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太公钓鱼 (tai4 gong1 diao4 yu2) - Fishing hookless
By Zhang Ciyun |
September 14, 2008, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A white-beard old man is angling on a river. He hangs a hookless and baitless line one metre above the water. When asked how could he expect to net any fish with such bizarre gear, the old man says: "The fish that is destined to be caught will come up."
This scene occurred more than 3,000 years ago on the Weishui River in northwest China. Days later, the old man, later known as Jiang Taigong, did catch something. But it was not a fish. It was a king.
The popular Chinese idiom, tài gōng diào yǘ or Jiang Taigong's angling, originated from this story.
Once an official in the court of the Shang Dynasty (16th century-11th century BC), Jiang later quit his post because he foresaw the collapse of the regime, which was plagued by widespread corruption.
However, despite his advanced age, Jiang still wished to serve a sagacious and insightful ruler.
Therefore, he designed the bizarre way of fishing in order to attract attention from King Wen of the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century-771 BC), who was then seeking worthy people to help him overthrow the Shang Dynasty.
Jiang's trick worked. After angling on the Weishui River for three days, the story about a "stupid old man" fishing in a bizarre manner was heard by the king. By learning the background of the old man, the king was convinced that Jiang was a person with brilliant talent.
Next day, the king personally went to see the old man on the river. Jiang first declined to talk to the king because he thought the king was insincere. When the king came back again three days later, the two reached an agreement and by brushing aside opposition from some of his aides, the king offered Jiang a high position in the court.
Later, Jiang helped King Wen and his successor, King Wu, unite the kingdom and overthrow the Shang Dynasty. To cite him for his meritorious service, Jiang was first appointed as the prime minister and then made the Duke of Qi.
Today, when people quote this idiom, they are describing some willing victim who is like the fish rising to Jiang Taigong's "hookless and baitless line."
This scene occurred more than 3,000 years ago on the Weishui River in northwest China. Days later, the old man, later known as Jiang Taigong, did catch something. But it was not a fish. It was a king.
The popular Chinese idiom, tài gōng diào yǘ or Jiang Taigong's angling, originated from this story.
Once an official in the court of the Shang Dynasty (16th century-11th century BC), Jiang later quit his post because he foresaw the collapse of the regime, which was plagued by widespread corruption.
However, despite his advanced age, Jiang still wished to serve a sagacious and insightful ruler.
Therefore, he designed the bizarre way of fishing in order to attract attention from King Wen of the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century-771 BC), who was then seeking worthy people to help him overthrow the Shang Dynasty.
Jiang's trick worked. After angling on the Weishui River for three days, the story about a "stupid old man" fishing in a bizarre manner was heard by the king. By learning the background of the old man, the king was convinced that Jiang was a person with brilliant talent.
Next day, the king personally went to see the old man on the river. Jiang first declined to talk to the king because he thought the king was insincere. When the king came back again three days later, the two reached an agreement and by brushing aside opposition from some of his aides, the king offered Jiang a high position in the court.
Later, Jiang helped King Wen and his successor, King Wu, unite the kingdom and overthrow the Shang Dynasty. To cite him for his meritorious service, Jiang was first appointed as the prime minister and then made the Duke of Qi.
Today, when people quote this idiom, they are describing some willing victim who is like the fish rising to Jiang Taigong's "hookless and baitless line."
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