University of Virginia Library

21[1]

King Chuang of Ch`u was going to raise an army to attack Chin.
He announced to his officials and Great Officers, "Anyone who
dares object will be put to death without mercy."

Sun-shu Ao said, "I have heard that the son who, fearing the
severity of a whipping, dares not remonstrate with his father is
not filial, and that the minister who, fearing the punishment of
axe and chopping block, dares not remonstrate with his prince is
not loyal." Whereupon he went ahead and offered a remonstrance:

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342

"In my garden there is an elm tree. On top is a cicada. The
cicada is just vibrating his wings and singing his sad song, intent
on drinking the fresh dew, not knowing that the mantis behind him
is twisting his neck, about to seize and eat him. The mantis, intent
on eating the cicada, does not know that behind him the sparrow is
stretching his neck, about to peck and eat him. The sparrow intent
of eating the mantis, does not know that the boy beneath the elm
tree[2] with cross-bow and pellets is looking up about to shoot him.
The boy, intent on shooting the sparrow, does not know that in
front of him is a deep pit and behind him a hole.[3] These all are
occupied with[4] the advantage before them without regarding the
[possible] injury behind. It is not only animals and common
people who behave like this; rulers also do the same thing. Now
you know enough to covet their territory and. . . .[5] their soldiers
. . . the state not in danger[6] . . ."

That the state of Ch`u enjoyed peace was due to Sun-shu Ao's
efforts.