(Translation) 守株待兔
| Primary Source | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Title | |
| English | Waiting for a hare while guarding the tree | |
| Chinese | 守株待兔(Shouzhu daitu) | |
| Korean(RR) | 수주대토 | |
| Text Details | ||
| Genre | ||
| Type | ||
| Author(s) | Han Fei zi 韓非子 | |
| Year | ||
| Source | ||
| Key Concepts | ||
| Translation Info | ||
| Translator(s) | Participants of 2018 Hanmun Summer Workshop (Intermediate Training Group) | |
| Editor(s) | ||
| Year | 2018 | |
Original Script
Translation
Student Translation : Petra Sváková
In the state of Song, there was a man who was ploughing a field. In the middle of the field, there was a tree stem, a hare was running [there], ran into the tree stem, broke its neck and died. Therefore, [the man] put down his plough and guarded the tree stem [while] hoping to get a hare again. [However,] the hare could not be gotten again and the man himself became a laughing stock of the state of Song. Now, there are wishes to govern people of the current generation with the ruling of the former kings, [these are] all the [same] kind as guarding the tree stem. In the old days, a man didn't plough, the fruits of plants and trees were enough to eat; a wife didn't weave, the leather of birds and beasts was enough to wear. [While] not labouring physical strength, [still] the feeding was enough; there were a few people and [their] wealth was abundant, thus the people didn't fight. For this reason, generous rewards didn't work, heavy punishments weren't used and the people ruled themselves. Now, people have five sons and don't think [it's] many, the sons have again five sons [each], the grandfather hasn't died and has twenty-five grandsons. Therefore, the people are numerous and the wealth is little, labouring strength is tough and nurturing is poor, thus people fight. Even though [you give] twice as many awards and aggravate the punishments, [you] cannot avoid the chaos.
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