On Swords

[Spurious.]

[Not authentic.]

Of old, Wên Wang of Chao loved sword-play. Swordsmen thronged his halls, to the number of three thousand and more. Day and night they had bouts before the prince. In the course of a year, a hundred or so would be killed or wounded. Yet the prince was never satisfied.

Long ago, Wên Wang of Chao loved sword fighting. More than three thousand swordsmen crowded his halls. Day and night, they fought bouts before the prince. Each year, about a hundred were killed or wounded. Yet the prince was never satisfied.

Within three years, the State had begun to go to rack and ruin, and other princes to form designs upon it. Thereupon the Heir Apparent, Li, became troubled in mind; and said to the officers of his household, "Whosoever shall persuade the prince to do away with these swordsmen, to him I will give a thousand ounces of silver."

Within three years, the state had begun to fall into ruin, and other princes had begun plotting against it. This troubled Li, the heir apparent. He said to the officers of his household, "I will give a thousand ounces of silver to anyone who persuades the prince to get rid of these swordsmen."

To this his officers replied, "Chuang Tzŭ is the man."

His officers replied, "Chuang Tzŭ is the man."

Thereupon the Heir Apparent sent messengers to Chuang Tzŭ with a thousand ounces of silver, which he would not accept, but accompanied the messengers back to their master.

Then the Heir Apparent sent messengers to Chuang Tzŭ with a thousand ounces of silver. Chuang Tzŭ refused the silver but went back with the messengers to their master.

"What does your Highness require of me," asked Chuang Tzŭ, "that you should bestow upon me a thousand ounces?"

"What does your Highness want from me," asked Chuang Tzŭ, "that you would give me a thousand ounces?"

"I had heard," replied the young prince, "that you were a famous Sage, and I ventured to send this money as a present to your servants.¹

"I had heard that you were a famous sage," replied the young prince. "I dared to send this money as a gift to your servants.¹

But as you would not receive it, what more can I say?"

But since you would not accept it, what more can I say?"

"I understand," answered Chuang Tzŭ, "that your Highness would have me cure the prince of his peculiar weakness. Now suppose that I do not succeed with the prince, and consequently with your Highness, the punishment of death is what I have to expect. What good would the thousand ounces be to me then?"

"I understand," answered Chuang Tzŭ, "that your Highness wants me to cure the prince of his peculiar weakness. But suppose I fail to cure the prince and so fail your Highness. I can expect to be put to death. What good would the thousand ounces be to me then?"

"On the other hand, if I succeed with the prince, and consequently with your Highness, the whole State of Chao contains nothing I could not have for the asking."

"On the other hand, if I succeed with the prince, and therefore with your Highness, I could have anything in the entire State of Chao just by asking."

"You must know, however," said the young prince, "that my father will only receive swordsmen."

"But you must know," said the young prince, "that my father will only see swordsmen."

"Well," replied Chuang Tzŭ, "I am a good swordsman myself."

"Well," Chuang Tzŭ replied, "I'm a good swordsman myself."

"Besides which," added the Heir Apparent, "the swordsmen he is accustomed to see have all dishevelled hair hanging over their temples. They wear slouching caps with coarse tangled tassels, and short-tailed coats. They glare with their eyes and talk in a fierce tone. This is what my father likes. But if you go to him dressed in your ordinary scholar's dress, the result is sure to be disastrous."

"Besides," added the Heir Apparent, "the swordsmen my father is used to seeing all have messy hair hanging over their temples. They wear loose caps with coarse, tangled tassels and short coats. They glare and speak fiercely. That is what my father likes. But if you go to him dressed in your usual scholar's clothes, the result is sure to be disastrous."

"I will accustom myself to the dress," replied Chuang Tzŭ; and after practising for three days, he went again to see the young prince, who accompanied him into his father's presence.

"I will get used to the clothing," Chuang Tzŭ replied. After practicing for three days, he went to see the young prince again. The prince took him to see his father.

