently traveled to various places to preach and lecture. The master's explanations were thorough yet accessible, delivered in an engaging and captivating manner, deeply moving all who listened.