張子房姓張名良，子房是他的號。他是秦朝韓國人，祖先五代都是韓國的宰相。
子房年輕的時候，任俠作義，就是有俠義心腸，性情非常豪邁。他自己學習「文韜武略」（就是文人武將應有的學識）很有心得。
秦朝吞併六國（韓國是其中之一），子房爲國家復仇雪恥，曾設計刺殺秦王，不幸失敗，他只好到遠地避難，雲遊四海，到處爲家。
有一次，在圯橋遇到一位老人，老人故意把鞋子丟到橋下，子房看到，就跑到橋下把鞋子拾起來，恭恭敬敬地還給這位老人；原來這位老者不是別人，正是赫赫有名的兵法大家黃石公，黃公見子房「孺子可敎」，就把兵法傳授給張子房。
子房學得黃石公兵法以後，投到劉邦（即漢高祖）帳下，成為一名謀士。他眞個是「足智多謀」（就是智慧很高，謀劃極遠），能夠「運籌帷幄之中，決勝千里之外」（意思是：在帳篷中籌劃策略，千里以外就可以決定勝敗），深得漢王劉邦的信任，成為三傑之一（其他二人是蕭何和韓信）。
子房輔佐漢王劉邦消滅秦楚，奠定了漢朝天下。他頗有遠見，因此他「功成身退」（就是大功告成之後，他退出朝廷而隱遁），不迷戀富貴榮華，飄然去山中修道。
「清心寡欲」，眞可謂是古今中外最識時務的一大俊傑。俗語所說：「識時務者為俊傑」，也就是說一個人要是眞能瞭解時代的趨向，他就可以選擇自己的進退。 |
|
Chang Dz Fang, his surname was Chang, his first name was Liang, and Dz Fang was his alias. He was born in the country of Han in the Chin dynasty. Five generations of his ancestors were all prime ministers in the country of Han.
When he was young, he was a chivalrous person which means he had the heart of bravery, generosity, and righteousness. He had a very unrestrained character. On his own, he studied the basic knowledge for both literary men and military generals, and he gained much from it.
After the Chin dynasty had entirely swallowed up six neighbouring countries, including the country of Han, Dz Fang schemed to assassinate the emperor of the Chin dynasty, in order to take revenge and to avenge the insult to the country. Unfortunately, he failed, and could only escape far away, wandering and making the world his home.
One time, when he was walking on the Chi bridge, he met an old man who deliberately threw his shoes over the railing. Seeing this, Dz Fang ran under the bridge, picked up the shoes and respectfully returned them to the old man. It turned out that the old man was an extremely well-known master in military strategy, whose name was Hwang Shr-gung. Master Hwang regarded Dz Fang as one who could be taught, and thereupon transmitted the skill of military strategy to Dz Fang.
After learning the skill of military strategy from Master Hwang, Dz Fang served under Lyou Bang (Emperor Gau of the Han), and became a famous strategist. He could be considered "wise and resourceful", as he had great wisdom and far-reaching stratagems. He was able to "prepare schemes in the tent, and decide who would be the victor over a thousand miles away." (Just by sitting in his tent and arranging the strategy, he could decide who would win and lose the battle fought than a thousand miles away.) The emperor of Han Lyou Bang had deep faith in him. He became one of the three heroes of that period. Shau He and Hen Syin were the other two heros.
Dz Fang assisted Emperor Han to destroy the countries of Chin and Chu, and helped the Han dynasty lay down a solid foundation in the world. Because Dz Fang had foresight, he decided to "retire after achieving success". He accomplished great merit for the country, and then retired. He was no longer confused by worldly wealth, honor, and splendour; carefree, he went to cultivate in the mountains, to "purify the mind and reduce his desires."
We could call him one of the great heroes of all time, one who knew the right time to do the right thing. There is a saying: a great man knows how to ride the tide of his times. This is also to say that If one could truly understand the direction of his times and the circumstance of the world, one will be able to choose the right path to walk. |
