"Ten years of drinking ice can hardly cool the hot blood." The last time I saw this sentence was in a report about the resignation speech of the dean of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The editor quoted this sentence as The title expresses admiration and praise for Academician Chen’s lifelong contribution to the development of medicine. Three or four years ago, this famous saying was popular among fans of "Tomb Raiders". It has been more than a hundred years since this sentence was born. Every time I read it, it still gives people the same feeling and shock as always. Now that I am humble, let me talk about the origin of this sentence.
The word "drinking ice" first came from "Zhuangzi's Human World": "Today I was ordered to drink ice in the evening. I feel hot inside?" The literal meaning is that I only accepted the emperor's order in the morning, and in the evening Just drink ice water. The actual meaning is to express that the heart is too anxious.
In the late Qing Dynasty, Mr. Liang Qichao used the phrase "drinking ice for ten years to cool your hot blood" to express his worries about the current situation and his persistence in his ideals and ambitions as a leader of the reform movement. Liang Qichao, a young and promising man at that time, regarded this sentence as his motto, hung it in his bedroom, and named his study: Ice Drinking Room. As a result, Liang Qichao became the owner of the ice drinking room. In addition, Liang Qichao also included this very cherished quote in his anthology "The Ice Drinking Room Collection".
Admittedly, this institutional reform campaign led by Liang Qichao and Kang Youwei was just an attempt full of scholarly enthusiasm, and ultimately ended in failure. However, as a literary pioneer, educator and historian, Liang Qichao is still a rare success in modern Chinese history. After experiencing various changes in modern China, Liang Gong must have a completely different understanding of the sentence hanging above the bed all year round. After his death, his son, Liang Si, a famous architect, became a memorial to his father and named his and Lin Huiyin's daughter Lin Zaibing.
Later, when people quote this sentence, they often do not think of the historical event that lasted a hundred days, but only remember that some people once experienced countless hardships and hardships. After the difficulties, he still maintained his original enthusiasm for his ideals and eventually changed the world.
Not everyone is lucky enough to shine in history, and not everyone has the ability to help or even change the world. Today you and I are just like what "Red Cliff Ode" said, "Sending a mayfly to the heaven and earth, a drop in the vast ocean." The most valuable thing about "drinking ice for ten years" is not "drinking ice" but "ten years". "Ten", like "nine", is a function word in ancient Chinese. It can refer to a period of time that is far away, and can even mean Whole life. In your long life, have your edges been gradually smoothed by the quicksand of time, or have you always maintained your enthusiasm for life despite the insignificant circumstances?
Romain Rolland said: "There is only one kind of heroism, which is to love life as always after recognizing the truth of life." Many times, people will think that this is just a chicken soup that has been overused for a long time. But I have to admit that this kind of heroism is difficult and necessary. Liang Qichao's "Drinking ice for ten years can hardly cool the hot blood" appears to be more profound and moving when it expresses a similar meaning. Perhaps this is the unique charm of Chinese culture, because this is not a praise exclusively for heroes, but a praise for all people who maintain enthusiasm and expectations in all kinds of life conditions.
I hope everyone who reads this article can remember that they are not just people driven forward by fate, nor are they just adults running for a living. But a young man eagerly looking forward to the sunrise. Even if you encounter something, even if you are disappointed, even if you no longer have high expectations for the future, you still have to have expectations. After ten years of drinking ice, it is difficult to cool the hot blood.