Retrieving the sword by the mark carved on the boat
It was during the period of the Warring States in China that while crossing the river in a boat, a native of the State of Chu inadvertently dropped his sword into the river.
He immediately used a sharp object to carve a mark on the side of the boat over which the sword had sunk into the river.
He then reminded himself, "This is the spot where my sword has dropped."
After the boat had come ashore, he jumped into the river by the mark he had carved earlier trying to retrieve his sword. He was, of course, dissappointed.
This was because he had failed to realize that the boat had moved away from the spot where the sword had sunk and that the sword could not have moved with the boat.
Was it not silly of him to try and retrieve his sword by the method he used ?
This saying can now be used on people who make a mess of things because they stubbornly cling to their old ideas and refuse to change with circumstances.
He immediately used a sharp object to carve a mark on the side of the boat over which the sword had sunk into the river.
He then reminded himself, "This is the spot where my sword has dropped."
After the boat had come ashore, he jumped into the river by the mark he had carved earlier trying to retrieve his sword. He was, of course, dissappointed.
This was because he had failed to realize that the boat had moved away from the spot where the sword had sunk and that the sword could not have moved with the boat.
Was it not silly of him to try and retrieve his sword by the method he used ?
This saying can now be used on people who make a mess of things because they stubbornly cling to their old ideas and refuse to change with circumstances.
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