Wise and Sincere Sentiments: Appreciating the Art of Short Prose Through the Ages

Author: Liu Qi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: In Yan Zi Chunqiu, Yan Zi is going to visit Chu. When the King of Chu heard about it, he said to his attendants, "Yan Ying is a skilled speaker from Qi. Now that he is coming, I want to humiliate him. How can I do it?" The attendants replied, "Since he is coming, I suggest we tie up a man and make him pass by the King. When the King asks, 'What is he?' we answer, 'He is from Qi.' Then when he asks, 'What crime has he committed?' we say, 'He has stolen.'" When Yan Zi arrived, the King of Chu offered him wine. When they were both tipsy, two officers brought a man tied up before the King. The King asked, "Why is this man tied up?" The officers replied, "He is from Qi, and he has stolen." The King looked at Yan Zi and said, "Does Qi really produce many thieves?" Yan Zi stood up and replied, "I have heard that when mandarin oranges grow in the south of the Huai River, they are called mandarin oranges, but when they grow in the north of the Huai River, they are called citrons. Although their leaves look similar, their fruits taste different. Why is this? It is because the soil and water are different. Now, people who grow up in Qi do not steal, but when they come to Chu, they do. Could it be that the soil and water of Chu make people good at stealing?" The King laughed and said, "A sage is not someone to joke with, and I have only made myself look foolish."
[Notes] ① Yan Zi Chunqiu: A work recording the thoughts, words, and deeds of Yan Ying, the prime minister of Qi during the late Spring and Autumn period. The book is divided into Inner Chapters and Outer Chapters, with a total of two hundred and fifteen chapters. The author is unknown. Yan Ying served as the prime minister for three reigns—Linggong, Zhuanggong, and Lianggong—during more than fifty years of governance. He was renowned for his frugality, diligence, humility, and respect for scholars. He paid attention to political reforms and achieved outstanding achievements in his administration. Yan Zi Chunqiu is traditionally attributed to Yan Ying, but it was actually compiled by later generations. Most of the book records Yan Ying's life, thoughts, and actions, with many anecdotes reflecting a secular and humorous style. The text is mostly composed of short chapters, but each is complete in structure. The language is concise and vivid, with a clear and lively style. Skilled in speech: good at speaking, very eloquent. ③ Fang: about to. ④ He yi: how to do it? Yi means use. ⑤ Wei qi lai ye: when he comes. Wei here is equivalent to "in." ⑥ He zuo: what crime has he committed? To commit a crime for a certain reason, or to commit a certain crime, is called "zuò" in classical Chinese.