From: Everyone is destined to die. It may be heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than a feather, depending on how it is used.

This sentence is selected from the "Report to Ren An" written by Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty. The original text is excerpted:

Everyone is destined to die. It may be heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather, and the uses vary. Your Majesty, the first is not to be humiliated, the second is not to humiliate the body, the second is not to humiliate the reason and appearance, the next is not to humiliate the words, the next is to humiliate the body, the next is to be easily humiliated, the next is to be humiliated by the wooden rope, be humiliated by the Chu, the third is to pick the hair, the baby gold and iron To be humiliated, the second is to have the skin destroyed, the limbs to be cut off and humiliated, and the last is to be tortured to the extreme!

It is said that "the punishment cannot reach the level of a doctor." This means that scholars must be strict in their integrity. The fierce tiger is in the deep mountains, and the beasts are frightened. It is also in the trap, wagging its tail and begging for food, gradually accumulating power. Therefore, a scholar has painted the ground to serve as a prison, which cannot be penetrated by force; he has cut wood to serve as an official, and if the proposal is wrong, he will make a plan for it.

Translation:

Although everyone will die, some people die heavier than Mount Tai, while some people die lighter than a feather. This is because their survival depends on Things are different!

The most important thing for a person is not to insult his ancestors, the second is not to be insulted himself, the third is not to be insulted by other people's faces, and the third is not to be insulted by other people's words.

Once again, he was tied to the ground and humiliated; again, he was put on prison uniform and humiliated; again, he was humiliated by being shackled and whipped with a cane; and again, he was humiliated by having his head shaved and wearing shackles around his neck. , again the humiliation of skin destruction, limb amputation, and the lowest form of torture, which was extremely humiliating.

An ancient book says, "The punishment cannot be punished by the doctor." This means that scholars must respect their moral integrity and must encourage themselves. The tiger lives in the deep mountains, and all beasts are frightened. When it falls into traps and fences, it has no choice but to wag its tail and beg for food. This is how people gradually tame it through the continuous use of force and restraint.

Extended information

Creative background:

This article is a reply letter written by Sima Qian to Ren An. Ren An was a friend of Sima Qian. He once wrote to Sima Qian in prison, asking him to use his position as Zhongshu Ling to "promote talented scholars." Sima Qian wrote this letter back to him, explaining his difficulties and asking for his forgiveness.

Overall appreciation:

"A Letter to Ren An" is the first long lyrical letter in the history of Chinese classical literature, with extremely rich content. The ideological content of this letter is mainly expressed in four aspects:

1. It reflects Sima Qian’s glorious character and some bad behaviors of feudal rulers;

2. It reflects the feudal punishment The darkness and cruelty of the prison system;

3. The earliest theory of "writing books with passion" in the history of Chinese literature;

4. Exposing the attitude of feudal emperors towards historians and their own writing "Historical Records" situation.

"The Book of Bao Ren'an" has far-reaching insights, powerful words, generous feelings, and cutting remarks. It is a passionate and touching work. Among them, narrative, discussion, lyricism, and ambition are integrated into one. With its extraordinary richness, intensity, and unrestrained thoughts and feelings, the article has formed a majestic and majestic momentum that will be outstanding throughout the ages.

In the letter, the author stated his misfortunes with passion and expressed his painful feelings of having to endure humiliation and live an ignoble existence in order to write "Historical Records". The lofty life beliefs of Sima Qian and the spirit of dedication to "Historical Records" expressed in it have profound enlightenment significance and educational value.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Report to Ren Anshu