he above phrase was a rebuke from Kongming to Xue Zhong during the debate between the two on whether the Southland should submit to Cao Cao or form an alliance with Xuande and resist the Cao onslaught.
Xue Zhong firstly said "The mandate of the Han has devolved from sovereign to sovereign down to this day; now the dynasty's heaven-ordained period draws to it's close. Already, Cao Cao possesses two-thirds of the empire, and all mean tender him allegiance. Lord Liu, however, refuses to recognise the season of history, and in forcing the issue will fail as surely as an egg dashed against a rock."
Zhuge, rebuffing him, said " So, then, you mean to deny both king and father? In man's short like between heaven and earth, loyalty and filial devotion are the foundaions of personal integrity. Since sir, you're a subject of the Han, when you see a man who disavows his duty as a subject, you are pledged to help destroy him-for such is a true subject's obligation. Cao Cao, far from honouring his debt to to the Han for sustaining his forebears in office, bears within him a seditious usurper's heart, to the indignation of all. In tendering allegiance on grounds of 'Heaven-ordained numbers', you deny both king and father and render yourself unfit to speak in the company of men."
Phew.. Such are the harsh words stimulated out of Kongming when Xue Zhong decided to go with the flow and take the traitorous path instead of defending the rightful house of the Han.
The phrase has many meanings, and in the era of increasing affluence and capitalism, much of it has been eroded. The full meaning of the phrase has yet to impact anyone as of yet. Integrity is what many lacks. In Singapore, in spite of what our leaders or cabinet ministers have been telling us, that they are men of integrity, their very spike in salary already defeats their proclamation.
Honour is extremely important in our lives. Even if we fail, we fail with honour. Succeeding with honour is the most difficult task at hand.
Honour loyalty devotion purpose.... what has happened to the actual meanings of these words?
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