During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), there was a high official in the State of Jin. He once saw a farmer working in the field and his wife bringing a lunch to him in a very respectful manner. It moved him much that the couple treated each other with the respect they would give a guest.
He took the farmer back to the King of Jin and recommended him for an official post. "Respect is a demonstration of virtue. If one is respectful, he must be virtuous," the official said. "We should educate our people with virtue."
"His father is guilty. Is it wise to do so?" the King countered.
The official replied: "Guan Zhong was an enemy to the Duke Huan of Qi, but the duke appointed Guan Zhong prime minister and finally accomplished his hegemony. Shun exiled Gun but promoted his son Yu. You just make use of his strong points."
At last, Duke Wen took his advice and put the farmer in an important position.
Later, this idiom means a couple treat each other with respect as if the other were their guests.
xiāng jìng rú bīn
相敬如賓
?????? 春秋時期，晉國有個大官。有一次他外出，看見一個農夫在田里干活，他的妻子很恭敬地給他端上午飯。夫妻之間就像客人一樣，非常客氣。他很感動。
?????? 他把這個農夫帶到晉王的面前，要求晉王給他封官。他對晉王說：“互相尊重是一種美德。一個品德高尚的人才會待人有禮貌。我們應該培養我們的臣民養成這種美德。”
?????? 晉王說道：“他的父親是個罪人，我們用他合適嗎？”
?????? 他答道：“管仲曾是齊王的敵人，但齊王后來讓他做了齊國的相國，幫助他完成了霸業。當年舜放逐了鯀，卻重用了鯀的兒子禹。你只要利用他的長處就可以了。”
?????? 最后，晉王聽從了他的話，重用了這個農夫。
?????? 后來，人們用“相敬如賓”來表示夫妻之間互相尊重，好像客人一般。
zhāng dēng jié c?i
張燈結彩
Hang up lanterns and silk festoons; be decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers
