Han shih wai chuan :: :: University of Virginia Library

Kung-i Hsiu, minister of Lu,[2] was fond of fish. A native of the
state made him a present of fish, but he would not accept it.
His younger brother objected, saying,

"You are fond of fish; why do you not accept it?"

He said, "It is [precisely] because I am so fond of fish that I

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do not accept it. If I accept the fish and lose my place as minister,[3]
I will then be unable to supply myself with fish. By not accepting
and not losing my place as minister, I will long be able to supply
myself with fish.[4] In this matter I understand how to take care
of myself."[5]

Truly, as Lao-tzŭ said,[6] "Make yourself last and you will be
first; put yourself outside, and you will be preserved. Is it not that
he had no eye to personal advantage, and was just in this way able
to accomplish his personal advantage?" The Ode says,[7]

His thoughts are without depravity.

This is illustrated in the above.

[1]

HFT 14.4b is the oldest extant parallel to this anecdote, which HSWC has adapted
with some modifications. Huai-nan tzŭ 12.11b follows HSWC, including the quotation
from Lao-tzŭ, which is lacking in HFT. Shih chi 119.3a has the same story, but
entirely rewriten. Hsin hsü 7.8a likewise shows no direct filiation with the other
accounts.

[2]

Hsin hsü has [OMITTED] "a minister of Chêng."

[3]

HFT has, "To receive the fish would certainly give the appearance of condescending
to others. With the appearance of condescending to others, I would be misusing the
law, and by misusing the law, I would lose my place as minister" [OMITTED]
[OMITTED].

[4]

[OMITTED]: Chao (85) would precede this with [OMITTED] to balance the sentence
before ([OMITTED]), and also would expunge the [OMITTED]. Huai-nan tzŭ has [OMITTED]
[OMITTED].

[5]

[OMITTED]: "From this it is clear that, in so far as fish is concerned,
[it is best to be] independent." I follow CHy and omit the [OMITTED]. Huai-nan tzŭ has [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] "This shows clearly what is done for others and what is done for
oneself." HFT has [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]: "This shows clearly that it is better to depend on oneself than to depend on
others, that it is better to act for oneself than to have others act on one's behalf."

[6]

Cf. Tao tê ching 1.3b-4a.

[7]

Shih 613 No. 297/4.