Discourse on Swords
Text
English translation
Original Chinese text
昔赵文王喜剑,剑士夹门而客三千余人,日夜相击于前,死伤者岁百余人,好之不厌。如是三年,国衰。诸侯谋之。太子悝患之,募左右曰:“孰能说王之意止剑士者,赐之千金。”
English translation
In former times, King Wen of Zhao was fond of swordsmanship. Sword fighters crowded at his gates as retainers, more than three thousand of them. Day and night they fought before him, and each year more than a hundred were killed or wounded, yet his fondness for it never tired. This went on for three years, and the state declined; the feudal lords plotted against it. The crown prince Kui was troubled by this and sought among his attendants, saying, "Whoever can persuade the king's mind and stop the sword fighters will be given a thousand pieces of gold."
Original Chinese text
左右曰:“庄子当能。”
English translation
The attendants said, "Zhuangzi should be able to do it."
Original Chinese text
太子乃使人以千金奉庄子。庄子弗受,与使者俱往,见太子曰:“太子何以教周,赐周千金?”
English translation
The crown prince then sent someone to present a thousand pieces of gold to Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi would not accept it; he went together with the messenger and, upon seeing the crown prince, said, "What does the crown prince wish to teach Zhou, that he bestows a thousand pieces of gold on Zhou?"
Original Chinese text
太子曰:“闻夫子明圣,谨奉千金以币从者,夫子弗受,悝尚何敢言。”
English translation
The crown prince said, "I have heard that you, Master, are enlightened and sage-like. I respectfully present a thousand pieces of gold as gifts for your followers. If you, Master, do not accept it, how would I, Kui, dare say anything further?"
Original Chinese text
庄子曰:“闻太子所欲用周者,欲绝王之喜好也。使臣上说大王而逆王意,下不当太子,则身刑而死,周尚安所事金乎?使臣上说大王,下当太子,赵国何求而不得也!”
English translation
Zhuangzi said, "I have heard that what the crown prince wishes to use Zhou for is to cut off the king's fondness. Suppose I, as a subject, go up to persuade the great king but go against the king's will, and below fail to match the crown prince: then my body will be punished and I will die. What use would Zhou then have for the gold? Suppose I, as a subject, persuade the great king above and match the crown prince below: what could Zhao seek and not obtain?"
Original Chinese text
太子曰:“然,吾王所见,唯剑士也。”
English translation
The crown prince said, "Yes. But the only people my king sees are sword fighters."
Original Chinese text
庄子曰:“诺。周善为剑。”
English translation
Zhuangzi said, “Very well. I, Zhou, am skilled in the sword.”
Original Chinese text
太子曰:“然吾王所见剑士,皆蓬头突鬓,垂冠,曼胡之缨,短后之衣,瞋目而语难,王乃说之。今夫子必儒服而见王,事必大逆。”
English translation
The crown prince said, “Yet the swordsmen our king sees all have disheveled hair and bristling sideburns; their caps hang low, with thick, coarse tassels; they wear coats short in the back; they glare and speak as if challenging others. The king delights in them. Now if you, Master, insist on meeting the king in Confucian attire, matters will surely go greatly awry.”
Original Chinese text
庄子曰:“请治剑服。”
English translation
Zhuangzi said, “Please let me prepare the attire of a swordsman.”
Original Chinese text
治剑服三日,乃见太子。太子乃与见王,王脱白刃持之。
English translation
After three days spent preparing the swordsman’s attire, he went to see the crown prince. The crown prince then went with him to see the king. The king drew a bright blade and held it in his hand.
Original Chinese text
庄子入殿门不趋,见王不拜。王曰:“子欲何以教寡人,使太子先?”
English translation
Zhuangzi entered the palace gate without quickening his step, and on seeing the king he did not bow. The king said, “With what do you wish to instruct me, that you have caused the crown prince to come first?”
Original Chinese text
曰:“臣闻大王喜剑,故以剑见王。”
English translation
He replied, “I, your servant, have heard that the great king delights in swords, and so I have come to see the king by means of the sword.”
Original Chinese text
王曰:“子之剑何能禁制?”
English translation
The king said, “How can your sword restrain and control an opponent?”
Original Chinese text
曰:“臣之剑,十步一人,千里不留行。”
English translation
Zhuangzi replied, “Your servant’s sword: one man every ten paces; over a thousand li it leaves no trace.”
Original Chinese text
王大悦之,曰:“天下无敌矣。”
English translation
The king was greatly delighted and said, “There is no match under Heaven.”
Original Chinese text
庄子曰:“夫为剑者,示之以虚,开之以利,后之以发,先之以至。愿得试之。”
English translation
Zhuangzi said, “In swordsmanship, one displays emptiness to the opponent, lures him to open himself by offering an advantage, acts after the opponent yet arrives first. I would like to be given a trial.”
Original Chinese text
王曰:“夫子休,就舍待命,令设戏请夫子。”
English translation
The king said, “Master, rest. Go to your lodging and await orders; I will have a contest arranged and invite you, Master.”
Original Chinese text
王乃校剑士七日,死者六十余人,得五六人,使奉剑于殿下,乃召庄子。王曰:“今日试使士敦剑。”
English translation
The king then tested the swordsmen for seven days; more than sixty died, and five or six were selected. He had them hold their swords at the foot of the hall, then summoned Zhuangzi. The king said, “Today I will try having the swordsmen match swords.”
