Posted by Dinah on February 1, 2002, at 23:15:24
In reply to Interesting Chinese Folktale, posted by Cam W. on January 9, 2002, at 16:30:24
This has been driving me crazy. I feel like such a dunce. I understand the literal meaning of this folktale, but could someone please explain it to me in context? (Unless of course it would open a can of worms, in which case, never mind.)
> - for stjames, and anyone else that frequent's this site, who favors "real" scientific information.
>
> THE KING'S FAVORITE
>
> In ancient times the beautiful woman Mi Tzu-hsia was the favorite of the lord of Wei. Now, according to the law of Wei, anyone who rode in the king's carriage without permission would be punished by amputation of the foot. When Mi Tzu-hsia's mother fell ill, someone brought the news to her in the middle of the night. So she took the king's carriage and went out, and the king only praised her for it. "Such filial devoion!" he said. "For her mother's sake she risked the punishment of amputation!"
>
> Another day she was dallying with the lord of Wei in the fruit garden. She took a peach, which she found so sweet that instead of finishing it she handed it to the lord to taste. "How she loves me," said the lord of Wei, "forgetting the pleasure of her own taste to share with me!"
>
> But when Mi Tzu-hsia's beauty began to fade, the lord of Wei's affection cooled. And when she offended the lord of Wei, he said, "Didn't she once take my carriage without permission? And didn't she once give me a peach theat she had already chewed on?"
>
> - by Han Fei Tzu
poster:Dinah
thread:2588
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20011216/msgs/2818.html