1. 状元看了三人的表演，叹了口气说：“真是三十六行，行行出状元啊！”后来，人们又把三十六行改为三百六十行，就成了我们现在说的“三百六十行，行行出状元”了。其实古代行业的分工种决不止“三百六十行”，如今分工更加细化，其行业或职业之多几乎无法统计。只不过习惯成自然，说起来方便，听起来顺耳，行业还是笼统地称“三百六十行”。当然，在古代，科举“状元”与其他行业的“状元”的含金量还是有天壤之别的。

1. The top scholar watched the performance of the three and sighed, saying, "Indeed, every trade has a top scholar!" Later, people changed the term from "thirty-six trades" to "three hundred and sixty trades," and that's how we now say "three hundred and sixty trades, every trade has a top scholar." In fact, the number of divisions in ancient trades was not limited to "three hundred and sixty trades." Today, the division of labor is even more refined, and the number of industries or professions is almost impossible to count. It's just that habit has become natural, and it's convenient and pleasant to say, so the trades are still generally referred to as "three hundred and sixty trades." Of course, in ancient times, the prestige of the "top scholar" in the imperial examination was vastly different from that of the "top scholar" in other trades.

2. 总之，状元，是科举时代的最高功名，一旦获得，荣耀、快慰至极。“三百六十行，行行出状元”，意指各行各业，都有自己的技术含量、都可以干出好的业绩。但在古代，科举“状元”与其他行业的“状元”的含金量无疑有天壤之别。就当代而论，“三百六十行，行行出状元”， 用来形容各行各业都有杰出的人才，告诫人们不要妄自尊大，目空一切；与此同时，它也可用来提醒有自卑意识的人不要妄自菲薄，要相信自己能在平凡的工作岗位上取得卓越的成就！

2. In summary, the "Zhuangyuan" (top scholar) was the highest achievement in the imperial examination era, and once obtained, it brought immense honor and satisfaction. The saying "In the three hundred and sixty trades, each has its own Zhuangyuan" means that every industry has its own technical content and can achieve good performance. However, in ancient times, the "Zhuangyuan" of the imperial examinations was undoubtedly of a much higher value than that of other trades. In contemporary times, the saying "In the three hundred and sixty trades, each has its own Zhuangyuan" is used to describe the presence of outstanding individuals in every field, warning people not to be overly proud and to look down upon others. At the same time, it can also be used to remind those with a sense of inferiority not to undervalue themselves and to believe that they can achieve remarkable achievements in ordinary work positions!

3. 人才虽高，不务学问，不能致圣。刘向十日画一水，五日画一石。

3. Even if a person is highly talented, if they do not engage in scholarly pursuits, they cannot attain sainthood. Liu Xiang took ten days to paint a river and five days to paint a stone.

4. 量力而任之，度才而处之。

4. Assign tasks based on one's abilities and deal with situations according to one's talents.

5. 安危在出令，存亡在所任。

5. The safety and danger lie in the issuance of orders, and survival and extinction depend on the individuals appointed.

6. 何世无材，患主人不能识耳，苟能识之，何患无材。

6. In any era, there is no shortage of talent; the problem is that the master cannot recognize it. If he can recognize it, what worry is there about a lack of talent?

7. 人才虽高，不务学问，不能致圣。

7. Even if a person is highly talented, without engaging in scholarly pursuits, they cannot achieve sainthood.

8. 博求人才，广育士类。

8. Seek out talents, cultivate a wide range of scholars.

9. 不用干将，奚以知其锐；不弓鸟号，奚以知其劲。

9. Without using the Giejiang sword, how can one know its sharpness? Without drawing the bird-shaped bow, how can one know its strength?

10. 多事之秋，得一人则重于山岳，少一人则弱于婴儿。

10. In times of turmoil, having one person is as heavy as a mountain, and being without one is as weak as an infant.

11. 这时，有个看热闹的乡下妇人说：“卖油郞也算不得什么大本事，熟能生巧罢了，不足为奇。”叶状元听到妇人的话后心想，连一个乡下妇人都如此狂妄，于是问道：“妇人家，你有什么本领？也拿来瞧睢！”妇人说：“状元爷，我是一个乡下女子，文武不通，也只会做些家务事。比如筛米，你去量一升谷，一升米，混在一起，我筛上几遍，能使米中无谷，谷中无米！”状元又叫随从把米和谷拿来混在一起，要妇人当众表演。只见妇人不慌不忙，双手紧握米筛，左筛几下，右筛几下，米和谷便立即分开了，米中没有粒谷，谷中也没有粒米。