The latter drew a sharp sword and awaited Chuang Tzŭ's approach. But Chuang Tzŭ, when he entered the door of the audience chamber, did not hurry forward, neither did he prostrate himself before the prince.

The latter drew a sharp sword and waited for Chuang Tzŭ to approach. But when Chuang Tzŭ entered the audience chamber, he did not hurry forward or bow down before the prince.

"What have you to say to me," cried the prince, "that you have obtained your introduction through the Heir Apparent?"

"What do you have to say to me," cried the prince, "that you had the Heir Apparent introduce you?"

"I have heard," replied Chuang Tzŭ, "that your Highness loves sword-play. Therefore I have come to exhibit my skill."

"I have heard," replied Chuang Tzŭ, "that Your Highness loves sword fighting. So I have come to show my skill."

"What can you do in that line?" asked the prince.

"What can you do in that field?" asked the prince.

"Were I to meet an opponent," said Chuang Tzŭ, "at every ten paces, I could go on for a thousand li without being stopped."

"If I met an opponent every ten paces," said Chuang Tzŭ, "I could travel a thousand li without being stopped."

"Bravo!" cried the prince. "There is not your match in the empire."

"Well done!" cried the prince. "No one in the empire can match you."

"When I fight," continued Chuang Tzŭ, "I make a show of being weak but push a vigorous attack. The last to start, I am the first to arrive. I should like your Highness to make trial of me."

"When I fight," Chuang Tzŭ continued, "I pretend to be weak but attack with force. I start last, but arrive first. I would like your Highness to put me to the test."

"Rest awhile," replied the prince. "Stay here and await orders. I will arrange a day for you."

"Rest for a while," the prince replied. "Stay here and wait for orders. I will set a day for you."

Thereupon the prince spent seven days in trying his swordsmen. Some sixty of them were either killed or wounded, but at length he selected five or six and bade them attend in the audience-chamber with their swords. He then summoned Chuang Tzŭ and said, "Now I will see what your swordsmanship is worth."

The prince then spent seven days testing his swordsmen. Some sixty were killed or wounded, but in the end he chose five or six. He ordered them to come to the audience chamber with their swords. He then summoned Chuang Tzŭ and said, "Now I will see how good you are with a sword."

"I have been longing for this," replied Chuang Tzŭ.

"I've been longing for this," replied Chuang Tzŭ.

"Does it matter to you," asked the prince, "of what length your weapon may be?"

"Does the length of your weapon matter to you?" asked the prince.

"Not at all," replied Chuang Tzŭ. "I have three swords, of which I will ask your Highness to choose one. We will then proceed to the trial."

"Not at all," replied Chuang Tzŭ. "I have three swords. I ask your Highness to choose one. Then we will begin the trial."

"Which are your three swords?" enquired the prince.

"What are your three swords?" the prince asked.

"There is the sword of the Son of Heaven," said Chuang Tzŭ, "the sword of the Princes, and the sword of the People."

"There is the sword of the Son of Heaven," said Chuang Tzŭ, "the sword of the princes, and the sword of the people."

"What is the sword of the Son of Heaven?" asked the prince.

"What is the Son of Heaven's sword?" asked the prince.

"The stone wall of Yen-ch'i is its point," replied Chuang Tzŭ.²

"The stone wall of Yen-ch'i is its point," Chuang Tzŭ replied.²

"The mountains of Ch'i are its edge. Chin and Wei are its back. Chou and Sung are its hilt. Han and Wei are its sheath. It is enclosed in the four hordes of barbarians, wrapped in the four seasons, surrounded by the great ocean. It is made of the five elements. It is the arbiter of punishment and reward. It operates under the influence of the Yin and the Yang. In spring and summer it is at rest. In autumn and winter it moves abroad. Push it, it does not advance. Raise it, it does not go up. Lower it, it does not go down. Whirl it around, it does not change position. Above, it cleaves the floating clouds; below, it cuts through the density of earth. One flash of this blade, and the princes of the empire submit. Such is the sword of the Son of Heaven."

