Hi guys

I wrote this article a few years back... Thought you fellas might like it...


" According to one Chinese military source, China has engaged in a total of 3790 recorded internal and external historical wars from 1100 BC (Western Zhou period) to 1911 (the end of the Qing Dynasty), ie. 3790 recorded wars in a timespan of 3011 years, an average of 1.26 wars per year from 1100 BC to 1911.

Such is China's long history of warfare and unending dynastic renewal , that it is not surprising that expert warriors such as strategists, tacticians, field generals, commandos, assassins, marksmen archers, elite calvary and anti-calvary infantry and of course swordsmen would emerge. But let us confine our discussion here to the swordsmen....

Based on 2000 year old historical records of the Han Dynasty, the earliest legendary swordsman was not a man but a woman.

Goujian, the King of the State of Yue (496-465 BC, late Spring and Autumn period) was supposedly to have been introduced by his loyal and able minister Fan Li to a young lady who was famous as a sword fighter. The story goes........

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The King asked her, " Of all the methods of fighting with the sword, which is the best ?"

She answered, " I was born in the depth of the forests and I grew up in the wilds where no other people have ventured. So there was no "method" for me and I followed no course of instruction, for I never ventured into the feudal fiefs. Secretly, I yearned for a true method of fighting and I practiced endlessly. I never learned it from anyone: I just realized one day that I could do it."

"And what method do you practice now?" asked the King.

"The method involves great subtlety and constant change [of movement]; its principles involve great mystery and depth. The method involves both "front doors and "back doors" as well as hard and soft aspects. Opening the "front door" and closing the "back door" closes off the soft aspect and bring the hard aspect to the fore.

"Whenever you have hand-to-hand combat, you need to have nerves of steel on the inside, but be totally calm on the outside. I must look like a demure young lady but fight like a startled tiger. My profile changes with the action of my body, and both follow my subconscious. Overshadow your adversary like the sun; but scuttle like a flushed hare. Become a whirl of silhouettes and shadows; shimmer like a mirage. Inhaling, exhaling, moving in, moving back out, keeping yourself out of reach, using your strategy to block out the adversary, vertical, horizontal, resisting, following, straight, devious, and all without a sound. With a method like this, one can match a hundred; a hundred men can match ten thousand. If Your Majesty wants to try me out, you can have a demonstration right away."

The King of Yue was overjoyed and immediately gave her the title "Daughter of Yue". Then he ordered the divisional commanders and crack troops to practice the new method so that they could pass on to the troops. From then on, the method was known as "The Daughter of Yue's Swordsmanship".


This excerpt is from the Han Dynasty work, "The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue", and is found on pages 156-157 of the book "Chinese Archery", author and translator: Stephen Selby (HongKong University Press, 2000)
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As you can see from the passage, this lady's swordsmanship principles embody very much the essence of Sun Tzu's Art of War...to be devious, unpredictable and the constant use of the indirect approach ...... emphasizing mobility. Incidentally, Sun Tzu was a fellow contemporary of hers if she was indeed a real historical figure.


Around the same time that this legend was recorded in the Han Dynasty, there was a swordsmanship manual in circulation known as the "Way of the Sword" or "Jian Dao"(Japanese kanji pronunciation is "Kendo") in 38 chapters. Sadly, this book was lost, but one could get a rough idea of Han Dynasty swordsmanship through the passages recorded above.


The late Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period of China were incredible times for the study of swordsmanship. The King of the State of Chao was recorded as having loved swordsmanship and having 3000 swordsmen at his palace, where they competed against each other in bare-blade swordfights before the King day and night. After a year, the casualty rate was a hundred...

Another famous swordsman/assassin who lived slightly after was the immortalized Jingke, whom everyone knows tried to assassinate the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di with a top quality dagger that was poison-coated. He failed, of course, and the rest is history. He was recorded in the history books as having loved book-learning and swordsmanship and had even engaged a fellow swordsman in a debate on the tactics and principles of swordsmanship.

Xiangyu, the famous warrior and contender (his title then was known as "the Hegemon of Chu") who fought against Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, studied swordsmanship under a relative and complained that swordsmanship teaches one to fight one foe at a time, but he wanted to learn to fight ten thousand foes. His relative proceeded to teach him military strategy instead.


