"Talk about the Sword"

【 Solution 】 "On the Sword" is named after its meaning, and its content is about Zhuangzi's discussion on the sword. King Wen of Zhao was fond of swords and spent all his time with swordsmen, neglecting state affairs. Zhuangzi went to persuade him. Zhuangzi said that there are three kinds of swords, namely the sword of the Son of heaven, the sword of the feudal lords and the sword of the common people. He tactfully pointed out that what King Wen of Zhao did was actually the sword of the common people and hoped that he could become the sword of the Son of heaven. If "Yang Wang" and "Dao Zhi" are no longer similar to Zhuangzi's writings, then "Shuo Jian" is even less of Zhuangzi's. There is indeed the name "Zhuangzi" in the text, but the Zhuangzi in "On the Sword" is no longer the one who advocates non-action and non-self, freedom and conformity, and equality in all things and opinions. He is completely a lobbyist, that is, the image of a strategist in the Warring States period, and the content has completely deviated from the main idea of "Zhuangzi". Therefore, this piece has always been regarded as a forgery and not a work of Zhuangzi's school. It should be seen as a strategist's essay under the guise of Zhuangzi. In ancient times, King Wen of Zhao was fond of swordplay. Three thousand swordsmen came to visit him through his door. They fought day and night in front of him, resulting in over a hundred deaths and injuries. He never grew tired of it. For three years, the state declined and the feudal lords plotted against it. Prince Kui questioned him and asked his subordinates, "Whoever can express the king's intention to stop the swordsman will be given a thousand pieces of gold." Zuo You said, "Zhuangzi must be able to." The crown prince then ordered someone to offer a thousand pieces of gold to Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi refused to accept it. Accompanied by the envoy, he went to see the Crown Prince and said, "Why did the Crown Prince teach Zhou to bestow upon him a thousand pieces of gold?" The Crown Prince said, "I have heard that the master is wise and sage. I respectfully offer a thousand pieces of gold as a token to follow him." If the master does not accept it, how could the Kui dare to speak out!" Zhuangzi said, "When it is heard that the crown prince intends to employ the Zhou Dynasty, it is to eliminate the king's preference." If an envoy speaks to the king but goes against his will (9), and fails to act as the crown prince (10), he will be punished to death. Is it worth anything that Zhou Shang 'an has done? The envoy said, "Your Majesty, I'll be the crown prince. What could the State of Zhao ask for but not get?" The Crown Prince said, "Yes." All that my king has seen are swordsmen." Zhuangzi said, "Promise." Zhou Shanwei's sword." The crown prince said, "However, all the swordsmen I saw had disheveled heads, bulging buns and drooping crowns (11), full tassels (12), short back clothes (13), and were hard to speak with angry eyes (14). So I told them (15)." "Now the scholar will surely wear Confucian robes to meet the king, and the matter will surely be in great adversity. (16)" Zhuangzi said, "Please treat the sword and suit." He wore the sword for three days before seeing the Crown prince. The crown prince then went to see the king (17), and the king took off his white blade and treated him (18). In those days, King Wen of Zhao was fond of swordsmanship. More than three thousand swordsmen flocked to his house to compete with each other day and night. Every year, over a hundred swordsmen were killed or injured. However, King Wen's love for swordsmanship was never satisfied. Three years passed like this, and the national strength gradually declined. The feudal lords of various states were all planning how to attack the State of Zhao. Prince Kui was very worried and asked his attendants on both sides, saying, "Whoever can persuade King Zhao to stop the swordsmanship competition, give him a thousand pieces of gold." The attendants on both sides said, "Only Zhuangzi can shoulder this responsibility." The crown Prince then sent someone to present a generous gift of a thousand pieces of gold to Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi did not accept it. He followed the envoy to meet the Crown Prince and said, "What advice do you have, Crown Prince, to bestow upon me a generous gift of a thousand pieces of gold?" The crown Prince said, "I've heard that you are wise and intelligent. I hereby offer you a thousand pieces of gold to reward your followers." Sir, you don't want to accept it. What else can I say!" Zhuangzi said, "I've heard that the Crown Prince wants to use me and intends to cut off King Zhao's love for swordsmanship." If I speak to the upstream about the King of Zhao but go against his will, and to the downstream, I also fail to meet the wishes of the Crown Prince. Then I would surely be executed and die. Why would I need these gifts then? If I can persuade the King of Zhao above and fulfill the Prince's wish below, what do I hope to obtain in this land of Zhao?" The