HE SHOULDERED RICE TO NOURISH HIS PARENTS

负米养亲 HE SHOULDERED RICE TO NOURISH HIS PARENTS



周仲由。字子路。家贫。尝食黍薯之食。为亲负米百里之外。亲殁。南游于楚。从车百乘。积粟万钟。累褥而坐。列鼎而食。乃叹曰。虽欲食黍薯之食。为亲负百里之外。不可得也。有诗为颂。诗曰

Zhòng Yóu of the Zhōu dynasty was called Zĭlù (=Way of the Master). He was of a poor family, and they ate only brambles [Lit: chenopodium]. For his parents he often carried [sacks of] rice more than a hundred lĭ. After his parents died, he traveled south to the state of Chŭ, where he became an official and had a hundred chariots to follow him when he went out and a large store of grain. He sat upon many layers of cloth before rows of tripods [of food]. But he sighed and said: "I would rather be back eating brambles and carrying rice more than a hundred lĭ for my parents, but that is impossible." A verse says of him:



负米供甘旨。宁辞百里遥。身荣亲已没。犹念旧劬劳。

He carried rice to provide good food,

And willingly traveled a hundred lĭ away;

He has become prosperous, but his parents are already dead;

He still thinks on their "grievous toil."*



*-Cf. Book of Songs: "Pity my parents who bore me with grievous toil." (哀哀父母 生我劬劳 āi'āi fùmŭ shēng wŏ qúláo.)