Below is a translation of the first recorded swordsmanship practice fight, between Cao Pei (who flourished in the Three Kingdoms period and ruled as Emperor of the Wei Dynasty, 220-226 AD) and a fellow general Dengzhan.

Cao Pei's father was the famous general Cao Cao, one of the main protagonists in the Ming classical military novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Incidentally, Cao Cao and Cao Pei were also known to be sword connoisseurs, and there are first hand accounts and records surviving today that detail their commissions to their swordsmiths to forge exquisite swords for their personal use and collection. Cao Cao's commentary on Sun Tzu's Art of War, is still extant and was considered by past Chinese military scholars (including myself, ahem !!!) to be the best ever commentary on the Art of War throughout the various dynasties.


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……………I had also learned swordsmanship, and had many teachers. Different places have differing styles of swordsmanship, but it is at the Capital (Luoyang City) where it really excels. At the Capital, during the time of (Han Dynasty) Emperors Huan and Ling, there was an official by the name of Wangyue who was correspondingly famous. A Mr Shi-ah from Henan province once said that he had studied under Wangyue, and had learned all his techniques. Hence, I proceeded to study under Shi-ah, and became thoroughly familiar with his swordsmanship style and skills.

In the past, I have had drinking sessions with Generals Liuxun, Fenwei and Dengzhan. All this while, I had long heard of Dengzhan’s skills in empty hand techniques and in the five types of weapons, plus an ability to use his bare hands to engage opponents with bladed weapons. I also had long discussions with him on swordsmanship, and had criticized his swordsmanship skills as deficient. As I had loved swordsmanship and was skilful at it, Dengzhan requested for a (friendly) match.

As we were all in the midst of heavy drinking and chewing sugarcane stalks, we decided then to use sugarcane stalks as our swords. After walking down from the elevated platform to ground level, we started fighting…...…. it resulted in me hitting him on the shoulder 3 times. Everyone around laughed……. Dengzhan was not satisfied, and requested for a rematch. I told him that my movement was too hectic, not accurate enough to strike his middle chest area, which was why I decided to hit his shoulder instead. Dengzhan thereupon repeated his request for a rematch.

........As I had anticipated that he would aim for a rapid forward advance and strike me in the middle chest area, I pretended to move forward towards him, thereupon he rushed towards me. Retreating my steps suddenly, I then (simultaneously) proceeded to strike him on his head. Everyone on the elevated platform was stunned ………. I proceeded to go back to my seat, and while laughing, said, “In the past, just as Yangqin made Chun Yuyi* give up his past methods of medicine, and taught him anew his own methods, I hope General Deng would let go of his old ways….and learn the correct Way.”


* These 2 gentlemen were doctors....
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There are many other warriors who studied swordsmanship and were skilled in the Jian and Dao throughout the later dynasties. Try doing a Chinese character word search on the CD-ROM database of the "Official Dynastic Histories" and you will know what I mean.

In parting, I wish to highlight a prominent Chinese swordsman who lived in the early part of the 20th century, who went by the name Sun Yu Feng, and who was a famous martial artist of the equally famous Jing Wu Association. Sun Yu Feng was so reknown that he even had the nickname " the Saber King of Five (Chinese) Provinces". He was the master of a style called Luohan Swordsmanship (using a two-handed dao) and was known to have dispatched bandits and robbers with it. Another famous disciple of his, Huang Xiao Xia, had taught this form to Chinese soldiers and civilians in the anti-Japanese resistance movement in 1920s-30s to counter the invading Japanese soldiers' swordplay. This form is still practiced and taught in HongKong. How I wish I could fly down to HongKong and learn from the instructors there. If only I can find the time........"

In the Book of Assasins in Shiji, and in terms of martial arts and skills, I would say Jing Ke was probably the worst. He failed to kill Qin Shihuang, and was even beaten one on one by Qin Shihuang. How good an assasin was Jing Ke? No good man.

OTOH, I think Lie Zheng was the best. He passed through the entire Han army/guard like no-man's land, killed the Han prime minister, who was heavily guarded, in one blow, then killed a few dozen body guard, and still had time to destroy his face and suicide. This is tremendous skill, strength and mentality.