11. At this moment, a countrywoman who had come to watch the commotion said, "The oil vendor doesn't have any great skill; it's just that practice makes perfect, and it's not something extraordinary." After hearing the woman's words, Ye the Scholar-official thought to himself, "Even a countrywoman is so proud," and asked, "Madam, what are your skills? Show them to us!" The woman said, "Your Excellence, I am a countrywoman who lacks both literary and martial skills. I only know how to do household chores. For instance, if you measure a liter of grain and a liter of rice and mix them together, I can sift through them a few times and make sure there's no grain in the rice and no rice in the grain!" The scholar-official then ordered his attendants to mix the rice and grain together and asked the woman to perform in public. Seeing the woman calm and composed, she tightly held the sieve with both hands, sifted a few times to the left and a few times to the right, and the rice and grain were immediately separated; there were no grains of grain in the rice, and no grains of rice in the grain.

12. 致天下之治者在人才，成天下之才者在教化。

12. The key to governing the world lies in talent, and the key to nurturing talent lies in education and civilization.

13. 古称国之宝，谷米与贤才。

13. Anciently referred to as the nation's treasures, grains and talented individuals.

14. 非真无人也，但求之不勤不至耳。

14. There is no one who is not real, but they do not seek it diligently, so it does not come.

15. 才不称不可据其位，职不称不可食其禄。

15. One should not occupy a position if they are not qualified, and should not receive their salary if their job is not suited to them.

16. 人才难得又难知，就要爱惜人才，就要用人不疑。?>

16. Talents are rare and difficult to discern; thus, we should cherish talents and employ them without suspicion.

17. 治国经邦，人才为急。

17. Governing a state and managing affairs, the most urgent need is for talented individuals.

18. 择才不求备，任物不过涯。

18. Selecting talents does not demand perfection, and assigning matters should not exceed one's limits.

19. 只有这亲的人才配生活和自由，假如他每天为之而奋斗。

19. Only this kin is worthy of life and freedom, if he fights for it every day.

20. 江山代有才人出，各领**数百年。

20. Each generation produces talented individuals, leading for several centuries.

21. 高才何必贵，下位不妨贤。

21. Why should a high talent be expensive, and it's no harm to be generous to the talented in lower positions.

22. 知者不博，博者不知。

22. The wise are not extensive, and the extensive are not wise.

23. 高者未必贤，下者未必愚。

23. The higher one is not necessarily wise, and the lower one is not necessarily foolish.

24. 知行知止唯贤者，能屈能伸是丈夫。

24. Only the wise know when to stop and when to proceed, and the man who can bend and stretch is a true husbandman.

25. 立大功者不求小疵，有大忠者不求小过。

25. Those who perform great meritorious deeds do not seek out minor faults, and those with great loyalty do not seek out minor shortcomings.

26. 人才乏于上，则有沉废伏匿在下，而不为当时所知者矣。

26. If there is a lack of talents at the top, then there will be individuals who are submerged and concealed below, who are not known to the contemporary era.

27. 人才难得而易失，人主不可不知之。

27. Talents are rare and easily lost; the ruler cannot afford not to know this.

28. 千金何足惜，一士固难求。

28. It is nothing to lament the loss of a thousand talents, but it is indeed hard to find a true scholar.

29. 采玉者破石拔玉，选士者弃恶取善。

29. Those who gather jade break stones to extract jade, and those who select talents discard the bad and choose the good.

