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在古代，清明節(jié)前還有一個與它相連的重要節(jié)日——寒食節(jié)?，F(xiàn)代寒食節(jié)基本已經(jīng)并入清明節(jié)，但是兩者還是有不同之處，有關(guān)寒食節(jié)還存在著一個傳說呢。

In the Spring and Autumn Period， Duke Xian was the monarch of the State of Jin. His eldest son， Shen Sheng was the crown prince. The King doted (寵愛） on his concubine (妃子) Li very much. She wanted to make her own son the crown prince. So she killed Shen Sheng by scheme (計劃). Soon afterwards， she wanted to persecute (迫害) Chong’er， the little brother of Shen Sheng. As soon as Chong’er heard about this， he fled abroad together with his henchmen (親信).

在春秋戰(zhàn)國時代，晉獻(xiàn)公是晉國的君主。他的長子申生是太子。這位君主很寵愛自己的妃子驪姬。她想讓自己的兒子成為太子，因此她就設(shè)計謀害了太子申生。不久之后，她又想迫害申生的弟弟重耳。重耳一聽到這個消息，便和他的親信一起流亡他國。

On the way of exile (流亡)， Chong’er and his henchmen went through all kinds of hardships and difficulties. One day they came to an uninhabited (荒無人煙的) place where Chong’er， worn out and hungry， suddenly， fell down on the ground.

在流亡期間，重耳和他的親信受盡了屈辱。一天，他們來到一個荒無人煙的地方，

重耳又累又餓，突然，他暈倒了。

His henchmen searched for a long time but could find nothing to eat. Seeing this， Jie Zitui， one of the henchmen， cut a piece of flesh off his thigh (大腿). He cooked a bowl of soup with his flesh and held it to Chong’er.

他的親信找了很久，但是什么吃的也沒找到?？吹竭@些，介子推，一個跟隨重耳的親信，從他的大腿上割了一塊肉并用肉煮了一碗湯，把它送到重耳手中。

Chong’er drank the soup and then recovered gradually. When he asked where they got the flesh， the other henchmen looked at Jie Zitui and told Chong’er everything with tears. Chong’er was so moved.

重耳把湯喝了，逐漸恢復(fù)了體力。當(dāng)他詢問他們從哪兒弄到的肉時，親信們看著介子推，含淚把所有的事都告訴了重耳。重耳非常感動。

Nineteen years later， Chong’er finally became the King of Jin State who was named Jin Wengong. After that， Jin Wengong conferred (授予) titles and awards to the henchmen who had followed him in exile， but only forgot Jie Zitui. Quite a few people felt angry at the injustice done to Jie Zitui.

十九年后，重耳終于成為了晉國的國君，名為晉文公。晉文公執(zhí)政后，對那些和他同甘共苦的臣子大加封賞，唯獨忘了介子推。有人覺得很憤怒，為介子推叫屈。

When Jin Wengong heard of that， he felt very ashamed. Bringing his men， he made a personal call to Jie’s house to invite him， but only to find the door was locked. Some neighbors said that Jie was not willing to be an official and had gone to the Mianshan Mountain with his mother.

晉文公聽說這件事后覺得很愧疚，馬上帶人去請介子推上朝受賞封賞?？墒?，當(dāng)晉文公來到介子推家時，只見大門緊閉。鄰居說他不愿做官，已經(jīng)和母親躲進(jìn)了綿山。

The Mianshan Mountain was very high with a dangerous and difficult mountain pass. And it was by no means easy to look for Jie and his mother. Someone offered a piece of advice of setting a fire to three sides of the mountain. And Jie would come out himself. Jin Wengong agreed.

綿山非常高，只有一條很危險而且很難走的小徑，要想找到介子推和他的母親很困難。有人就建議放火燒山，三面點火，留下一方，介子推就會自己出來的。晉文公同意了。

The fire burned all over the Mianshan Mountain， yet not a shadow of Jie was found. When the fire went out， however， people found Jie dead sitting under an old willow tree with his mother. Seeing this Jin Wengong felt unbearably painful.

大火燒遍了綿山，但是連介子推的影子都沒看見。當(dāng)火熄滅后，人們發(fā)現(xiàn)介子推和他的母親死在一棵柳樹下了?？吹竭@個情景，晉文公覺得非常痛心。

When putting Jie’s dead body into the coffin， people found in a hole of the tree trunk a letter written by Jie in his own blood. It read， “I cut off my own flesh to dedicate to you only to express my devotion. And I only wish my king will always be clear and bright. If you will bear me in mind， make self-examination whenever you recollect me.”

安葬了介子推的遺體后，人們發(fā)現(xiàn)樹干上有個洞，洞里有一封介子推用用自己的血寫的信。信上寫道：“割肉奉君盡丹心，但愿主公常清明。 柳下作鬼終不見，強(qiáng)似伴君作諫臣。 倘若主公心有我，憶我之時常自省。臣在九泉心無愧，勤政清明復(fù)清明。”

The letter written in blood accompanied Jin Wengong to spend the rest of his life. In order to keep in memory of Jie Zitui， he issued an order to change the name of Mianshan into Jieshan and make the day Haishi Day. And on that day every year， no fire or smoke was allowed and people should eat cold food for the whole day.

這封血書陪伴著晉文公度過了他的余生。為了紀(jì)念介子推，晉文公下令把綿山改為“介山”，并把放火燒山的這一天定為寒食節(jié)。每年的這天禁止煙火，只吃寒食。