Of course... stories are stories...
Thomas, I thought Sun Tzu worked mostly for the Wu, and it was under the father of 夫差, the last Wu king, so he would probably have dated slightly earlier than Yue Nu (though i've heard that story too)

IIRC, another one of the more recent famous swordsmen of the last century was 李錦林, who was surprisngly, one of the numerous warlords during the early republic periods, he was famous for loving Wu Shu and aside from being very skilled himself, also brought many famous Wu Shu masters under him to learn from them, one such artist was the incrediablly famous Ba Gua and spear master 李書文, it was said tht Warlord Lee acturally beat 李書文 who had the title "god of spears" in one of their matchs (well... u may say that Lee Shu Wen gave in on purpose.. but he was known to have killed many of he's oppenet in simliar matchs)

fantastic piece. You should post more often Thomas Chen!

Lie Zheng seems like an interesting character, do you know more about him, Lobster?

His name is actually Nie Zheng, and his story is in the Chapter on Assassins (Ci'ke Liezhuan) in the Shiji, same place as the story of Jing Ke.

Quotable quote:
"To make use of the sword," Chuang Tzu said, "first make an empty feint. Then open your opponent by giving him an obvious advantage. Then strike, and get there first...."



Check out this story... probably partially true but romanticised and embellished with philosophical leanings typical of the Chuang Tzu school...

Chuang Tzu -- Chapter 30: Speaking of Swords

In the old days, King Wen of Chao delighted in swordsmanship. Swordsmen crowded around his gates and he had more than three thousand of them as retainers. Day and night, they came before him to have at each other, and the harvest of killed and wounded exceeded a hundred per year. But he loved it relentlessly, and within three years the whole country was in decline, and neighboring feudal lords all began plotting and scheming against it.

Crown Prince Kuei, seeing the calamity, summoned his retinue together and said, "I'll give a thousand in gold to anyone who can convince the king to stop all this swordplay."

The retainers replied, "Chuang Tzu can do it!"

So the crown prince sent one of his men to take a thousand in gold to Chuang Tzu. But the master declined the offer, returning with the man nevertheless for an audience with the crown prince.

"What do you ask of me that I should be rewarded with a thousand gold?"

"I've heard you are an enlightened sage, and I, your humble follower, humbly sent a thousand gold to support your entourage. If you are unwilling to accept it, how could I dare speak more of it?"

"I've heard that the crown prince wishes to use me," Chuang Tzu said, "to cut off the king's delight and his addiction. But if you send me to speak before the king, and I offend him, I will have failed you as well, and this body will be punished to death. What use will I have for gold then? And if I meet your end through speaking up, what in the land of Chao might I ask for that would not be granted?"

"That's so," the crown prince said, "But our king gives audience only to swordsmen."

"No problem," Chuang Tzu counted, "I'm good with swords."

"Good. But all the swordsmen who are granted an audience with the king have hair like brambles and bristling beards," the prince replied. "They wear loose caps with course straps dangling, and robes that cut short behind. They glare and tell war stories, and the king loves it. If you go to an audience dressed like one of those Confucian weaklings, you'll certainly offend him."

"If it pleases your highness, I'll submit to being dressed to kill."

Over the following days, Chuang Tzu got "dressed fit to kill" like a swordsman, then sought audience with the crown prince. The crown prince escorted him to an audience with the king. The king bared his sword's white blade as he awaited them. Chuang Tzu entered the palace doorway unhurriedly, and when he saw the king, he didn't bow.

The king demanded, "What have you got to show me now that you've gotten the crown prince to put you forward?"

"I've heard the great king delights in swords, so I've brought mine to the king's audience."

"And what special powers have you with the sword?"

"My sword? Put a man against me and my sword, one at every ten paces, and we'll stroll through them for a thousand li pausing,"

The king was impressed, "There's no match for you in All-under-heaven!"

"To make use of the sword," Chuang Tzu said, "first make an empty feint. Then open your opponent by giving him an obvious advantage. Then strike, and get there first. But let me demonstrate."

"You, sir, go and take your rest in your quarters," the king said, "Await my command. When the show is arranged, I will call for you."

