The implication is a metaphor and satire for those who only pay attention to the appearance, ignore the essence and seek the end at the expense of the root cause. author

Han Fei (280- 233 BC), a philosopher at the end of the Warring States Period, was the main representative of Legalism, and he wrote Han Fei's On Han Feizi's Left Foreign Reserve.

suggestion

A Chu man is going to sell a beautiful pearl.

The Chu people found a precious magnolia, made a box (bamboo rafters) for pearls, and smoked the box with cinnamon spice. Then, decorate it with pearls and jewels, decorate it with jewels, and decorate it with kingfisher feathers.

A native Zheng held the box in his hand and couldn't put it down for a long time. He paid a high price for the Truman's box. Zheng paid the money and came back with a box. But I came back a few days later. The Chu people thought that Zheng people regretted returning the goods. Before the Chu people could finish thinking, Zheng people had come to the Chu people. Zheng handed the pearl to the Chu people and said, "Sir, all I bought was a box. You left a pearl in the box and I returned it. " So the Zheng people gave the pearl to the Chu people and went back.

original text

The King of Chu said to Qiu Tian, "Those who love ink show their learning. His body can, but he says a lot without arguing. Why? " He said, "When Qin Bo married his daughter to Kim's son and asked Kim to dress her up, she got clothes for seventy people. In the Jin Dynasty, Jin people loved concubines and valued their husbands over their daughters. This can be said to be a good concubine, but not a good woman. Some Chu people sold their pearls to Zheng, Mulan's cabinet, decorated with cinnamon, pearls and jadeite, and decorated with roses and jadeite. Zheng Guoren bought the jewelry box and returned the pearls. This can be said to be a best seller, but it is not a good pearl. Conversations in this world are all controversial words, and people forget to use them after reading them. Mozi's theory, spread to Wang Zhidao first, on the sage's words, in order to announce people. If you argue for his words, you will be afraid that people will forget his straight words and use them to hurt others. This is similar to Zhu Zhu and Qin Bo of the Chu people getting married, so there is not much debate.

translate

King Chu said to Tianjiu, "Mozi is a famous scholar. His personal approach is ok. He talks a lot, but he doesn't sound good. Why? " Tian Jiu replied, "In the past, Qin Bo married his daughter to the son of the State of Jin and asked the State of Jin to prepare jewelry and clothes for her. Seventy maids in splendid clothes accompanied him. When they came to the State of Jin, people in the State of Jin liked to marry his maid, but looked down on Qin Bo's daughter. This can be called being good at marrying a maid, not a daughter. There is a Chu man who sells jewelry in Zheng State. He made a box out of Mulan, smoked it with cinnamon, decorated it with jewels, decorated it with jewels, and connected it with kingfisher feathers. Zheng Guoren bought his box but returned the beads. It can be said that (Chu people) are good at selling boxes, not beads. Nowadays, all the speeches in the society are eloquent and gaudy. The monarch only values those gorgeous words, but forgets whether they are useful or not. Mozi's theory, spread the theory of the first king, discuss the words of saints, and announce the people; If we beautify his writing, we are afraid that people will linger on his literary talent and forget its value, which will damage the practicality of the writing. This has nothing to do with Chu people selling pearls and Qin Bo getting married.

The daughters are the same, so most of Mozi's remarks are not pleasant to listen to. "[2] word explanation

Chu people: people of the state of Chu.

Its: pronoun, his (referring to Chu people). Zhu: Jewelry.

Yes Zheng Zhe: Guo Zhengren. Do, make.

Mulan: A kind of fine-grained fragrant wood, a kind of wood. One: Yes.

Cabinet: box.

Xun: vanilla; Here as a verb, smoked with spices; Incense. To: use.

Cinnamon: cinnamon; Spice. Pepper: pepper; Spice. Connect: To connect or decorate. Zhuyu: Beads and Baoyu.