The legend of flattery

 

The legend of flattery

 

Agudengba said to his friend Adjomav:

Chinese in China may not be the most rigorous language in the world, but it is definitely the most beautiful, richest and most culturally rich language. Chinese has both profound and difficult vocabulary as well as easy-to-understand vernacular, and even includes many sayings, proverbs, idioms, etc. Some of these proverbs are vivid, and some are obscure and interesting. For example, there is such a proverb called "flattering".

Flattery refers to a behavior that specializes in flattering, pleasing, and ingratiating others, especially when subordinates are asking for help from superiors or asking for help from others. Everyone knows what this sentence means, but if you please, please please, and if you flatter, please flatter! Why is it called "flattering"? If patting someone's butt means respecting and pleasing someone, then why not call it "patting someone's fart"? Why do you have to take pictures of "horses"? Isn’t it okay to photograph cows, sheep, tigers, and leopards? Azhuo, you are a groom and have been dealing with horses for a long time. Do you know the reason?

Groom A Zhuo said:

The origin of the word "flattering" really has something to do with horses.

The term "flattering" originated in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty. People in northern China love horses very much. Modern people say that "horses are man's best friends". People in the past said that "dogs and horses are better than gentlemen" because they are the animals closest to humans and people count on them to contribute. In an era when transportation was underdeveloped, riding a horse or a carriage was the fastest way, not to mention that there were war horses on the battlefield? Mongolia is known as the "horse nation". People's daily activities are inseparable from horses, so Mongolians love horses even more. The origin of flattery is related to the Mongolians' love for horses.

In the early days, the Mongolians had a habit. When two people met with their horses, they would pat the other's horse on the butt to show respect. If two people meet with horses on the Mongolian prairie, they will often pat the other person's horse on the butt to see how fat the horse is. If the horse is fat, the two buttocks must be bulging, so when you see a horse, you always have to give a few compliments. . Horse owners generally feel happy when others praise their horses.

I am a groom and know the habits of horses. When a good rider encounters an aggressive horse, he will pat the horse's butt to make the horse feel comfortable and take advantage of the opportunity to ride higher.

The Mongols unified China, established the Yuan Dynasty, and moved the capital to Beijing in 1267. Since then, the Mongols have been designated as the noblest race. What about the Han people? Almost the lowest level. As the political center of Beijing, there are even more Mongolian dignitaries living there. The Mongolian people's habit of loving horses will not change, and the custom of flattering has also been brought to Beijing. Over time, some obsequious people discovered this mystery.

Whenever those Han people encountered Mongolians leading horses on the street, they would always step forward, pat the horse's butt, and praise the other person's horse. Even if it was a thin horse or a bad horse, they would praise it as a good horse, in order to win the favor of the other person. , to curry favor with the powerful. As a result, "flattering" changed from a custom to a behavior, an unobjective, unrealistic, and flattering behavior. People also began to use this word to ridicule such people.

Agudenba smiled:

In any case, "flattery" was just a custom at first and has no derogatory meaning. As for whether the word "flattering" exists in Mongolian, I don't know. Anyway, it appears in Chinese and developed into a satire on people, which is a traditional Chinese characteristic.

Agudengba sang a song called "Flattery":

 

There is a shameful point in human nature;

That is the love of flattery.

Flattery is not a good nature;

It's just a way to please others.

 

Everyone likes to hear praise and compliments,

Emperors and dignitaries prefer to listen to flattery.

Say good things and become your favorite as much as possible,

This is also the habit of wanting to make a living.

 

Regardless of other people’s criticism and humiliation,

Don't care what others think.

Ignorant people only listen to good words;

Suppression and silence are the techniques of controlling the people.

 

You enjoy flattery every day,

Only knows glory and does not understand failure.

When a pig is praised for its plumpness,

The day of slaughter is not far away.