For seven days, the king held combat. Some sixty swordsmen were killed or wounded. He finally chose five or six to submit themselves and their swords to the test before the court. Then he summoned Chuang Tzu. "Today we'll show these knights some honest swordsmanship," he smiled.

"I've been waiting for this," Chuang Tzu replied.

"Long sword or short, sir?" the king asked.

"Oh, any kind will do," Chuang Tzu smiled. "In fact, I brought three that might be fit for a king. If you don't mind, I'll speak of them before submitting them to the test. I have the Sword of the Son of Heaven, the Sword of the Feudal Lord, and the sword of the ordinary man."

"What's this Sword of the Son of Heaven like?" the king demanded.

"The Sword of the Son of Heaven takes the valley and the great stone wall of the state of Yen as its point, the realms of Ch'i and Tai for its blade, the lands of Chin and Way for its forte and foible. The states of Chou and Sung are its hilt, and Han and Wei are its pommel. It's securely wrapped by the four barbarian tribes and tied with the string of the Four Seasons. Its scabbard is the Sea of Po, and its belt is the Mountain of the Enduring Heart. The Five Elements give it order, and the example of the Power of Virtue provides its judgments. Yin and Yang draw this blade. Spring and summer grasp it. Autumn and winter are its use. Thrust, and nothing stands before it; parry high and none will rise above it; parry low, and nothing will get beneath it; parry to the side, and none will get around it. Above, it slices floating clouds; below, it pierces the stolid earth. Use this sword but once, and the feudal lords will see their master and All-under-heaven will submit. Such is the Sword of the Son of Heaven."

King Wen looked confused, as if he'd lost a trial with himself. "And the Sword of the Feudal Lord," he asked, "what about that?"

"The Sword of the Feudal Lord has knowing and courageous knights for its point, pure and chaste knights for its blade, worthy and excellent knights for its forte and foible, loyal and sage knights as its hilt, and bold warriors and bravos as its pommel. Thrust with this sword, and nothing stands before it. Parry high, and none will outreach it; parry low, and none will get under it; parry to the side, and none will get around it. Its highest reach rounds the heavens, following the lead of sun, moon, and stars. Its lowest reach squares with the earth, following the Four Seasons. In the middle it harmonizes with the song in the hearts of the people, bringing peace to every village. Use this sword but once, and in the shudder of the thunderbolt there will be none who do not submit to hear and abide by the commands of the lord. This is the Sword of the Feudal Lord."

"And what about the sword of the ordinary man?" King Wen asked.

"The swords of ordinary men—men with hair like brambles and with bristling beards? Loose-capped, with coarse straps dangling, with robes cut short behind? The kind that glare and relish telling war stories? That sword, when it thrusts, is met with a thrust. Parry high with it, and it lets in a sweep that lops heads from necks. Parry low, and it lets in a thrust that pierces liver or lung. Those who would strike with the sword of an ordinary man are nothing but fighting cocks. One morning they crow. One word from you, and they'll croak. They're no use to your realm. Now a Great King has the standing to become the Son of Heaven, yet you are addicted to the swords of ordinary men. Your servant dares to suggest that this is unworthy of you."

The king took Chuang Tzu in hand and led him into the High Hall. The chief chef prepared a meal, but the king just circled around it.

"Oh, Great King," Chuang Tzu urged, "sit quiet. Settle your ch'i. The sword business is done."

The king remained inside the palace for three months. The swordsmen submitted themselves to their swords in their own chambers.

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The above article is from this webpage:
http://www.panlatrevo.com/texts/chuangtzu/....php?chapter=30

Hey Thomas, great stuff! Keep them coming!

thanks for the info!


also, i am curious as to where i can read Cao Cao's commentary on Sun Zi Bing Fa

Wow.


In the risk of spamming, I have to add this line.

Thomas Chen, keep it going! This is definitely good motivation to learn how to read, hahah

Excellent... excellent!

I wouldn't say Jing Ke was terrible. He is just a failure. A noble failure in the historians eye.
You know, his plan was FUBAR halfway through when Qin Wuyang started shaking...without his assistant, it would be a LOT harder against a man with a sword. Of course, that it also to say that he should have killed the king if he was better BEFORE the sword was drawn.

