程门立雪

In Fujian Province during the Northern Song Dynasty（960—1127）there lived a man called Yang Shi（楊时）. He devoted his whole life to study， and to spreading his ideas and theories.

At that time， the brothers Cheng Hao（程颢）and Cheng Yi（程颐）， famous scholars in the capital， Luoyang， were teachers of the Way of Confucius and Mencius. Many leading men of letters sought them out to be their teachers. When Yang Shi heard of them， instead of going to where an official post had been assigned to him， he made his way to Luoyang， and presented his compliments to Cheng Hao and asked to be accepted as his pupil. When Yang Shi finished his studies and left for home， Cheng Hao said with satisfaction，“My ideas are finally being spread in the south.”Four years later， Cheng Hao died. At his masters death， Yang Shi wept in seclusion（隐居）at his home.

Later， Yang Shi， shrugging off hardships， made his way once more to Luoyang， where he asked Cheng Yi， Cheng Haos younger brother， to be his teacher. He wanted to make further progress in his studies. At that time Yang Shi was over forty years old， and a pretty well-known scholar， but he was very modest and respectful of teachers. He had a deep affection for Cheng Yi， and was regarded by the latter as an ideal pupil.

One day， Yang Shi and a fellow student， You Zuo got into a dispute（争论） over a certain matter. Finding that they could not reconcile（使和解） their differences， they decided to consult（请教） their teacher.

It happened to be the deep winter， and everything was frozen. Lead-colored clouds covered the dark sky. As the pair made their way， a piercingly（锐利的） cold wind sprang up， and flakes of snow as large as swans feathers began to fall. The wind cut their faces like a knife， and the snowflakes kept getting inside their collars. But they concentrated on their problem， wrapped their cloaks tightly around themselves， and hurried onward. When they reached Cheng Yis house they found him sitting by a stove meditating（冥想）. Yang Shi and his classmate did not dare to disturb their teacher， but stood respectfully outside the door waiting for him to wake up.

The snow fell relentlessly， thicker and thicker. The feet of Yang Shi and his companion were frozen solid. Though they shivered with cold， the pair still stood respect fully there. All they could hear was the gentle swish of the falling snowflakes. Several times You Zuo， unable to endure the cold， wanted to wake their teacher， but each time he was stopped by Yang Shi.

After a long time， Cheng Yi came out of his reverie（幻想）. He looked out of the window to see the two men standing in a blizzard（暴风雨）， covered in snow. Looking closely， he discovered that they were Yang Shi and You Zuo. Seeing the pair covered in snow and standing in snow over one foot deep， the teacher hastily arose（出现）， and ushered them inside.

Later，when Yang Shi had completed his study with Master Cheng Yi， he returned to the south and spread his teachers ideas. The people called him the “Gentleman of Turtle Mountain.” The story “Standing in the Snow at Chengs Door” became a fine tale transmitted（传播）from generation to generation extolling respect for teachers and for study.

北宋时期，福建有一个叫杨时的人。他立志一生研究学问，想提出自己的主张和学说。

当时，著名学者程颢和程颐兄弟在洛阳讲授孔孟之道，很多学者前去求学。杨时听说这个消息后，放弃做官的机会，赶去洛阳，拜程颢为师。等到杨时学成回家的时候，程颢欣慰地说：“我的学说终于可以往南方传播了。”四年后，程颢去世，杨时得知这个消息，在家大哭了一场。

后来，杨时不辞劳苦，绕道洛阳，拜程颢的弟弟程颐为师，希望在学问上再进一步。当时，杨时已四十多岁，学问也相当高，却仍然很谦虚，十分尊敬老师，深得程颐的喜爱，被程颐视为得意门生。

有一天，杨时与他的学友游酢对某个问题有不同看法，为了求得一个正确答案，他倆决定一起去老师家请教。

那正是冬天里最冷的时候，天寒地冻，铅色的乌云笼罩着大地。他们走到半路，天空飘起鹅毛大雪。刺骨的寒风像刀子一样刮着他们的脸，雪花肆无忌惮地钻进他们的衣领。他们只想着心中的问题，裹紧衣服匆匆赶路。来到程颐家时，正赶上先生在火炉旁打坐养神。杨时与同伴不敢惊动老师，便恭恭敬敬地站在门外，等候先生醒来。

雪不停地下着，越下越大。杨时与同伴冷得发抖，双脚也冻僵了，但他们依然恭敬侍立，耳边只听到雪花簌簌飘落的声音。游酢几次忍不住想去叫醒程老师，都被杨时拦住了。

过了很久，程颐一觉醒来，望向窗外，发现门口有两个雪人立在风雪中，仔细一看，才发现是杨时他们。只见他们浑身落满了雪，地上的积雪也已经一尺多厚了，老师赶忙起身迎他俩进屋。

后来，杨时完成学业，回到南方传播老师的学问。人们称他为“龟山先生”。“程门立雪”这个故事成了尊师重教的传世美谈。

注：中英文部分皆选自《用英文说中国故事》。原文有删改。