Crown Prince said, "That's right." In the King's mind, there were only fencers." Zhuangzi said, "Yes, I am also good at using swordsmanship." The Crown Prince said, "However, all the fencers Your Majesty has seen have disheveled hair, prominent buns, low hats, thick tassels, tight clothes, wide-open eyes and are out of breath and unable to speak. Your Majesty actually likes to see people dressed like this." "Now, Sir, you must be wearing Confucian attire to meet King Zhao. Things are bound to go wrong." " Zhuangzi said, "Please let me prepare the swordsman's costume." Three days later, the swordsman's costume was made and he then met the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince paid a visit to King Zhao together with Zhuangzi. King Zhao took off his sharp sword and waited for Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi did not approach the palace gate when entering it, nor did he pay homage to the king. The king said, "Why do you want to teach me to put the crown prince first?" He said, "I have heard that Your Majesty loves swords, so I present a sword to your Majesty." The king said, "How could your sword be restrained?" He said, "My sword is a man every ten steps (3), and a thousand miles is not spared (4)." The king was greatly delighted and said, "He is invincible in the world!" Zhuangzi said, "For a sword, show it to be empty, open it to be beneficial, then release it, and first reach it." I'm willing to give it a try." The king said, "Master, do not leave and wait for you. Order a play to invite you." Wang Nai inspected the swordsmen for seven days (7). Among them, more than sixty were killed or injured, and five or six were captured. He presented the sword to his Highness (8) and then summoned Zhuangzi. The king said, "Today I will try to use the Stone Sword (9)." Zhuangzi said, "I have been looking at it for a long time." The king said, "What is the length of the staff that Master wields?" He said, "Whatever I serve is acceptable." "Though I have three swords, only the King can use them. Please speak first and then try." The king said, "I wish to hear the three swords." He said, "There are the swords of the emperor, the swords of the feudal lords, and the swords of the commoners." The king said, "What about the emperor's sword?" It is said: "The sword of the emperor has the stone city of Yanxi as its blade (11), the guard of Qi Dai (12), the spine of Jin and Wei (13), the guard of Zhou and Song (14), and the clamp of Han and Wei (15)." Surrounded by the four barbaries, wrapped around the four seasons, encircled by the Bohai Sea, and led by the Changshan Mountains (16); The system is based on the Five Elements (17), and the discussion is based on punishment and virtue (18). Open with Yin and Yang, hold with spring and autumn, and act with autumn and winter. This sword stands straight without any precedent (19), lifted to the highest level, placed on the table without any precedent (20), and moves without any hindrances. It can break through the floating clouds above (21) and reach the dead end below (22). Once this sword was used, it defeated the feudal lords (23), and the whole world was convinced. This is the sword of the emperor." King Wen suddenly lost his sword and said, "What about the swords of the feudal lords?" It is said that the swords of the feudal lords have the sharp edge of a wise and brave man (25), the guard of an honest and upright man, the spine of a virtuous and virtuous man, the guard of a loyal and holy man, and the clamp of a heroic and valiant man. This sword, when straight, has no front; when raised, it is supreme; when placed, it has no lower position; when moved, it has no side. The upper method is to round the sky to harmonize the three lights (26), the lower method is to square the earth to harmonize the four seasons, and the public opinion is to stabilize the four villages (27). Once this sword is used, it is like the tremor of thunder. Within the four seals (28), all will submit and obey your orders (29). This is the sword of a vassal Lord." The king said, "What about the sword of a commoner?" He said, "The sword of a commoner, the curly hair, the upturned bun, the hanging crown, the tassels of a man's beard, the short back of his clothes, the glaring eyes and the difficulty in speaking." Striking each other in front, cutting off the neck and collar at the top and piercing the liver and lungs at the bottom, this commoner's sword is no different from cockfighting. Once life is lost, it is of no use for state affairs. "Now Your Majesty holds the position of the Son of heaven but is fond of the sword of the common people. I secretly take it lightly for your Majesty. (30)" The king led him up to the hall. Wang Sanhuan (31) killed someone and served them food. Zhuangzi said, "Your Majesty, sit still and calm your mind. The swordsmanship has been completed and the report is ready." So King Wen did not leave the palace for three months, and all the swordsmen submitted and died on their own. (32) Zhuangzi entered the hall unhurriedly and did not perform the kowtow when he saw the King