發憤

發憤

1. (literary) to express one's strong emotions (chiefly those of passion, sadness, or dissatisfaction)

   • 或擇地而蹈之，時然後出言，行不由徑，非公正不發憤，而遇禍災者，不可勝數也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     或择地而蹈之，时然后出言，行不由径，非公正不发愤，而遇祸灾者，不可胜数也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Huò zé dì ér dǎozhī, shí ránhòu chūyán, xíngbùyóujìng, fēi gōngzhèng bù fāfèn, ér yù huòzāi zhě, bùkěshēngshǔ yě. [Pinyin]

     There were also those who chose with great care the ground on which they tread, who after careful deliberation only spoke of what was the most appropriate and pertinent, who never deviated from the correct course, who never spoke strongly except for the sake of righteousness; yet countless of them were met with disaster and ruin.

   • 《詩》三百篇，大抵賢聖發憤之所爲作也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     《诗》三百篇，大抵贤圣发愤之所为作也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1st century BCE, Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. Translated by Burton Watson.

     “Shī” sānbǎi piān, dàdǐ xiánshèng fāfèn zhī suǒ wéizuò yě. [Pinyin]

     Most of the three hundred poems in the Book of Odes were written when the sages poured out their anger and dissatisfaction.

   • 《水滸傳》者，發憤之所作也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     《水浒传》者，发愤之所作也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. late 16th century, Li Zhi (李贄), Preface to Water Margin (《〈忠義水滸傳〉序》)

     “Shuǐhǔchuán” zhě, fāfèn zhī suǒzuò yě. [Pinyin]

     Water Margin was a work expressing discontent.

2. (literary) to do something with strong passion or determination; to be passionate; to be emotional

   • 女奚不曰「其為人也，發憤忘食，樂以忘憂，不知老之將至」云爾。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     女奚不曰「其为人也，发愤忘食，乐以忘忧，不知老之将至」云尔。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Rǔ xī bù yuē “qí wéirén yě, fāfèn wàng shí, lè yǐ wàngyōu, bùzhī lǎo zhī jiāng zhì” yún'ěr. [Pinyin]

     Why did you not say to him, "He is simply a man, who in his eager pursuit of knowledge forgets his food, who in the joy of its attainment forgets his sorrows, and who does not perceive that old age is coming on," and such?

   • 然而縉紳先生之徒負孔子禮器往委質為臣者，何也？以秦焚其業，積怨而發憤于陳王也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     然而缙绅先生之徒负孔子礼器往委质为臣者，何也？以秦焚其业，积怨而发愤于陈王也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Rán'ér jìnshēn xiānshēng zhī tú fù Kǒngzǐ lǐqì wǎng wěizhì wéi chén zhě, hé yě? Yǐ Qín fén qí yè, jīyuàn ér fāfèn yú Chénwáng yě. [Pinyin]

     However, the educated elite, bearing their Confucian implements of high ceremony, went towards him to pledge their loyalty as subjects. Why was that? Because Qin laid waste to their works and tradition, and they, full of dissent and anger, had passionate hope and support in King Chen.

   • 是歲天子始建漢家之封，而太史公留滯周南，不得與從事，故發憤且卒。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     是岁天子始建汉家之封，而太史公留滞周南，不得与从事，故发愤且卒。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Shì suì tiānzǐ shǐ jiàn Hànjiā zhī fēng, ér Tàishǐgōng liúzhì Zhōunán, bùdé yù cóngshì, gù fāfèn qiě zú. [Pinyin]

     That was the year when the Emperor made the first Fenshan for Han, but my father was hindered in the southern Zhou and unable to participate in the great event. Filled with passion, he then approached the end of his life.