Ancient Chinese Fables--The Jade
of He
A man of the state
of Chu named Bian He found a piece of uncut jade in the Chu
mountain. Holding the jade with both hands he respectfully presented it to King
Li. The king ordered a jade craftsman to examine it.
“This is stone,”
said the craftsman.
The king thought
that Bian He was trying to
deceive him so he gave orders to cut off his left foot.
After the death of
King Li, King Wu ascended the throne. Again Bian He came with the jade in his hands to present
it to King Wu. King Wu ordered a jade craftsman to examine it.
“This is stone,”
said the craftsman again.
The king also
thought Bian He was trying to deceive him, so he gave orders to cut off his
right foot.
After the death of
King Wu, King Wen came to the throne. Bian He took the piece of uncut jade in
his arms and wept at the foot of the Chu
mountain, He wept for three days and three nights. When he had no more tears he
wept blood.
This came to the
ears of the king and he sent some one to ask Bian He the reason for his grief.
“There are many
men who had their feet cut off as punishment,” said the king’s messenger, “why
do you weep so bitterly?”
“I am not sad
because my feet were cut off,” replied Bian He, “I grive because a precious
stone is considered a common rock and an upright. And loyal man is branded a
liar. This is the cause of my sorrow.”
The king ordered
jade craftsmen to cut open the stone. They discovered a piece of precious jade
which was thereupon named the
Jade of He.
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