Skip to main content

Gold and gems without, but dry cocoons within

At Hangchow there lived a costermonger who understood how to keep
oranges a whole year without letting them spoil. His fruit was always
fresh-looking, firm as jade, and of a beautiful golden hue; but inside
-- dry as an old cocoon.
One day I asked him, saying, " Are your oranges for altar or
sacrificial purposes, or for show at banquets? Or do you make this
outside display merely to cheat the foolish? as cheat them, you most
outrageously do."
"Sir," replied the orangeman, "I have carried on this trade now for
many years. It is my source of livelihood. I sell: the world buys. And
I have yet to learn that you are the only honest man about, and that I
am the only cheat. Perhaps it never struck you in this light. The
baton-bearers of to-day, seated on their tiger skins, pose as the
martial guardians of the State; but what are they compared with the
captains of old? The broad-brimmed, long-robed ministers of to-day,
pose as pillars of the constitution; but have they the wisdom of our
ancient counsellors? Evil doers arise and none can subdue them. The
people are in misery, and none can relieve them. Clerks are corrupt,
and none can restrain them. Laws decay, and none can renew them. Our
officials eat the bread of the State, and know no shame. They sit in
lofty halls, ride fine steeds, drink themselves drunk with wine, and
batten on the richest fare. Which of them but puts on an awe-inspiring
look, a dignified mien? -- all gold and gems without, but dry cocoons
within. You pay, sir, no heed to these things, while you are very
particular about my oranges."
I had no answer to make. I retired to ponder over this costermonger's
wit. Was he really out of conceit with the age, or only quizzing me in
defence of his fruit?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Four Diamond Kings of Heaven

On the right and left sides of the entrance hall of Buddhist temples, two on each side, are the gigantic figures of the four great Diamond Kings of Heaven. They are four brothers named respectively Mo-li Ch’ing (Pure), Mo-li Hung (Vast), Mo-li Hai (Sea), and Mo-li Shou (Age). Mo-li Ch’ing, the eldest, is twenty-four feet in height, with a beard the hairs of which are like copper wire. He carries a magnificent jade ring and a spear, and always fights on foot. He has also a magic sword, ‘Blue Cloud,’ on the blade of which are engraved the four characters: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind. When brandished, it causes a black wind, which produces tens of thousands of spears, which pierce the bodies of men and turn them to dust. The wind is followed by a fire, which fills the air with tens of thousands of golden fiery serpents. A thick smoke also rises out of the ground, which blinds and burns men, none being able to escape. Mo-li Hung carries in his hand an umbrella, called the Umbrella of Chao...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Legend of The Three-Life Stone

The Buddhist believe metempsychosis, or the migration of the souls of animated beings, people's relationships are predestined through three states of life: the past, present, and future life. Legend has it that there's a road called Yellow Spring Road, which leads to Fogotten River. Over the river there's a bridge called Helpless Bridge (Naihe Bridge), at one end of the bridge sits a crimson stone called Three-life Stone. When two people die, they take this route to reincarnation. if they carve their name on the Three-life Stone together while they pass the stone, they are to be predestined to be together in their future life. Although before their rebirth they will be given a MengPo Soup to drink and thereby their memory of past life are obliterated. In reality, San-Sheng Shi (三生石), or Three-Life Stone is located beside Flying Mountain near the West Lake, Hangzhou. On the stone, there is seal with three Chinese characters that say "The Three-life Stone," and a de...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bian He's Jade Disc (He Shi Bi)

Bian He was a jade master from the state of Chu. He was entrusted with the task of finding the best jade for Chu. He climbed many a mountain and turned over every stone that he came across. One day he came to Mount Jin, where, according to legends, a pair of phoenixes frolicked on slate. Bian He believed that there must be treasure in this mountain. After an exhaustive search, he came upon a large piece of stone that looked unremarkable at first. But upon close inspection of its grains and veins, Bian He was convinced that it was a rare piece of jade. He brought it back to King Li of Chu. King Li asked his court workmen to check it out. The king’s men told the king that it was an ordinary stone not deserving the attention of a king and Bian He was a cheat. Emperor Li ordered the men to chop off Bian He’s left foot and dump him onto the street. Bian He dragged himself back to Mount Jin. In spite of the tremendous pain, he never lost the conviction that the stone was jade. He waited p...
Post a Comment
Read more