Yesterday 7grizzly mentioned the idiom "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak", which can be translated into Chinese "理想很丰满，现实太骨感" as the current popular term. There is also a corresponding Chinese idiom: "力不从心".
This idiom dates back to about two thousand years ago, when China was called Eastern Han Dynasty and we are called Han people in the first time. A famous minister named Ban Chao had diligently served on the frontier for many years. In his old age, he desired to return to his hometown, so he wrote a letter to the emperor, requesting to retire. Unfortunately, his plea went unanswered.
Ban Chao's sister, Ban Zhao, a highly talented, renowned and first female historian, knew this situation, then she wrote another letter to the emperor. In her heartfelt message, Ban Zhao explained that Ban Chao had been on military duty for over 30 years, and he was aging and suffered from various illnesses. Despite his strong desire to continue serving the country, he lacked the physical strength to withstand external threats. Let him stay on the frontier would only result in losses for the nation. Therefore, she earnestly requested the emperor's approval for her brother to retire.
Upon reading Ban Zhao's letter, the emperor was deeply moved and ultimately granted Ban Chao's request to return home.
What can we learn from this story? It’s very important to have a talented and loving sister！
7grizzly昨天说起一个俚语 “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”。翻译成中文，按当前流行说法就是“理想很丰满，现实太骨感”。其实对应的还有一个汉语成语是”力不从心”。
这个成语出自大约两千年前，在中国还在被称为汉朝，我们开始被称为汉人的时候。准确的说是东汉时期。当时名臣班超固守边疆多年，年老的时候想要回归故里。于是就给皇上写了一份信，希望皇上看在自己征战多年的份上，批准他回乡的请求。但结果石沉大海，没任何回信。
这时班超的妹妹班昭出场了，这位班昭可不得了，是当时赫赫有名的大才女，中国第一位女历史学家。班昭见皇上没给哥哥回信，于是就又写了一封信。这信写得情真意切，说班超征战30多年，年过花甲，年老多病，已经耳不聪，眼不明。虽然很想继续努力为国效力，但如果敌人来犯，虽然他有心，但也已经没力气再去为国效力，抵挡外敌了（原文“超之气力，不能从心”）。这样一来只会给国家造成损失。所以恳请皇上同意让哥哥回乡。
皇上看过班昭的信后，很受感动，终于批准了班超回乡的请求。
这个故事说明什么呢？说明了，有一个好妹妹的重要性。
Yesterday 7grizzly mentioned the idiom "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak", which can be translated into Chinese "理想很丰满，现实太骨感" as the current popular term. There is also a corresponding Chinese idiom: "力不从心".
This idiom dates back to about two thousand years ago, when China was called Eastern Han Dynasty and we are called Han people in the first time. A famous minister named Ban Chao had diligently served on the frontier for many years. In his old age, he desired to return to his hometown, so he wrote a letter to the emperor, requesting to retire. Unfortunately, his plea went unanswered.
Ban Chao's sister, Ban Zhao, a highly talented, renowned and first female historian, knew this situation, then she wrote another letter to the emperor. In her heartfelt message, Ban Zhao explained that Ban Chao had been on military duty for over 30 years, and he was aging and suffered from various illnesses. Despite his strong desire to continue serving the country, he lacked the physical strength to withstand external threats. Let him stay on the frontier would only result in losses for the nation. Therefore, she earnestly requested the emperor's approval for her brother to retire.
Upon reading Ban Zhao's letter, the emperor was deeply moved and ultimately granted Ban Chao's request to return home.
What can we learn from this story? It’s very important to have a talented and loving sister！