（这是我在简书写的第45篇文章。）
钟仪是史书记载的最早的古琴演奏家。《《左传·成公九年》中记载了一个有关他的故事（抄百度）：
Zhong Yi was the earliest Guqin player recorded in history books. "Zuo Chuan ·Cheng Gong Jiu Nian" records a story about him。 (Copy Baidu) :
钟仪为楚共王时期(公元前590年---公元前560年)楚国设在郧邑的行政长官，称作"郧公"，钟氏，名仪。
Zhong Yi was the chief Administrative Officer of Yun county, Chu State which was at that time under the rule of Emperor Gong(590-560BC). His family name is Zhong, last name is Yi.
楚共王七年(公元前584年)，楚令尹子重率兵攻打郑国，钟仪随军出征，由于战败，钟仪沦为战俘，郑国把他抓住后，又转送晋国，成了"楚囚"。
In the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Gong , namely in 584 B, Chu State sent Yin zi zhong to lead an army to fight with Zheng State, Zhong yi was with the army.
Chu State was defeated and Zhong Yi was captured by Zheng State as a prisoner of war and then sent to Jin State.
过了两年的囚禁生活，到楚共王九年(公元前582年)，晋景公见到"楚囚"钟仪，
After two years of prisoner life, namely in 582 BC, Jin State Emperor Jing met Zhong yi one day.
他问别人道:"兵器库里那个头戴南方式帽子的人是谁?"随从回答说:"那人是郑国转送来的楚囚"。
He asked , “ who is the man in the armory with the southern hat?’’ His company replied, "He is the Chu prisoner transferred from Zheng.”
景公对这个被关押了两年，还仍然带着自己国家帽子的人，十分感佩。他下令把钟仪释放出来，并立即召见，以示抚慰。
Emperor Jing felt great admired to this man who still wore his country hat after two years of prisoner life. Emperor ordered the release of Zhong Yi, and immediately summoned him as a consolation.
期间，晋景公问起钟仪的家世，钟仪回答:"我的先世是职业乐师。"
When Emperor Jin asked Zhong yi about his family background, Zhong yi replied, “my ancestors were professional musicians”
景公当即要他奏乐，钟仪拿起琴，演奏起楚国的乐曲。
Emperor Jing asked him to play. Zhong yi Played the Chu music.
景公有些不高兴地又问:"你知道楚共王这人怎样?"
Jinggong was not so happy and asked, "do you know what Emperor Gong is like? "
钟仪回答说:"这不是小人所能知道的。"拒不评论楚共王的为人和其他的事。
Zhong yi refused to comment on Emperor Gong and said, “ That’s not what I should know.”
晋国大夫知道这件事情后对景公说:"这个楚国俘虏真是了不起的君子呀。
When an official heard this, he said to Emperor Jing,”What a gentleman is the Chu prisoner!
他不说自己的姓名而说他父亲，这是不忘本;
He did not mention his own name but his father’s , which means he did not forget his roots.
弹琴只弹楚国的音乐，这是不忘旧;
He played Chu musin only which means he did not forget his country.
问他君王的情况，他只说楚王小时候的事，这是无私;
When being asked about the Chu Emperor, he spoke only of his childhood, which means he is selfless.
只说父亲是楚臣，这是表示对楚王的尊重。
He said his father is a Chu official, which means he respects the Chu Emperor.
不忘本是仁，不忘旧是信，无私是忠，尊君是敬。他有这四德，给他的大任务必定能办得很好。"
Not forgetting his own roots is benevolence, not forgetting his country is faith, selflessness is loyalty, his attitude to the monarch is respect. With these four virtues, he will surely do well in any big task given. ‘’
于是晋景公以对外国使臣的礼待他，为了促进两国和好，叫他回楚国谈判和平。
Then Emperor Jing treated Zhongyi with the courtesy of a foreign envoy and sent Zhong yi back to Chu to negotiate for peace.
钟仪便被称为四德公，其后世以其为祭祀祖宗的堂号。
Zhong Yi was known as “Si De Gong”, which means “ a man with four virtues”. His descendants used “Si De Gong” as the name of their ancestral hall.
钟仪回到楚国后，如实向共王转达了晋国愿意与楚国交好的意愿，并建议两国罢战休兵。
Upon his reture to Chu, Zhong yi faithfully conveyed Jin’s desire to make peace with Chu and proposed a truce.
共王采纳了钟仪的意见，与晋国重归于好。
Chu took the advice and made peace with Jin.
成语“钟仪楚奏”就是出自这个故事。
The idiom “ Zhong yi chu zou”(means Zhong yi played a Chu music) is from this story.
