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危如累卵 (wei1 ru2 lei3 luan3) An eggy tale of risk
November 15, 2009, Sunday
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THE English term "house of cards" suggests a flimsy structure, arrangement or situation that is in danger of collapsing or failing. Chinese people have a similar phrase - a pile of eggs. However, it is more precarious and could be messier.
The Chinese idiom "wei1 ru2 lei3 luan3" or "as precarious as a pile of eggs" grew out of a story about Duke Jinling of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-467 BC).
Duke Jinling was an insatiable hedonist. He had more delicious food, silk clothes, treasure and beautiful women than he could enjoy in his life, still he was not satisfied.
One day, he got a whimsical idea of building a record high nine-story platform on top of a hill from where he could see the whole state.
Immediately, he ordered all young men in the state to join the efforts to build the tower and all young women to help with chores at the construction site.
Soon, farmlands were invaded by wild grass and turned desolate as farmers were too busy working on the platform.
Many people were worried that the state would harvest no crops in autumn and many might starve in the coming winter and spring.
But no one dared to ask the duke to rescind his order for he had already spread the word that he would kill anyone who tried to stop him from building the platform.
Worried by the worsening situation, Gou Xi, a court official, decided to illustrate to the duke that his plan was putting the state at risk.
Gou went to see the duke, but before he entered the gate of the court, the duke took a bow and an arrow and got ready to shoot.
As soon as he saw Gou, the duke said: "I know you are coming to stop me from building the platform. But, if you dare to say a word about it, I'll shoot you right away."
"No, no," Gou replied. "I came to show you a very special trick I've learned recently and I believe you will like it."
The duke asked: "What is it?"
"I can stack nine eggs on top of a stack of nine chess pieces without breaking any eggs."
"That's impossible," the duke said.
"Yes, I can," Gou said. "Let me show you."
Then the official began to stack the chess pieces and then the eggs that he had brought with him to the court.
"That's too dangerous," the duke commented. "The eggs could fall down anytime."
"No, this is nothing compared with the situation of our state," Gou answered.
He continued to point out that the State of Jin was facing a looming famine and possible attacks from its enemies because it had wasted too much of its own resources and had become weak.
Understanding Gou's point, the duke eventually called off the platform project.
The Chinese idiom "wei1 ru2 lei3 luan3" or "as precarious as a pile of eggs" grew out of a story about Duke Jinling of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-467 BC).
Duke Jinling was an insatiable hedonist. He had more delicious food, silk clothes, treasure and beautiful women than he could enjoy in his life, still he was not satisfied.
One day, he got a whimsical idea of building a record high nine-story platform on top of a hill from where he could see the whole state.
Immediately, he ordered all young men in the state to join the efforts to build the tower and all young women to help with chores at the construction site.
Soon, farmlands were invaded by wild grass and turned desolate as farmers were too busy working on the platform.
Many people were worried that the state would harvest no crops in autumn and many might starve in the coming winter and spring.
But no one dared to ask the duke to rescind his order for he had already spread the word that he would kill anyone who tried to stop him from building the platform.
Worried by the worsening situation, Gou Xi, a court official, decided to illustrate to the duke that his plan was putting the state at risk.
Gou went to see the duke, but before he entered the gate of the court, the duke took a bow and an arrow and got ready to shoot.
As soon as he saw Gou, the duke said: "I know you are coming to stop me from building the platform. But, if you dare to say a word about it, I'll shoot you right away."
"No, no," Gou replied. "I came to show you a very special trick I've learned recently and I believe you will like it."
The duke asked: "What is it?"
"I can stack nine eggs on top of a stack of nine chess pieces without breaking any eggs."
"That's impossible," the duke said.
"Yes, I can," Gou said. "Let me show you."
Then the official began to stack the chess pieces and then the eggs that he had brought with him to the court.
"That's too dangerous," the duke commented. "The eggs could fall down anytime."
"No, this is nothing compared with the situation of our state," Gou answered.
He continued to point out that the State of Jin was facing a looming famine and possible attacks from its enemies because it had wasted too much of its own resources and had become weak.
Understanding Gou's point, the duke eventually called off the platform project.
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