Related stories

Implementation Measures of the "Rules of the People's Republic of China on Customs Protection of Intellectual Property Rights" The Case of No. 11 Bus Zheng Jian Fa [2004] No. 67 -- Notice of the China Securities Regulatory Commission on Several Issues Concerning Regulation of Overseas Listing of Companies Affiliated to Domestic Listed Companies Order No. 31 of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) - Provisions of Administration on Sino-Foreign Joint Films Production (the Provisions) Rules for the Implementation of Regulations on the Management of Foreign Invested Financial Institutes for the People's Republic of China (the Rules)

The Case of "Man Wanting More"

n Chinese myth, mankind’s search for MORE (DUO YI DIAN), started at the beginning (kaishi) of creation. Man (ren) awoke to a playful existence. His inventive mind worked and elaborated many games of luck, skill and fun. “But how long would this gaming last?” wondered man. So he pronounced his journey,” I will go to yonder mountain top (gaofeng), to scream to the sky (tian) and ask how long I will live.” A few animals heard the decree and followed at a safe distance.

Climbing to the (gaofeng) was the hardest work man (ren) had ever done. His fingers were callused by the cliffs, his toes bled from the excursion, but his soul was lifted as he saw the red lanterns of the emperor (huangdi) of the sky (tian).

“Nin hao?” said the kowtowing man (ren), “Please share your divine wisdom with me. How many years shall I have to frolic (wan) in the garden, to “toss tiles” (play mah-jong) or play Chinese battle chess? HOW LONG WILL I LIVE (huo)?”

The huangdi hid his surprised face with some clouds from his mammoth beard. He had not thought about such things before. Life with an end?  The huangdi of tian had observed man’s play for many passings of the nine suns. He favoured man’s creativity and outgoing playfulness. “I will give man 20 years of frolicking (wan yi wan),” huangdi pronounced with a voice that shook the gaofeng, thus hindering the climbing of the animals that were following man.

Now it was man that hid his surprise with his beard, ”AHH, OH, thanks a bunch,” man said. But his thoughts were less gracious, “Hmm, only 20 years? (ershi nian)”

As the man grumbled, the horse came to bow before the heavens, asking with a polite neigh, “HOW LONG WILL I LIVE (huo)?”

Huangdi felt a little sorry for the upset, his favourite of all the animals, so he decided to give the horse 20 years (ershi nian) of life, but all of those years would pass in hard work and strife in service to man (ren).

Shaking, and sorry he followed (ren) up this steep gaofeng, the horse replied, “Ershi nian of hard labour is too much, just give me 10, if you will.”

Huangdi agreed that 10 years of hard life was sufficient. Then the dog crested the gaofeng wagging his tail; he slobbered out, “HOW LONG WILL I LIVE?” (Wo hui huo duo jiu?”)

Again the huangdi thought of his favourite and said, “Dogs will have (ershi nian) of labour and loyal service to man. Twenty years, that’s nice.”

The dog whimpered as if he had been kicked, “Oh, holder of the great bone in tian, 10 years of such a life would be plenty.”

“I will make it so,” the huangdi promised.

Next came an onslaught of animals all asking the same question, “HOW LONG WILL WE LIVE?” (Wo hui huo duo jiu?) There was the pig, the cat, the monkey, and the ox. All got the same answer from huangdi, all chose only 10 years of hard work.

Man, who had been “stewing” in the corner, saw an opportunity for MORE. (duo yi dian)

“Or gracious huangdi,” ren began, “since you offered the horse (ershi nian) and he only took 10, there are ten years unused, correct?”

“What is your point?” asked the huangdi, a little agitated at where the questioning was going.

“One man gathers what another man spills, or horse spills, or ox spills.”

“So?” the skies shook.

“Please give his excess years of life (shengming) to me. And the years that the dog threw away, please add them on to my total, and the rest. Can I have there unwanted years?”

“Of course, any creature so adamant about wanting MORE (duo yi dian) and (duo yi dian) should get what’s coming to them.” Huangdi gave ren the extra 60 years. (liushi nian)

And so the smug ren took his dou yidian and wan gleefully for (ershi nian). After those years however, man was burdened with labour as a horse for 10 years, then burdened like an ox for 10, and so on.