Original Chinese text
庄子曰:“望之久矣!”
English translation
Zhuangzi said, "I have looked forward to this for a long time!"
Original Chinese text
王曰:“夫子所御杖,长短何如?”
English translation
The king said, "What is the length of the sword you wield, Master?"
Original Chinese text
曰:“臣之所奉皆可。然臣有三剑,唯王所用,请先言而后试。”
English translation
He replied, "Whatever your servant presents is acceptable. Yet your servant has three swords, all for the king to use. I beg leave to speak first and then test them."
Original Chinese text
王曰:“愿闻三剑。”
English translation
The king said, "I wish to hear about the three swords."
Original Chinese text
曰:“有天子剑,有诸侯剑,有庶人剑。”
English translation
Zhuangzi said, "There is the sword of the Son of Heaven, the sword of the feudal lords, and the sword of the common man."
Original Chinese text
王曰:“天子之剑何如?”
English translation
The king said, "What is the sword of the Son of Heaven like?"
Original Chinese text
曰:“天子之剑,以燕谿石城为锋,齐岱为锷;晋卫为脊,周宋为镡,韩魏为夹;包以四夷,裹以四时;绕以渤海,带以常山;制以五行,论以刑德;开以阴阳,持以春夏,行以秋冬。
English translation
He said: “The sword of the Son of Heaven has Yanxi and Shicheng as its point, Qi and Dai as its edge; Jin and Wei as its spine, Zhou and Song as its guard, Han and Wei as its grip. It is wrapped with the Four Barbarians, bound with the four seasons; encircled by the Bohai, belted by Mount Chang; governed by the Five Phases, judged by punishment and virtue; opened by yin and yang, held by spring and summer, wielded in autumn and winter.
Original Chinese text
此剑直之无前,举之无上,案之无下,运之无旁。上决浮云,下绝地纪。此剑一用,匡诸侯,天下服矣。此天子之剑也。”
English translation
When this sword is thrust forward, nothing stands before it; when raised, nothing is above it; when pressed down, nothing is below it; when wielded, nothing is beside it. Above, it cleaves the floating clouds; below, it severs the earth’s bonds. Once this sword is used, the feudal lords are rectified and the world submits. This is the sword of the Son of Heaven.”
Original Chinese text
文王芒然自失,曰:“诸侯之剑何如?”
English translation
King Wen, looking blank and as if he had lost himself, said: “What about the sword of the feudal lords?”
Original Chinese text
曰:“诸侯之剑,以知勇士为锋,以清廉士为锷,以贤良士为脊,以忠圣士为镡,以豪杰士为夹。此剑直之亦无前,举之亦无上,案之亦无下,运之亦无旁。
English translation
He said: “The sword of the feudal lords has the wise and brave as its point, the pure and upright as its edge, the worthy and good as its spine, the loyal and sage as its guard, and heroes and outstanding men as its grip. When this sword is thrust forward, there is likewise nothing ahead of it; when raised, nothing above it; when pressed down, nothing below it; when wielded, nothing beside it.
Original Chinese text
上法圆天以顺三光,下法方地以顺四时,中和民意以安四乡。此剑一用,如雷霆之震也,四封之内,无不宾服而听从君命者矣。此诸侯之剑也。”
English translation
Above, it takes the round heaven as its model and follows the three luminaries; below, it takes the square earth as its model and follows the four seasons; in the middle, it harmonizes the will of the people and brings peace to the four quarters. Once this sword is used, it is like the crash of thunder: within the four borders, there is none that does not submit and obey the ruler’s commands. This is the sword of the feudal lords.”
Original Chinese text
王曰:“庶人之剑何如?”
English translation
The king said: “What about the sword of the common people?”
Original Chinese text
曰:“庶人之剑,蓬头突鬓,垂冠,曼胡之缨,短后之衣,瞋目而语难。相击于前,上斩颈领,下决肝肺。此庶人之剑,无异于斗鸡,一旦命已绝矣,无所用于国事。
English translation
He said: 'The commoner's sword: with disheveled hair and jutting sideburns, a drooping cap, a coarse long tassel, a coat cut short at the back, glaring eyes, and halting speech. They strike one another; above they slash the neck, below they pierce liver and lungs. This commoner's sword is no different from cockfighting: once their lives are ended, they are of no use in the affairs of state.'
Original Chinese text
今大王有天子之位而好庶人之剑,臣窃为大王薄之。”
English translation
Now Your Majesty holds the position of a Son of Heaven, yet you are fond of the commoner's sword; I privately consider it beneath Your Majesty's regard.'
Original Chinese text
王乃牵而上殿,宰人上食,王三环之。庄子曰:“大王安坐定气,剑事已毕奏矣!”
English translation
The king then took him by the hand and led him up into the hall. The steward served food, and the king walked around it three times. Zhuangzi said: 'Your Majesty, sit at ease and settle your breath; the matter of the sword has already been fully presented.'
Original Chinese text
于是文王不出宫三月,剑士皆服毙其处也。
English translation
Thereupon King Wen did not leave the palace for three months, and the swordsmen all met their end there (the base text reads 服毙; one interpretation takes it as 伏毙, “fell dead”).