If you were the tortoise, how would you
choose? (曳尾塗中)
(Zhuang Zhou) is one of the most famous
philosophers in Chinese history.
He wrote a story.
One day, he was fishing alone.
Suddenly two strangers approached him.
One of them said.
Hello. We are special envoys sent by the
king of the Chu Kingdom.
he asks.
Why are you looking for me?
Said the envoy.
Our king heard that you have good insights
and high morals. So our king wants to hire you as his adviser.
This is a very honorable position, and we
will provide you with a high salary.
He replied.
I heard a news a few months ago.
A very long-lived tortoise in your Chu
Kingdom died.
Said the envoy.
Yes, this tortoise is our national treasure
animal. When it died, we were all sad.
He says.
Your king also specially built a beautiful
coffin for this turtle, and built a gorgeous house to place this coffin.
Said the envoy.
Yes it is.
He says.
Let me ask you a question.
If you are this tortoise, you hope you are
still alive and free to move on the mud.
Or do you hope that you are dead, and your
bones are put in this gorgeous house by others.
Said the envoy.
If I were to choose, I would choose to stay
alive and move freely in the mud.
He says.
My choice is the same as yours. I prefer to
live freely in this remote village.
This is my answer.
This idiom is used to describe a person who
would rather be poor and free.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you have after hearing this story.
If it were you, which lifestyle would you
choose the most? What do you think is the most important value standard?
I hope this story will give you some new
gains.
曳尾塗中(If you were the tortoise, how would
you choose?)
(莊周)是中國歷史上最著名的哲學家之一。
他寫過一個故事。
有一天，他正一個人在釣魚。
突然有兩個陌生人走近他的身邊。
其中一個人說。
您好。我們是楚王國的國王派出來的特使。
他問。
你們為何來找我呢。
這個特使說。
我們的國王聽說你有很好的見識，也有很高的品德。所以我們的國王想聘請你擔任他的顧問。
這是一個很榮譽的職位，而且我們會提供你很高的報酬。
他回答。
我幾個月前聽到一個新聞。
你們楚王國中有一隻很長壽的烏龜死掉了。
特使說。
是啊，這隻烏龜是我們的國寶級動物。牠死的時候，我們都很難過。
他說。
你們國王還特別為這隻烏龜打造了一個漂亮的棺材，又蓋了一座華麗的房子來放置這個棺材。
特使說。
是的。
他說。
我請問你一個問題。
假如你是這隻烏龜，你希望自已仍然活著、自由自地在泥地上活動。
還是你希望自已已經死了，你的骨骸被別人放在這間華麗的房子中呢。
這個特使說。
如果要我選擇，我會選擇自己仍然活著，自由自在的在泥地上活動。
他說。
我的選擇也跟你一樣，我比較想在這個偏僻的鄉村，自由自在的生活。
這就是我的回答。
這句成語被用來形容一個人他寧願貧困而自由。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
如果是你，你最選擇哪一種生活方式呢?你認為最重要的價值標準是甚麼呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為莊子-秋水