of Zhao. King Zhao said, "What words do you want to use to enlighten me and have the Crown Prince make the introduction first?" Zhuangzi said, "I have heard that Your Majesty is fond of swordsmanship, so I have specially used swordsmanship to pay my respects to you." King Zhao said, "How can your swordsmanship stop swordsmen and defeat them?" Zhuangzi said, "My swordsmanship can kill one person within ten steps and I can travel a thousand miles without being held back by anyone." King Zhao was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "There is no one in the world who can be your match!" Zhuangzi said, "The key to fencing is to deliberately expose one's weaknesses to the opponent, then use the opportunity to lure the opponent, and then launch an attack on the opponent while hitting them first." I hope to have the chance to try my swordsmanship. King Zhao said, "Sir, please go back to your inn to rest and wait for further notice. I will arrange the grand fencing competition and then invite you to participate in the competition." King Zhao then spent seven days having the swordsmen compete in martial arts. More than sixty people were killed or injured. He selected five or six of them and had them wait in the hall with their swords. Only then did he summon Zhuangzi. King Zhao said, "Today, the swordsmen can have a swordsmanship competition with you, Sir." Zhuangzi said, "I have been looking forward to it for a long time." King Zhao said, "What is the length of the sword that you are accustomed to using, Sir?" Zhuangzi said, "My swordsmanship is suitable for both long and short." However, I have three kinds of swords for Your Majesty to choose from. Please allow me to make some explanations first before we have a competition." King Zhao said, "I'm willing to hear your introduction to the three kinds of swords." Zhuangzi said, "There is the sword of the emperor, the sword of the feudal lords, and the sword of the common people." King Zhao said, "How about the Sword of the Emperor?" Zhuangzi said, "The sword of the emperor takes the Stone City Mountain of Yanxi as the tip, the Mount Tai of Qi as the blade, the Jin and Wei states as the spine, the Zhou and Song states as the ring, and the Han and Wei states as the hilt." Wrap it up with the four borders outside the Central Plains, encircle it with the four seasons, entwine it with the Bohai Sea, and tie it with the Hengshan Mountains. It is governed by the Five Elements and judged by criminal law and moral education. Follow the changes of Yin and Yang to advance and retreat, follow the seasons of spring and autumn to prolong and extend, and follow the arrival of autumn and winter to operate. This kind of sword pierces straight forward without any obstruction, is held high with nothing on top, and when pressed down, it is invincible. When swung, it seems to have nothing on the side, cutting through the floating clouds upwards and cutting through the earth downwards. Once this kind of sword is used, it can correct the feudal lords and make all the people in the world submit. This is the Sword of the Emperor. When King Wen of Zhao heard this, he was at a loss and said, "How about the swords of the vassal states?" Zhuangzi said, "The swords of the feudal lords take the wise and brave as the tip, the honest and upright as the blade, the virtuous and virtuous as the spine, the loyal and wise as the ring, and the heroic and valiant as the hilt." This kind of sword, when thrust straight forward, is unobstructed; when held high, there is nothing on top; when pressed down, it is invincible; and when swung, it seems as if there is nothing around. By emulating the sky above, one follows the sun, moon and stars; by taking the earth below, one follows the sequence of the four seasons; by being in the middle, one follows the will of the people and stabilizes the four directions. Once this kind of sword is used, it is like thunder shaking the four realms. There is no one who refuses to submit and follows the king's orders. This is the sword of the feudal lords. King Zhao said, "What about the people's sword?" Zhuangzi said, "The swords of the common people all have disheveled hair, prominent buns, low hats, thick taskets, tight clothes, wide-open eyes and are out of breath, unable to speak." Fighting and stabbing each other in front of people, capable of cutting off necks above and splitting liver and lungs below, this is the sword of the common people, no different from cockfighting. Once one's life is exhausted, it is of no use to state affairs. Now that Your Majesty holds the position to seize the world, he prefers the sword of the common people. Privately, I think Your Majesty should look down upon such an approach. King Wen of Zhao then led Zhuangzi to the hall. The chef presented the food, and King Zhao walked around the table three times in shame. Zhuangzi said, "Your Majesty, please sit down and calm your mind. I have finished reporting on the matter of swordsmanship." So King Wen of Zhao did not leave the palace gate for three months, and all the swordsmen committed suicide at their own residences.