三人成虎 (sān rén chéng hǔ)
“Three people create a tiger.” This expression is said to express doubt about a widely-held idea. The more people talk about something, even if it is not true, the more likely we are to believe it.
The Story:
During the Warring States Period (戰國時代 / 战国时代 - Zhàn Guó Shídài) (475 BC - 221 BC), a prince of the country of Wèi (魏國 / 魏国) was required to go to the country of Zhào (趙國 / 赵国) as a peace hostage. King Wèi ordered his councilor Páng Cōng (龐蔥 / 庞葱) to accompany the Prince.
Páng Cōng knew he would be away for a long time, and he was afraid that his enemies would spread rumors about him. So Páng Cōng went to the king and asked him, "If someone came to you and said that there was a tiger in the street, would you believe him?"
The king replied, "I would find that very hard to believe."
Páng Cōng continued, "What if two men told you the same thing?"
The king said that he would still find it hard to believe.
"What about three men?" Páng Cōng asked.
"With three men," said the king, "I would have to believe it."
Then Páng Cōng said these words: "It is impossible for a tiger to be in a busy street, this fact is obvious. Yet when three men say it is so, we become convinced of the impossible. This is how terrible rumors are spread. I am about to go to the country of Zhào, much further than the street. While I am away, if you hear bad things about me, remember that I am your faithful servant to you. Do not believe rumors."
The king assured Páng Cōng that he had nothing to fear, but sure enough, as soon as he was gone, the rumors began to spread. At first, the king paid them no attention, but as he kept on hearing bad things about Páng Cōng, his opinion was gradually swayed.
After the hostage period was over, Páng Cōng and the prince returned to the country of Wèi. But by then, the king did not trust Páng Cōng, and would not see him.
“Three people create a tiger.” This expression is said to express doubt about a widely-held idea. The more people talk about something, even if it is not true, the more likely we are to believe it.
The Story:
During the Warring States Period (戰國時代 / 战国时代 - Zhàn Guó Shídài) (475 BC - 221 BC), a prince of the country of Wèi (魏國 / 魏国) was required to go to the country of Zhào (趙國 / 赵国) as a peace hostage. King Wèi ordered his councilor Páng Cōng (龐蔥 / 庞葱) to accompany the Prince.
Páng Cōng knew he would be away for a long time, and he was afraid that his enemies would spread rumors about him. So Páng Cōng went to the king and asked him, "If someone came to you and said that there was a tiger in the street, would you believe him?"
The king replied, "I would find that very hard to believe."
Páng Cōng continued, "What if two men told you the same thing?"
The king said that he would still find it hard to believe.
"What about three men?" Páng Cōng asked.
"With three men," said the king, "I would have to believe it."
Then Páng Cōng said these words: "It is impossible for a tiger to be in a busy street, this fact is obvious. Yet when three men say it is so, we become convinced of the impossible. This is how terrible rumors are spread. I am about to go to the country of Zhào, much further than the street. While I am away, if you hear bad things about me, remember that I am your faithful servant to you. Do not believe rumors."
The king assured Páng Cōng that he had nothing to fear, but sure enough, as soon as he was gone, the rumors began to spread. At first, the king paid them no attention, but as he kept on hearing bad things about Páng Cōng, his opinion was gradually swayed.
After the hostage period was over, Páng Cōng and the prince returned to the country of Wèi. But by then, the king did not trust Páng Cōng, and would not see him.
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2 comments:
Why the interest in mandarin?
To me, Mandarin is condensed wisdom, living history and spoken poetry at the same time...
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