OK my mandarin is not the best... it's Nie Zheng.

Jing Ke struck when Qin Shihuang was in shock, but Yin Zheng still managed to kick the table at Jing Ke and ran away... after all Jing Ke might not be that bad, it's just that Yin Zheng seemed to have decent fitness, composure, response time and swordsmanship, good enough to defeat a dagger-wielding assasin with a sword.

Yo bros

Thanks for the approval and encouragement...


RE: also, i am curious as to where i can read Cao Cao's commentary on Sun Zi Bing Fa

You can try looking for a copy of "shi jia zhu" or "shi yi jia zhu Sun Zi"... ie 10 Commentators on Sun Tzu or 11 Commentators on Sun Tzu... These were published during the Song Dynasty... There are modern editions of these available, published in Taiwan and China... In my opinion, Cao Cao's commentary is the best...

There is also a high quality modern copy, reproduced and scanned from the original and extremely rare Song Dynasty (dated 13th century) edition in the Shanghai National Library and is made like an old classical book, using traditional Chinese paper; book covers made from cloth decorated with flowers and bound with thread. It comes with a handsome classical Chinese-style hardcase cover.

The original used to be in the collection of the Imperial Library during the Qing Dynasty; the reproduced copy here has the Qing Emperor Qianlong's seal marks, printed in red ink, like the original.....

l recommend this book as a must-have for all you Sun Tzu fanatics out there....even if one cannot read Chinese... It is a beautiful book that should belong to every scholar's study...

You can try asking United States-based Chinese art books Internet bookseller http://www.paragonbook.com to try to order the book for you. The book is selling for 200 Chinese yuan in China...

Title: "Song Ben Shi Yi Jia Zhu Sun Zi"
Publisher: Shanghai Guji Chubanshe
Date: March 2003
ISBN number: 7 - 5325 - 3252 - 6 / B.382

Or you can try reputable Beijing-based Internet bookseller:

http://www.bookchinese.com

They sell books to overseas customers at the original mainland price....

Ok, I'm salivating now.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll probably try and get a copy.

Thomas Chen, it would be great if you can provide the chinese characters to these chinese books and source, instead of just in pinyin, so that we can check up in chinese library.

For information on how to input chinese character, please refer to
http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=982

"shi jia zhu Sun Zi" and "shi yi jia zhu Sun Zi"

十家注孙子 and 十一家注孙子

The Song reproduction copy is: 宋本十一家注孙子

聶政者，軹深井里人也．殺人避仇，與母﹑姊如齊，以屠為事．

Niezheng was from Shenjing village, Chi county. Killed someone and needed to flee from avengers, he, together with his mother and elder sister, moved to Qi, and earned living as a butcher.

久之，濮陽嚴仲子事韓哀侯，與韓相俠累有卻．嚴仲子恐誅，亡去，游求人可以報俠累者．至齊，齊人或言聶政勇敢士也，避仇隱於屠者之閒．嚴仲子至門請，數反，然後具酒自暢聶政母前．酒酣，嚴仲子奉黃金百溢，前為聶政母壽．聶政驚怪其厚，固謝嚴仲子．嚴仲子固進，而聶政謝曰：「臣幸有老母，家貧，客游以為狗屠，可以旦夕得甘毳以養親．親供養備，不敢當仲子之賜．」嚴仲子辟人，因為聶政言曰：「臣有仇，而行游諸侯矣；然至齊，竊聞足下義甚高，故進百金者，將用為大人麤糲之費，得以交足下之驩，豈敢以有求望邪！」聶政曰：「臣所以降志辱身居市井屠者，徒幸以養老母；老母在，政身未敢以許人也．」嚴仲子固讓，聶政竟不肯受也．然嚴仲子卒備賓主之禮而去．

Some time later, Yan Sui of Puyang was serving Baron Ai of Han, and was not getting along well with the prime minister of Han, Xialei. Yan feared he would be persecuted, so he fled, traveled around and ask for anyone who could avenge Xialei for him. He arrived in Qi, and the people of Qi told him Nie Zheng was a brave man, currently hiding himself among the butchers from his avengers.

