Sunday, July 13, 2008

Zhu Chong gave away his calf

Here is my simple translated version of the story contained in the Chinese Text Book of Virtues, Book one, Chapter on Shame. Please pardon my translation errors and let me know if you spot any errors.
During the Jin Dynasty, there was this man named Zhu Chong who love to read. He was very poor and farmed. One day, his neighbour lost a calf. He mistook Zhu Cong's calf as his lost one and brought it home. The lost calf was later found in the forest. The owner was ashamed of his impulsive deed and brought Zhu Chong's calf back to him. However, Zhu Chong declined to accept the calf.
On several occasions, an ox intruded into Zhu Chong's farm and stepped on his crops. Zhu Cong did not show any signs of anger and even brought out forage to feed the intruding ox. Knowing this, the ox's owner felt ashamed and from that time onwards, managed his ox well so that it would not intrude into other people's farm.
After some time, the court issued an order to summon Zhu Chong to be a court official. Zhu Chong declined on reason of illness and later escaped to the mountains. The remote mountains where he dwelt was near the border of another country. The people of that remote region regarded him as a lord.
Original Chinese story available HERE 《德育课本》,初集卷一,《二十四耻》, 编号 : dykb1-08, story number 12).

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