A dog was crossing a river holding a piece of meat in his mouth. Catching sight of hisreflectionin the water, he believed that it was another dog who was holding a bigger piece of meat. So, dropping his own piece, heleaped into the water to take the piece from the other dog. But the result was that he ended up with neither piece-one didn't even exist
and the other wassweptaway by thecurrent.
This fable applied to thecovetous.
2.The North Wind and the Sun
The North Wind and the Sun had acontestof strength. They decided toallotthepalmof victory to whichever of them couldstripthe clothes off a traveler.
The North Wind first tried his power. He blew with all his might. As the man clung on to his clothes, the North Wind attacked him with greater force. But the man,uncomfortable from the cold, put on more clothes. So,disheartened, the North Wind left him to the Sun.
The Sun shonemoderately, and the man removed his extracloak. Then the Sundarted light which was morescorchinguntil the man, not being able to stand the heat,took off his clothes and went to take a dip in a nearby river.
This fable shows thatpersuasionis often more effective than force.
3.Cutting a Mark on the Boat to Find the Sword
One day, a man of the State of Chu was crossing a river by boat. Due to carelessness,his sword which hung at his side fell into the water. Not in the least worried, he slowly took out a small knife and cut a mark on the side of the boat.
Someone on the boat asked him:
"Why don't you jump into the water at once to fish for your sword? What's the use of making his mark on the side of the boat?"
He pointed to the mark on the side of the boat, saying unhurriedly:
"There is no need to worry. My sword fell into the river at this marked place. As soon as the boat reaches thedockand pulls in to shore, I will jump down from here toretrievemy sword."
4.Startling the World with a Single Cry
It had been three years since King Zhuang of Chuascended thethrone, but he had neitherissued a law nor dealt with any state affairs. Furthermore, there were no deeds worth mentioning. All theciviland military officials of the court couldn't understand what was the matter.
One day, a military official quietly asked King of Chu in thecarriage:
"Your Majesty, I heard that in the south, there was a big birddwelling in the hills.Three years passed, it neither flew nor cried. Could Your Majesty tell me the reason?"
King Zhuang of Chu smiled and answered:
"It didn't spread its wings to fly for three years in order to grow full-fledged. It didn't cry for three years in order to carefully observe the conditions of the people in the world. This bird, once it flies, willsoarhigh into the sky; once it cries, it willstartlethe world with a single cry."
Another half a year passed before King Zhuang of Chu began to personallyminister',event)">administerstate affairs. Heabolished the old rules and regulations,issued nine new policies,sentenced fiveministers to death for their evil deeds andpromoted six persons with real talents. From then on, the state of Chu became stronger and stronger.