A female monkey carved on the tip of a
thorn(棘刺母猴)
There was a famous thinker in China's
Warring States period, his name was (Han Fei).
He recorded a story in a book he wrote.
The king of the Yan Kingdom collected many
fine handicrafts made by skilled craftsmen. He invited some craftsmen with
special skills from different kingdoms to the capital of the Yan Kingdom.
He provided these craftsmen with free food
and lodging so that they could live in the capital of the Yan Kingdom and
create these exquisite handicrafts with peace of mind.
When these craftsmen create very fine
handicrafts, he will pay a high price to buy them.
One day, a man from the Kingdom of Wei said
to the king of the Kingdom of Yan.
I am an excellent craftsman, I am good at
micro-carving, I can carve a female monkey on the tip of a thorn, I want to
create crafts in the Yan Kingdom.
The king of the Yan Kingdom was very happy
when he heard the man's words, and he immediately arranged a beautiful house
for the craftsman of the Wei Kingdom to live in.
About a week later, the king had a meeting
with the craftsman. The king said to the craftsman
You have been working for about a week,
have you finished designing your new work? I would like to see what you have
made.
replied the craftsman.
I've already begun to create.
I am happy to let you see my work, but
because the subject of my design this time is very sacred, you must maintain a
very reverent attitude when viewing my work.
Therefore, you must live a simple life for
six months. During these six months you must abstain from sex.
During these six months you must not drink
alcohol, during these six months you must not eat meat, you must eat only
vegetarian food.
When the king heard what the artisan said,
he began to abstain from sex and live a simple life.
One day, about three months later, the king
was talking to an old blacksmith in the palace who was very old and had served
in the palace all his life.
During the conversation, the king mentioned
this craftsman who was good at carving miniatures.
After listening to the king, the old
blacksmith said to the king
I think that the terms proposed by this
craftsman are unreasonable, and I suspect that this craftsman is deceiving you.
We must find a way to verify whether what
he has said is true.
the king asked the old blacksmith.
So what method do you think we should use
to check whether the craftsman's words are true and reliable?
replied the old blacksmith.
I am an iron craftsman, and based on my
work experience, I think you can ask the craftsman who knows how to micro-carve
a question.
I admire that you can create special
miniature sculptures, but I have a question. What kind of knife can you use to
carve a monkey on the thorns? I have never seen such a knife used. Can you show
me the knife you used to make the micro-carving ?
The king thought the old blacksmith's
suggestion was a good one, so he summoned the craftsman who was good at
miniature carving and said to him
I want to see the knife you use for
micro-carving.
The craftsman said to the king after
listening to him.
No problem, I'd be happy to show you the
very fine knives I use.
I keep these knives in the house where I
live. I will go back and bring them to the palace to show you.
The craftsman left the palace and never
returned.
The king immediately sent people to look
for the craftsman. After searching for several hours, the searchers reported
back to the king.
The craftsman we are looking for has disappeared
from our kingdom.
The direct translation of this proverb is
to carve a monkey on the tip of a thorn.
This idiom is used to describe a deceptive
trick.
It can also be used to describe a special
technique.
Dear friend, what inspirations or thoughts
do you have after listening to this story?
Have you ever been scammed? What do you
think is the best way to avoid being scammed?
I hope this story can give you some new
insights.
棘刺母猴(A female monkey carved on the tip of
a thorn)
中國的戰國時代有一個著名的思想家，他的名字叫做(韓非)。
他在他寫的書中紀錄了一個故事。
燕王國的國王蒐集了很多技巧很厲害的工匠所製作出來的很精細的手工藝品，他從各個王國中邀請一些具有特殊的技巧的工匠到燕王國的首都。
他提供這些工匠免費的住宿與食物，這些工匠可以住在燕王國的首都內安心的創作這些精美的手工藝品。
當這些工匠創作出很精細的手工藝品時，他會用高價去買下這些作品。
有一天，有一個來自衛王國的男人對燕王國的國王說。
我是一個傑出的工匠，我很擅長微雕，我能夠在荊棘尖端處雕刻出一隻母猴子，我想要在燕王國進行工藝創作。
燕王國的國王聽到這個男人的話後就非常的高興，他就立刻安排一間漂亮的房子給這個衛王國的工匠居住。
大概一個禮拜之後，國王跟這個工匠在一次的會面中，國王對這個工匠說。
你已經開始創作大概一個禮拜了，你的新作品已經設計完成了嗎?我想看看你所創造出來的作品。
這個工匠回答。
我已經開始創作了。
我很樂意讓你看我的作品，但是因為我這次設計的主題很神聖，所以你在觀看我這件作品時，要保持很虔敬的心態看我的這件作品。
因此你必須要保持六個月的簡單生活的狀態，在這半年內你要禁慾。
在這半年內你不可以喝酒，在這半年內你不能吃肉你只能吃素。
國王聽完這個工匠的話後，他就開始禁慾與保持簡單的生活。
大約過了三個月後，有一天，國王與皇宮中的一個年紀很大而且一輩子都在皇宮中服務的老鐵匠聊天。
在聊天的過程中，國王提到了這個擅長微雕的工匠。
聽完國王的話後這個老鐵匠對國王說。
我認為這個工匠所提出來的條件不太合理，我懷疑這個工匠正在欺騙你。
我們必須想個辦法來驗證一下他所說的話是否真實。
國王問老鐵匠。
那你覺得我們應該什麼方法來驗證那個工匠的話語是否真實可靠呢?
這個老鐵匠回答。
我是一個打鐵的工匠，根據我的工作經驗，我認為你可以問那個會微雕的工匠一個問題。
我很佩服你可以創作出特殊的微雕作品，但我有一個疑問，你是用那一種刀子才能夠在荊棘的尖刺上雕刻出一支猴子呢?我從來沒有看過這種可以用來創作微雕的刀子，你能給我看看你用來創作微雕的刀子嗎？
國王認為老鐵匠的建議很好，所以國王召見這個擅長微雕的工匠然後對這個工匠說。
我想要看你用來微雕專用的刀子。
這個工匠聽完國王的話後對國王說。
沒有問題，我很樂意讓你看我所使用的很精細的刀子。
那些刀子我放在我住的那間房子裡面，我現在就回去拿那些刀子到皇宮來給您看。
這個工匠離開皇宮後就再也沒有回到皇宮。
國王立刻派人搜捕那個工匠，搜捕人員找了幾個小時後跟國王回報。
我們要找的那個工匠已經潛逃出我們王國。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是在荊棘的尖端處雕刻出一隻猴子。
這句成語被用來形容一種騙人的把戲。
這句成語也可以被用來形容一種特殊的技巧。
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。
你是否曾經騙走過金錢嗎?你認為最好的防止自己被詐騙的方式為何呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫
出處為韓非子-外儲說左上。