It is reported that China’s richest man 陳光標(chen2 guang biao) is coming to Taiwan tonight with five hundred million NT dollars to donate to the disadvantaged families. He was welcome by some local governments while rejected by others.
The reason for his being rejected is the unconventional way he’s donating the money. Instead of giving the money to charity funds as it is usually done, he wanted to give away the money in person. Imagine the scene. In front of a “money wall” that is built up with bundles of bill, people stand in line to get the 紅包(hong2 bao), a red envelope with money inside as is given during Chinese New Year or a wedding, and they’re required to bow to Mr. Chen. This unusual procedure makes some people uncomfortable. They feel it is humiliating and somehow hurts the feelings of those who are to accept the money.
That’s why Chen’s been criticized by some people for his so-called 高調行善(gao diao4 xing2 shan4). 高調 means high-profile. 行善 means to devote to charity. Traditionally those who give away money anonymously were respected more. This explains why you see a lot of 無名氏(wu2 ming2 shi4), anonymous, on the list of a charity. We have a phrase for this—為善不欲人知(wei2 shan4 bu2 yu4 ren2 zhi) You do something good without the intention of being known.
High-profile or not, it’s still money for those needy. People do all kind of things for the same cause-- fame. Perhaps it’s too harsh to ask those rich people who are willing to give away their fortune to keep a low profile. Not everyone can be as what Confucius 孔子(kong3 zi3)called 富而不驕(fu4 er2 bu4 jiao), to be rich but not arrogant. And if you ask rich people to keep quiet about their fortune, it's like to ask them to put on their most luxious outfit but walk at night, when people won't see them clearly, which is what 錦衣夜行(jin3 yi ye4 xing2) means.
To those who find the procedure of Chen's donation unbearable, we have a well-known allusion. In 禮記(li3 ji4), Book of Rites, one of the Chinese Five Classics of the Confucian canon describing the social forms, governmental system, and ancient/ceremonial rites of the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1050–256 BC), there was a famine one year in the country named 齊(qi2). 黔敖(qian2 ao2) was giving away food on the street. Seeing a hungry man around, his clothes rugged and face covered by sleeves, 黔敖, with food on his left hand and water on his right, shouted: “Hey, you, come to eat!” 「嗟！來食！」(jie, lai2 shi2)
The hungry man replied, “I’m where I am just because I don’t want to eat what is given by rude people like you!” He refused to eat even after黔敖had apologized to him. He ended up starving to death.
To those who won’t accept donation from people with condescending attitude, they can say 不食嗟來食(bu4 shi2 jie lai2 shi2) as the hungry man in the story.
I’m not giving comments on anybody here. I just think I have a good story to tell and you have some good phrases to learn. Hope the world will be better with less conflicts and hatred if we know each other better.
陳光標=陈光标 (Simplified)
高調行善=高调行善
無名氏=无名氏
為善不欲人知=为善不欲人知
欲: intend
富而不驕=富而不骄
富: rich
驕: arrogant, condescending
禮記=礼记
齊=齐
不食嗟來食=不食嗟来食
食: eat as a verb
food as a noun
P.S. When Chen arrived at the airport, he was faced with banners of both welcome and protest. He told the press that all the donation would be arranged and issued by the local governments. That is, the way he did it in China isn't gonna happen in Taiwan.
P.S. When Chen arrived at the airport, he was faced with banners of both welcome and protest. He told the press that all the donation would be arranged and issued by the local governments. That is, the way he did it in China isn't gonna happen in Taiwan.
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