30. 得士者富，失士者贫。

30. He who gains the scholar is rich, and he who loses the scholar is poor.

31. 另有一说，“三百六十行，行行出状元”，这则谚语源自一个民间故事。传说宋神宗元丰年间(公元1078～1085年)有个名叫叶元清的新科状元，他得知幸运夺得榜首后，欣喜若狂，谢过皇恩后，穿上皇帝亲赐的衣冠，骑着披着彩绸红花的马，带着侍从，威风凛凛地回乡。 一路上，所有的乡民都争相观望状元爷的风采，使得他神气飞扬。正得意之时，走到一处较为狭窄的路段，只见一卖柴的樵夫挑着柴担，不慌不忙地在前面走着，听见后面“梆、梆”作响的声音，樵夫丝毫没有避让的意思。随从大声呵斥樵夫，令其让路。谁知樵夫不仅不听，还放下柴担，挡住去路大声道：“新科状元不就是仗着会舞文弄墨吗有啥了不起的!要不是咱家里穷，从小没钱上学读书，说不定也能考中状元咧。”说罢，竟旁若无人地坐在柴担上擦起汗来。叶状元大怒，下了马，快步逼近樵夫，用马鞭指着樵夫的鼻子问道：“你虽无钱读书，但做一行熟一行，倘若你真是聪明，那么就把你会的本事露两手出来给我看看。”樵夫应道：“我是砍柴的，我的本领就是劈柴。你可以随便挑一截木柴，不管什么角度，我都能按照你的要求把它劈开。”状元一听，立即命侍从找来一根歪七扭八的木柴，放在路中间，又让侍从在木柴中间画了一条线，然后让樵夫按线把木柴劈开。路人见状都涌了过来，一时间狭窄的道路上挤满了人，只见樵夫不慌不忙地对着木柴左右瞧了一下，眼睛眯了眯，然后抡起板斧，“嗨”一声，刀落处，木柴按黑线一分为二。众人拍手叫绝，把这个新科状元也看呆了。

31. There is another saying, "In the three hundred and sixty trades, there is a top scholar in each," which is a proverb derived from a folk story. It is said that during the Yuanfeng period of Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty (A.D. 1078-1085), there was a newly crowned top scholar named Ye Yuqing. After learning that he had won the top position, he was overjoyed and, after expressing his gratitude to the emperor, he dressed in the royal robes and hats presented by the emperor, rode on a horse draped with colorful silk and flowers, and returned to his hometown with his attendants in a grand manner. Along the way, all the villagers eagerly watched the scholar's grandeur, making him feel proud and full of himself. In his pride, he came upon a narrow stretch of road where a woodcutter was carrying a load of firewood, walking calmly without any intention of making way. The attendants shouted at the woodcutter to move aside. To their surprise, the woodcutter not only did not comply but also put down his load of firewood, blocking the path, and said loudly, "What's so great about being a top scholar? All he has is the ability to write well. If it weren't for my family's poverty, and the fact that I couldn't afford to go to school and read books from a young age, maybe I could have become a top scholar too." After saying this, he sat down nonchalantly on his load of firewood to wipe the sweat from his brow. The top scholar, Ye Yuqing, was so angry that he dismounted and hurriedly approached the woodcutter, pointing his horsewhip at the woodcutter's nose and asking, "Even though you have no money to read books, you should be skilled in your trade. If you are truly intelligent, why don't you show me your skills?" The woodcutter replied, "I am a woodcutter, and my skill is chopping wood. You can pick any piece of wood, at any angle, and I can chop it according to your requirements." Upon hearing this, the scholar immediately ordered his attendants to find a crooked piece of wood, place it in the middle of the road, and have one of them draw a line down the center, then asked the woodcutter to chop the wood along the line. The onlookers gathered around, and soon the narrow road was packed with people. The woodcutter took a calm look at the wood, squinted his eyes, and then swung his axe with a loud "Hey!" The wood split neatly along the black line. The crowd clapped and cheered, leaving the new top scholar in awe.

32. 恰在此时，又走过来一个卖油郞，嚷着说：“这有什么了不起，如果我是樵夫，我也能这样！”叶元清一听，就说：“好！我买你一斤九两油，但得用手倒。”随后，便叫侍从取来一个大的葫芦，口子只有两三厘米，叫卖油郎往里面装油。卖油翁接过葫芦又在葫芦口放了一个铜板，拿起油桶便倒。只见油如同一根线一样落入钱眼中，称一称，除去葫芦本身的重量，刚好一斤九两油。

32. Just at this moment, another oil seller walked over, shouting, "What's so great about that? If I were a woodcutter, I could do it too!" Upon hearing this, Ye Yuqing said, "Alright! I'll buy a pound and nine ounces of oil from you, but it must be poured by hand." Then, he called for his attendant to bring over a large gourd with an opening only a couple of centimeters wide, and asked the oil seller to fill it with oil. The oil seller took the gourd and placed a copper coin at the opening, then picked up the oil bucket and began to pour. The oil fell like a thread into the coin slot, and upon weighing it, after accounting for the weight of the gourd itself, it exactly weighed a pound and nine ounces.

33. 古来王佐才，往往待圣哲。

33. Throughout history, capable assistants to the kings often wait for the wise and virtuous.

34. 真圣贤决非迂腐，真豪杰断不粗疏。

34. True sages are not pedantic, and true heroes are never coarse.