放生的故事:長壽、快樂和榮譽

　　Zhang was a minor official in the county government. He was upright and righteous. He had a kind heart and did merciful deeds. Even though his post didnt pay much， he often went to the butchers shops and bought animals bound for the slaughter. He took them home and raised them.

　　張是縣衙里的一個小官吏。他是一個誠實正直的人。他非常善良，經常做善事。盡管他的俸祿不多，他還是經常去肉店里買一些將要被宰殺的動物。他把它們帶回家養著。

　　He had lots of children and grandchildren， which for Chinese people is the best luck possible. He never wasted any money， so as the years went by， he saved quite a bit of money. Whenever he could， he bought doomed animals from the butchers and took them home to raise. When these animals died of old age， he always buried them carefully.

　　他兒孫滿堂，這在中國人看來是最大的福氣。他很節約，在很多年后，他已經存起了一大筆錢。 只要有機會 ，他都從屠夫手中買下動物帶回家去養。當這些動物老死后，他就細心地把它們埋葬。

　　Zhang grew old， too， and retired. He spent his old age taking care of his children， his grandchildren， and his animals. The neighbors thought he was nuts， but he didnt mind. He taught his children to respect all life. He never let them kill any animal. The whole family was vegetarian.

　　張年紀越來越大，他也退休了。他把他的時間花在照顧他的兒子、孫子和他的動物上。他的鄰居都說他瘋了，但是他一點也不介意。他教育他的孩子們要尊重所有的生命。他從不讓他們殺生。全家人都是素食。

　　Because he was a vegetarian and had saved many lives， when he was very old， Zhang was still as healthy and lively as a person much younger.

　　因為他是個素食者，又救過很多生命，所以盡管他很老了，他還是像一些比他年輕得多的人一樣健康有活力。

　　When he was over one hundred years old， he was still radiantly healthy. His eyes were clear. His skin was bright. His hair was black and shiny. One day he called the whole family together. When his children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren had all gathered before him， he told them， During my lifetime， I have saved many animals， so I have accumulated much merit for you. Today the Palace of Heaven has sent for me. In the future，the Zhang family will prosper. You will all live long lives. After I leave you， always remember my teaching： never kill any living creature.

　　當他活到一百多歲時，還是很健康，看起來容光煥發。他的眼睛明亮，皮膚有光澤 ，頭發烏黑發亮。有一天他把他全家叫來。當他的孩子、孫子、曾孫、玄孫都在他面前時，他對他們說：我這一生，救過很多動物，給你們積了德。今天上蒼在召喚我了。將來，咱們張家會很興旺，你們都會長壽。當我離開你們后，記得我的教誨：永遠不要殺害生命。

　　When he finished， the whole family heard music that seemed to be coming down from heaven. They had never heard such beautiful music. It sounded so glorious that it must not have come from this earth， but it seemed to be coming closer.

　　他說完以后，全家人都聽到空中傳來一陣樂聲。他們從來沒聽到過這么好聽的音樂。它是那么悅耳，肯定不是人間的音樂。但是它聽起來越來越近了。

　　All of Zhangs children and grandchildren and great- grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren looked up to see where the music was coming from， but they didnt see anything. When they looked down again， Zhang was sitting in his favorite chair， looking happy， but he was not breathing anymore. He had died peacefully， without any illness.

　　張的子孫們全抬起頭來，想看看這音樂到底是從哪里來的，但是他們什么都沒看見。當他們低下頭來時，發現張坐在他最喜歡的椅子里，看起來非常快樂，但是他已經停止了呼吸。他安詳離去，無病而終。

　　Local officials heard this amazing story. When they had authenticated it， they reported to the Emperor， who honored Zhangs spirit by promoting him to a higher rank.

　　這件奇事傳到了地方官的耳中，他們核實后，報告給了皇帝。皇帝追封了張。

　　Zhangs descendants never forgot his teaching. They lived long， happy lives， and never killed a living creature or ate a bite of meat.