Yan visited Nie's home several times, then offered wine to Nie's mother. When they were drinking, Yan offered 100 yis of gold for Nie's mother's birthday. Nie Zheng was shocked by the big gift, and refused it. But Yan insisted, so Nie said, "I'm fortunately to have my mother. Being poor, I butcher to make small profits day to day, to support my mother. Since my mother's support is sufficient, I'm afraid I cannot accept your gift."

Yan told his servants to leave, and told Nie, "I have an enemy, and I have fled through a lot of nations. When I arrived in Qi, I heard you are a virtuous man, so I offer this gold for your day to day living, just to make a good friend. How would I have other wishes?" Nie replied, "The reason I hide among the butchers is to raise my mother. If my mother is still here, I cannot offer myself to anyone else." Yan insisted, and Nie still didn't accept. But Yan finished the meeting respectably.

久之，聶政母死．既已葬，除服，聶政曰：「嗟乎！政乃市井之人，鼓刀以屠；而嚴仲子乃諸侯之卿相也，不遠千里，枉車騎而交臣．臣之所以待之，至淺鮮矣，未有大功可以稱者，而嚴仲子奉百金為親壽，我雖不受，然是者徒深知政也．夫賢者以感忿睚之意而親信窮僻之人，而政獨安得嘿然而已乎！且前日要政，政徒以老母；老母今以天年終，政將為知己者用．」乃遂西至濮陽，見嚴仲子曰：「前日所以不許仲子者，徒以親在；今不幸而母以天年終．仲子所欲報仇者為誰？請得從事焉！」嚴仲子具告曰：「臣之仇韓相俠累，俠累又韓君之季父也，宗族盛多，居處兵甚設，臣欲使人刺之，終莫能就．今足下幸而不棄，請益其車騎壯士可為足下輔翼者．」聶政曰：「韓之與，相去中閒不甚遠，今殺人之相，相又國君之親，此其勢不可以多人，多人不能無生得失，生得失則語泄，語泄是韓舉國而與仲子為讎，豈不殆哉！」遂謝車騎人徒，聶政乃辭獨行．

Some time later, Nie Zheng's mother died. After the funeral and rituals, Nie Zheng said, "Alas! Zheng is only a commoner, a butcher; but Yan Sui is among the generals and ministers of the states. He came from far away to meet and make friend with me, and I have nothing to pay him back. I have not done a great thing, but he gifted 100 yis of gold for mother's birthday. Although I refused the gift, he still is one who knows Zheng. Gentlemen pay back courtesy of friendly glances and trust people from poor villages, so how can Zheng be silent? And in the past, he wanted Zheng, but I had to serve mother; now mother has passed away, Zheng will be for Yan's use."

So Nie went west to Puyang, capital of the state of Wei (衛, not 魏). He met Yan Sui and said, "I did not offer myself to you in the past because of my mother; but now unfortunately she passed away. Who do you want to avenge? Please let me serve you." Yan said, "My enemy is Xialei, prime minister of Han, and he is the Baron's uncle. He has a big family and a lot of guards. I wanted to send assasins, but could not find anyone capable. Now that you have come to me, please let me employ chariots and fighters for you."

Nie replied, "Han and Wei are close. Now we are killing a prime minister, and he is a relative of the Baron. We cannot bring too many people, otherwise our plan will leak out, and the whole state of Han will be your enemy, and that will not be good!" So he refused the chariots and fighters and went to Han alone.

杖劍至韓，韓相俠累方坐府上，持兵戟而侍者甚．聶政直入，上階刺殺俠累，左右大亂．聶政大呼，所擊殺者數十人，因自皮面決眼，自屠出腸，遂以死．

Nie Zheng went to Han with his sword. Prime minister Xialei was at his mansion, guards with halberds and other weapons were numerous. Nie went straight in, went to Xialei's seat and killed him, creating a big chaos. Nie shouted, killed dozens of guards. Then he destroyed his face and killed himself.

韓取聶政屍暴於市，購問莫知誰子．於是韓縣購之，有能言殺相俠累者予千金．久之莫知也．

The Baron of Han put Nie Zheng's corpse in the market and offered an award on anyone who knew him, but no one knew. Then he order his people in each village, he who could tell who killed Xialei will get 1000 yis of gold. But no one could tell.

