I think ghosts are the easiest to draw. (畫鬼最易)
Han Fei is one of the most important thinkers in Chinese history.
In the books he wrote, he used many simple parables to illustrate profound truths.
One such story is as follows.
During the Spring and Autumn Period in China, one day the King of Qi was talking to the court painter in the palace.
The king asked the artist a question.
You are an experienced painter. What do you think are the most difficult things to paint?
The artist thought for about 20 seconds before answering.
I think dogs and horses are the hardest things to draw.
the king asked the artist.
Why do you think dogs and horses are the hardest things to draw?
replied the artist.
Each of us sees these two animals around us often in our lives, so each of us is very familiar with the images of these two animals.
I am often criticised for not drawing dogs that look like real dogs, and for not drawing horses that look like real horses.
The King asked the artist another question.
What do you think is the easiest thing to draw?
The artist thought for about 20 seconds before answering.
I think ghosts are the easiest to draw.
The king asked the artist.
Why do you think ghosts are the easiest to draw?
Replied the artist.
None of us has ever seen a ghost, so we don't have a fixed idea of what a ghost looks like.
I just draw a picture at random and then I can say this is the ghost I saw.
Nobody can contradict me or point out my mistakes.
The direct translation of this saying is that drawing a ghost is a very easy thing to do.
This saying is used to remind us that it is very difficult to do something that can actually be verified, but it is very easy to say something that is empty and unrealistic; but we are often confused by those empty and unrealistic words, and we will question things that are verifiable.
Dear friends, what kind of inspiration or thoughts do you get after listening to this story?
Have you ever been fooled by the empty words of others? Do you easily dismiss those who actually take action?
I hope this story can give you some new insights.
此圖片來自維基百科
畫鬼最易(I think ghosts are the easiest to draw.)
韓非是一位中國歷史上最重要的思想家之一。
在他寫的書中他用許多簡單的寓言說明深奧的道理。
其中有一個故事如下。
中國的春秋時代，有一天齊王國的國王跟皇宮中的宮廷畫家在聊天。
國王問了宮廷畫家一個問題。
你是一個經驗很豐富的畫家，請問你覺得那些東西是最難畫的呢。
宮廷畫家思考大概20秒後回答。
我覺得狗跟馬是最難畫的。
國王問宮廷畫家。
你為何覺得狗跟馬最難畫呢?
宮廷畫家回答。
我們每個人的生活周遭常常會看到這兩種動物，因此我們每個人都對這兩種動物的形象非常熟悉。
人們常常批評我的狗畫得不像真的狗、我的馬畫得像不像真的馬。
國王又問了宮廷畫家一個問題。
請問你覺得那些東西是最好畫的呢?
宮廷畫家思考大概20秒後回答。
我覺得鬼最好畫。
國王問宮廷畫家。
你為何覺得鬼最好畫呢?
宮廷畫家回答。
我們每個人都沒有看過鬼，我們對於鬼的形象沒有固定的看法。
我隨便亂畫一張畫之後我可以說這就是我所看到的鬼。
誰也沒有辦法反駁我，也沒有辦法指出我的錯誤。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是畫一隻鬼是非常容易的一件事。
這句成語的意思被用來提醒我們做一件實際上可以驗證的事情非常困難，說一件需空洞不實際事情非常容易；但我們往往會被那些空洞不實際的言語所迷惑，我們反而會質疑那些可驗證的事情不夠真實。
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
你曾經被別人空洞的話所迷惑嗎?你會輕易地否定那些實際付出行動的人嗎?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為韓非子-外儲説左上