"The mountains of Ch'i are its edge. Chin and Wei are its back. Chou and Sung are its hilt. Han and Wei are its sheath. It is enclosed by the four hordes of barbarians, wrapped in the four seasons, and surrounded by the great ocean. It is made of the five elements. It decides punishment and reward. It acts under the influence of Yin and Yang. In spring and summer, it rests. In autumn and winter, it moves abroad. Push it, and it does not advance. Raise it, and it does not go up. Lower it, and it does not go down. Whirl it around, and it does not change position. Above, it splits the floating clouds. Below, it cuts through the dense earth. With one flash of this blade, the princes of the empire submit. Such is the sword of the Son of Heaven."

At this the prince seemed absorbed in his reflections. Then he enquired, saying, "And what is the sword of the Princes?"

At this, the prince seemed lost in thought. Then he asked, "And what is the sword of the Princes?"

"The Wise and brave," replied Chuang Tzŭ, "are its point. The incorruptible are its edge. The virtuous are its back. The loyal are its hilt. The heroic are its sheath. You may push this sword too, it will not advance. Raise it, it will not go up. Lower it, it will not go down. Whirl it around, it will not change position. Above, it models itself upon the round heaven, in order to keep in harmony with the sun, moon, and stars. Below, it models itself upon the square earth, in order to keep in harmony with the four seasons. It adapts itself to the wishes of the people, in order to diffuse peace on all sides. One flash of this blade is like a roaring clap of thunder. Between the boundaries of the State there is not left one but who yields and obeys the command of his prince. Such is the sword of the Princes."

"The wise and brave are its point," replied Chuang Tzŭ. "The incorruptible are its edge. The virtuous are its back. The loyal are its hilt. The heroic are its sheath. You may push this sword, but it will not move forward. Raise it, and it will not rise. Lower it, and it will not descend. Swing it around, and it will not change position. Above, it follows the pattern of the round heaven to stay in harmony with the sun, moon, and stars. Below, it follows the pattern of the square earth to stay in harmony with the four seasons. It adapts to the wishes of the people to spread peace in every direction. One flash of this blade is like a roaring clap of thunder. Within the State's borders, everyone yields and obeys the prince's command. Such is the sword of the Princes."

"And the sword of the People?" enquired the prince.

"And the sword of the People?" asked the prince.

"The sword of the People," replied Chuang Tzŭ, "has dishevelled hair hanging over its temples. It wears a slouching cap with coarse tangled tassel, and a short-tailed coat. It glares with its eyes and talks in a fierce tone. When it engages in conflict, above, it cuts off head and neck; below, it smites liver and lungs. Such is the sword of the People. It is like a game-cock. One day, its life is cut short, and it is of no more use to the State.

"The sword of the People," replied Chuang Tzŭ, "has messy hair hanging over its temples. It wears a loose cap with a coarse, tangled tassel and a short-tailed coat. It glares and speaks fiercely. In a fight, it cuts off heads and necks above and strikes livers and lungs below. Such is the sword of the People. It is like a fighting cock. One day, its life is cut short, and it is of no further use to the State.

"Now you, great prince, wield sovereign power, and yet you devote yourself to this sword of the People. I am truly ashamed of it."

"Now, great prince, you hold supreme power. Yet you devote yourself to this sword of the People. I am truly ashamed of this."

Thereupon the prince drew Chuang Tzŭ up on to the dais, and the attendants served food, the king three times assisting with his own hand.³

Then the prince led Chuang Tzŭ up onto the dais. The attendants served food, and the king personally helped serve it three times.³

"Be seated, great prince," said Chuang Tzŭ, "and compose your mind. I have said all I have to say on swords."

"Sit down, great prince," said Chuang Tzŭ, "and calm your mind. I have said all I have to say about swords."

After this the prince did not quit his palace for three months, while the swordsmen, submitting to the new order of things, died in their own homes.⁴

After this, the prince did not leave his palace for three months. Meanwhile, the swordsmen accepted the new order and died in their own homes.⁴