Liu Ji, also known as Liu Bowen, was a military strategist, a renowned prophet of the Ming Dynasty, and a master of fables. His literary masterpiece, Yuli Zi, consists of approximately 180 fables, encompassing profound and intricate ideas that convey deeper inner meanings.
If future generations could adopt the principles outlined in the book, Liu Bowen believed it would lead them to a prosperous and civilized society. The following story from his collection Concern for the Times illustrates this point.
In the story, Yuli Zi is feeling somewhat despondent. His assistant Xumi tried to advise him by stating: “The realization of your governing principles is determined by fate. Why do you worry about it, sir?”
Yuli Zi replied: “I am not concerned about the uselessness of my wisdom and talents. Instead, I worry about those who sail in the vast sea without a helmsperson. The boundless ocean is where waves gather, and fierce storms arise. It is full of risks and various perils.
“Ferocious creatures such as whales, sharks, sea dragons, and sea serpents abide there; all possess sharp teeth and weapons, eagerly awaiting their prey. If I do not consider these things now, how can I ensure my safety when I embark on a journey at sea?”
Xumi responded: “In the past, Tai Ming (a northern god) ruled Mount Buzhou (a legendary mountain in the northwest of Kunlun Mountain). The continuous erosion by the river caused cracks to develop in the mountain’s peaks. One time, Lao Tong, the son of Emperor Zhuan Xu, was traveling through and saw the cracks, realizing that if the mountain were not repaired, it would eventually collapse.
So he sought counsel with Tai to inform him: “The Mountain is on the verge of collapse!” Tai took offense to these deceptive words and became furious. After his failed attempt here, Lao told Tai’s attendants the same thing.
The attendants were equally filled with anger, asking: “How could the mountain break? We have been here since the beginning of the world. Only when the heavens and the earth collapse will the mountain fragment!” They moved to pick up their weapons, intending to kill him. Startled, Lao quickly fled.
Sometime later, Kanghui (an ancient mythological figure) passed by Mount Buzhou. Tai treated him with equal disrespect and took measures to cause harm. As a result of this unwarranted ill-treatment, the enraged Kanghui rammed his head into Mount Buzhou.
The impact caused the previously cracked peaks, weakened by water erosion, to fold. The rocks collapsed like blocks of ice, rolling down and blocking the river below, causing disastrous flooding. Terrified by the disaster, Tai fled and eventually perished on Kunlun Mountain. All his attendants lost their families and perished.
“Nowadays, sir, could your concerns, like those of Lao in the story, impact rulers like Tai?” questioned Xumi.
This fable Concern for the Times illustrates a point; those who can envision the bigger picture of life have the foresight to think ahead and warn people to prevent potential dangers, while those who are arrogant and do not heed advice often meet an unfortunate end. However, in reality, it appears that people often think too highly of themselves and disregard the direction of the wise.
In today’s modern world, society faces many dangers; crises and risks exist everywhere, and conflicts constantly arise with the potential for explosive outcomes. Whenever knowledgeable individuals with conscience raise their voices to alert and warn people, those who are privileged and have power and influence in society fear that these voices may threaten their interests.
Consequently, they resort to all means to suppress or imprison these noble individuals. However, they fail to consider that their fate will be unimaginable once the final straw breaks the camel’s back.
Liu Bowen’s story cautions us to guard against small risks and heed honest and faithful counsel. We must not let the allure of immediate gain and prosperity blind our eyes. Otherwise, when the actual moment of danger arrives, we will only awaken to reality when it’s too late to respond effectively to the peril.
