《网开三面商汤(英文版)》是关于商汤广施仁政、宽厚待人、善于发现人才,深得民心,*后推翻夏桀的残暴统治,建立商朝,并使国家变得强大的故事。这本绘本通过向人们讲述商汤实行仁政,善于治国理政,警示为政者要关心百姓疾苦,贤明善良,善于发现并使用人才,才能治理好国家,得到百姓拥护。
Tang of Shang tells the story of Tang. He was merciful and kind to his people. He was good at finding the right people and wined the heart of people, thus he overthrew the tyranny of Jie and built the prosperous Shang Dynasty. This picture book shows that a good leader should know his people and be merciful; he should employ the right people to govern the state.
Mencius has observed, That whereby man differs from the lower animals
is but scarce 希, xi. Zhu Xi has noted that this remark means there
are very few differences between humans and animals. But I think that xi
in this remark perhaps also covers the meaning rare and uncommon.
As a kind of animals, humans naturally have very few differences from
other animals, but these tiny differences indeed matter and are therefore
valuable.
Then, what are our differences from animals or advantages over them?
In my opinion, humans are superior to animals not because our teeth
or hands are more capable, our bodies are stronger and more sophisticated,
not because we run faster, have more brilliant dwellings or eat
more exquisite food. We are differentiated from animals mainly because
we are morally advanced, which is represented in Mencius four terms,
including sympathy, sense of shame, courtesy and a clear mind to distinguish
between right and wrong.
Xiushen 修身, cultivation of ones moral self, as our ancestors kept
stressing, is to maintain and promote such differences, so that we would
not abandon the few advantages endowed by Heaven or obtained
through evolution and backslide into a barbaric status. Xiushen is the key
to self-cultivation through pursuit of knowledge and rectification of mind,
and to the regulation of families, states and the world.
Xiushen, therefore, is to cultivate an indestructible spirit. Though it
sounds illusory, there are innumerable ways of practicing such cultivation.
In the long history of China, numerable sages have set up examples
for us to cultivate ourselves. Despite the vast diversity of their paths of
life and achievements, they all show us, through their spiritual struggles,
their splendid personalities and the glory of human nature.
Todays society is very different from the past, marked by changing
environment and faster pace of life. For this reason, we should be more
consistently and diligently cultivating ourselves, so that we can stay true
and firm to our aspirations.
We wish that this series of picturebooks would offer children a
glimpse into ancient sages noble character, self-discipline and social
commitment. Perhaps, a worthy life of constant self-improvement could
start from these books.