Asking for Directions
Literature of the State of Chu 1
Yuan Qu had been in exile for three years and was therefore unable to see
King Huai of the State of Chu. Qu devoted his wisdom and loyalty to King Huai,
but the king did not trust him because he was blinded by slander against Yuan Qu.
Qu was perplexed in mind and did not know what to do. Consequently, he went to
see the Official Diviner, Zhan-yin Zheng. Qu said, "I have several questions.
Hopefully, I can rely on you to solve them." Diviner Zhang prepared stalks of
grass, polished his tortoise-shells 2, and asked,
"What are your questions?"
Yuan Qu said, "Is it not better to be sincere and loyal to the king rather
than flatter and impress others endlessly? Is it not better to cultivate
prosperity by strenuously weeding and hoeing rather than fish for fame by
flattering dignitaries? Is it not better to risk my life by speaking without
reservation rather than yield to custom of the wealthy and powerful to drag out
an ignoble existence? Is it not better to be free from temptation and elevate
myself to preserve my virtue rather than seek to please a woman
3 by
speaking hesitantly and pretending to tremble as though awed by Her Majesty? Is
it not better to be honest to preserve my integrity rather than be cunning to
curry favor without a backbone? Is it not better to be a high-spirited fine
horse rather than a wild duck that floats about in water up and down just to
preserve its life at all cost? Is it not better to compete with the best horse
rather than follow an inferior one? Is it not better to fly wing to wing with an
eagle rather than fight for food with chickens and ducks? What bodes ill? What
bodes well? This world is turbid and disordered: A cicada's wing is considered
heavy; a hundredweight is considered light. The large bell is discarded; an
earthen pot thunders. Slanderers rise to exalted stations; wise officials are
ousted. It is best for me to remain silent. Who will understand my loyalty and
integrity?"
After Yin Zhan listened to Qu's questions, he put the stalks of grass and
tortoise-shells aside and politely refused to perform a divination by saying, "A
foot has its shortcomings; an inch has its advantages. A tool has its limits. A
wise man has something that he does not understand. Calculations may not be
sufficient to solve a problem. Sometimes even a deity cannot foretell the
future. Do whatever your judgment tells you to. Divination by means of
tortoise-shells and stalks of grass really cannot answer your questions."
1
The phrase "Literature of the State of Chu" originally referred to the
literature of people of Chu in general. After Xiang Liu of the Western Han
dynasty compiled the book, Literature of the State of Chu, the phrase
acquired a specific referent. The summary of Si-Ku-Chuan-Shu describes
Literature of the State of Chu compiled by Yi Wang by saying, "At first Xiang Liu collected
'Lament in Exile', 'Nine Songs', 'Questioning the Heavens',
'Nine Chapters', 'Traveling Faraway', 'Asking for Directions', and 'Fishermen'
by Yuan Qu; 'Nine Debates', 'Conjuring Spirits', and 'Jing-chai-da-zhao' by Yu
Song; 'Treasuring the Oath' by Yi Jia; 'Recruiting Hermits' by Xiao-shan
Huai-nan; 'Seven Pieces of Advice' by Sho Dong-fang; 'Lament for Misfortune' by Ji Yan; and
'Nine Sighs' by Xiang Liu. In total, there were sixteen essays in
Liu's original collection. Yi Wang added his own essay, 'Nine thoughts' and two
essays by Gu Ban. Yi Wang also annotated all the essays in his extended
collection." This summary tells us the origin and broad outline of Literature
of the State of Chu.
The conversation between Yuan Qu and Yin Zhan was fabricated by Yuan Qu. Yi
Wang says, "Yuan Qu was perplexed and did not know what to do. Therefore, he
went to the Official Diviner and asked for divine advice so that he could follow
the right path in the future." Wang's interpretation is incorrect. Xi Zhu says,
“The conversation was Yuan Qu's pretext. He pitied his contemporaries' dishonest
practices, so he pretended that he did not know the right choice between two
options and sought answers by divination." Zhu's interpretation is absolutely
right.
2
Stalks of grass and tortoise-shells are tools used in divination.
3 "A woman" refers to Xiu Zheng, the favorite concubine of King Huai of Chu.
