Autumn Floods (4)

1 Gongsun Long paid a visit to Mou, prince of the State of Wei, and asked him to solve his bewilderment. He said, “Since childhood, my teacher taught me the content of classic books. In youth, I was proficient in benevolence, righteousness, loyalty and credit. I was good at theories of all sects, such as Ju and Mo sect. In discussion, I was eloquent. Nothing cornered me. Therefore, I was very confident in my knowledge in the past.

2 Recently, I learned about the thought of Chuang Tzu, I found that it is different from what I have learned before. I don’t know why I am dumb as a fish when I argue on it. Is my polemic skill worse than his? Is my wisdom worse than his? Could you tell me why?”

3 After listening to Gongsun Long, Mou laughed out aloud. Falling on chair and stretching his body, he said to Gongsun Long, “Have you heard the story about frog in well.

4 Once upon a time, a frog who lived in a well told a turtle from East Sea, 'My life is fairly leisured. I jump forth and back around the woody rail awhile; I rest on broke tiles other awhile. If I want to bath, I sit in the puddle. The water in it is shallow while it can drown my arms or my cheek. If I want to play in mud, I jump to nearby place of well where the mud just covers my feet.

5 In my eyes, I am more happy and freer than the tadpole and red worm who live in the well too. I possess a puddle and a well alone. What do I ask for other in such a good life? Why don’t you come to my place to enjoy the life?'

6 The turtle from East Sea was persuaded, so he tried to enter the frog’s world to take a look. When he lifted his left foot to enter, his right knee was stumbled against the rail of well. At this moment, he kept still and felt it might be too rash to enter into a place like this. Therefore, he told the frog about the environment of East Sea. Meanwhile, he made a comparison and an analysis in his mind.

7 He said, 'Sea, it is so broadness that thousand li can’t be described it; it is so depth that ten thousands Zhang is not enough to measure it.

8 In the age of Yu, there were flood nine out of ten years, but the sea never rose somewhat for the flood. In the age of Tang, there were drought seven out of ten years, but the water in sea never reduced for it. If you are contented and delighted with a well and a puddle, I am much more contented and delighted than you. Why do I come to your place?'

9 Hearing that there was such a vast place in this world, frog felt eclipsed and shameful.

10 Gongsun Long, your wisdom is not enough; thus, it is difficult to digest if you want to learn Chuang Tzu’s theory at this moment. Your case is just like a mosquito trying to shoulder a mountain or a small centipede trying to run on the river, it is obviously impossible.

11 Gongsun Long! You, a scholar who learned over theories of many sects, want to make a deep study and discussion on the delicate theory of Chuang Tzu immediately. Aren’t you like a frog in well to explore the vast and very deep sea?

12 Aren’t you like a newcomer to heaven from the lower world? When the newcomer finds that the field of heaven is so broad and loses his direction; he suddenly doesn’t know where to go.

13 A man who starts to learn Chuang Tzu’s theory is like this too. He learns it from the tiny object to the profound one. Everything is so brand-new. He feels the theory is truly boundless and infinite.

14 Facing so vast and profound field of theory, you appraise and comprehend it by your less knowledge, which is no more than watching sky with a pipe and stabbing land with a prick. The field that you stay is too narrow to obtain the whole.

15 I tell you. You ought not to learn Chuang Tzu’s theory. Have you heard a young man from Shouling, the State of Yan? He went to Handan for learning marathon. For some reason he failed, whereas his own ability of short-distance running was out of practice. In consequence, he had to go back without any achievement.

16 Your case is similar like this; I am afraid that you would fail in learning Chuang Tzu’s theory and simultaneously ruin your own knowledge and skill. As a result, you would lose your job.”

17 Gongsun Long did not expect the possible serious result. Afraid of speaking out any improper words, he swallowed back his refuting idea forcefully. With opening mouth and sticking-out tongue, he left like a defeated cockfighting.