　　張的后代都牢記著他的教誨。他們都長壽、幸福，從來不殺生或者吃肉。

　　Zhang was a minor official in the county government. He was upright and righteous. He had a kind heart and did merciful deeds. Even though his post didnt pay much， he often went to the butchers shops and bought animals bound for the slaughter. He took them home and raised them.

　　張是縣衙里的一個小官吏。他是一個誠實正直的人。他非常善良，經常做善事。盡管他的俸祿不多，他還是經常去肉店里買一些將要被宰殺的動物。他把它們帶回家養著。

　　He had lots of children and grandchildren， which for Chinese people is the best luck possible. He never wasted any money， so as the years went by， he saved quite a bit of money. Whenever he could， he bought doomed animals from the butchers and took them home to raise. When these animals died of old age， he always buried them carefully.

　　他兒孫滿堂，這在中國人看來是最大的福氣。他很節約，在很多年后，他已經存起了一大筆錢。 只要有機會 ，他都從屠夫手中買下動物帶回家去養。當這些動物老死后，他就細心地把它們埋葬。

　　Zhang grew old， too， and retired. He spent his old age taking care of his children， his grandchildren， and his animals. The neighbors thought he was nuts， but he didnt mind. He taught his children to respect all life. He never let them kill any animal. The whole family was vegetarian.

　　張年紀越來越大，他也退休了。他把他的時間花在照顧他的兒子、孫子和他的動物上。他的鄰居都說他瘋了，但是他一點也不介意。他教育他的孩子們要尊重所有的生命。他從不讓他們殺生。全家人都是素食。

　　Because he was a vegetarian and had saved many lives， when he was very old， Zhang was still as healthy and lively as a person much younger.

　　因為他是個素食者，又救過很多生命，所以盡管他很老了，他還是像一些比他年輕得多的人一樣健康有活力。

　　When he was over one hundred years old， he was still radiantly healthy. His eyes were clear. His skin was bright. His hair was black and shiny. One day he called the whole family together. When his children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren had all gathered before him， he told them， During my lifetime， I have saved many animals， so I have accumulated much merit for you. Today the Palace of Heaven has sent for me. In the future，the Zhang family will prosper. You will all live long lives. After I leave you， always remember my teaching： never kill any living creature.

　　當他活到一百多歲時，還是很健康，看起來容光煥發。他的眼睛明亮，皮膚有光澤 ，頭發烏黑發亮。有一天他把他全家叫來。當他的孩子、孫子、曾孫、玄孫都在他面前時，他對他們說：我這一生，救過很多動物，給你們積了德。今天上蒼在召喚我了。將來，咱們張家會很興旺，你們都會長壽。當我離開你們后，記得我的教誨：永遠不要殺害生命。

　　When he finished， the whole family heard music that seemed to be coming down from heaven. They had never heard such beautiful music. It sounded so glorious that it must not have come from this earth， but it seemed to be coming closer.

　　他說完以后，全家人都聽到空中傳來一陣樂聲。他們從來沒聽到過這么好聽的音樂。它是那么悅耳，肯定不是人間的音樂。但是它聽起來越來越近了。

　　All of Zhangs children and grandchildren and great- grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren looked up to see where the music was coming from， but they didnt see anything. When they looked down again， Zhang was sitting in his favorite chair， looking happy， but he was not breathing anymore. He had died peacefully， without any illness.

　　張的子孫們全抬起頭來，想看看這音樂到底是從哪里來的，但是他們什么都沒看見。當他們低下頭來時，發現張坐在他最喜歡的椅子里，看起來非常快樂，但是他已經停止了呼吸。他安詳離去，無病而終。

　　Local officials heard this amazing story. When they had authenticated it， they reported to the Emperor， who honored Zhangs spirit by promoting him to a higher rank.

　　這件奇事傳到了地方官的耳中，他們核實后，報告給了皇帝。皇帝追封了張。

　　Zhangs descendants never forgot his teaching. They lived long， happy lives， and never killed a living creature or ate a bite of meat.

　　張的后代都牢記著他的教誨。他們都長壽、幸福，從來不殺生或者吃肉。