政姊榮聞人有刺殺韓相者，賊不得，國不知其名姓，暴其尸而縣之千金，乃於邑曰：「其是吾弟與？嗟乎，嚴仲子知吾弟！」立起，如韓，之市，而死者果政也，伏尸哭極哀，曰：「是軹深井里所謂聶政者也．」市行者諸人皆曰：「此人暴虐吾國相，王縣購其名姓千金，夫人不聞與？何敢來識之也？」榮應之曰：「聞之．然政所以蒙辱自棄於市販之閒者，為老母幸無恙，妾未嫁也．親既以天年下世，妾已嫁夫，嚴仲子乃察舉吾弟困之中而交之，澤厚矣，可柰何！士固為知己者死，今乃以妾尚在之故，重自刑以絕從，妾其柰何畏歿身之誅，終滅賢弟之名！」大驚韓市人．乃大呼天者三，卒於邑悲哀而死政之旁．

Zheng's elder sister Rong heard the news, so she said, "Is he my brother? Alas, Yan Sui knows my brother!" She went immediately to Han's capital, and found that it really was Zheng. She lied on the corpse and cried, and said, "This is Nie Zheng of Shenjing village, Chi county." People in the market said, "This man killed the prime minister of our state, and the Baron wants his name for 1000 yis of gold, have you not heard about this? How can you dare come and identify him?"

Rong replied, "I heard about it. But the reason why Zheng hide himself among the butchers, is for serving our mother, and I have not married. Now that mother passed away, and I have married, and Yan Sui lowered himself to make friend with Zheng, such a gratitude! Shi dies for one who knows him. Zheng destroyed his face and killed himself to protect me. How could I be afraid of the persecutions and hide my brother's name!"

All Han people were shocked. Rong shouting to the heavens three times, then died beside Zheng in grievence.

晉﹑楚﹑齊﹑聞之，皆曰：「非獨政能也，乃其姊亦烈女也．鄉使政誠知其姊無濡忍之志，不重暴骸之難，必絕險千里以列其名，姊弟俱僇於韓市者，亦未必敢以身許嚴仲子也．嚴仲子亦可謂知人能得士矣！」

The two other states of Jin, and states of Chu, Qi, Wei heard about it, and they all said, "Zheng was capable, but his elder sister was also respectable. If Zheng knew his sister would not care about her own safety, and would travel 1000 lis to tell the world his name, and finally getting killed in Han, he might not have offered himself to Yan Sui. Yan really is one who can know people and get shis to follow!"

(So this is the story of Nie Zheng in the Book of Assasins in Shiji)

does it explain why Nie Zheng was strong enough to kill dozens of guards?

RMB200? That's pretty cheap but maybe we can bulk order a few books at the same time for those in Singapore who want the book/s to save on shipping costs? I have trouble ordering from the site.

No, it only said he did.

Jieming
You can contact them via phone or email so as to supply them the book details and ask about payment methods (credit card or telegraphic transfer ??) and shipping charges... I visited their office when I was in Beijing last year and bought some stuff... They seem quite reliable and what's more, the girl who answered the phone had such a sweet tender voice I nearly wanted to date her out for dinner

I will call you over the next few days, perhaps we could meet up for coffee and I will show you the book...

For a view of the book cover, click below:
http://forums.swordforum.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=542844

"To make use of the sword," Chuang Tzu said, "first make an empty feint. Then open your opponent by giving him an obvious advantage. Then strike, and get there first...."

Cao Pei's description of his rematch with General Dengzhan:
"...... As I had anticipated that he would aim for a rapid forward advance and strike me in the middle chest area, I pretended to move forward towards him, thereupon he rushed towards me. Retreating my steps suddenly, I then (simultaneously) proceeded to strike him on his head. Everyone on the elevated platform was stunned ……"


Dudes, I just realized that Cao Pei's tactical move smacks right onto Chuang Tzu...

Coffee? Did someone say coffee? Hell yeah, I'm always game for coffee.

So the king's swordsmen all killed themselves...
It is said that Yan Ying killed 3 great champions with 2 peaches. Zhuang Zi killed more with the description of 3 swords.

Well said....


RE: Goujian, the King of the State of Yue (496-465 BC, late Spring and Autumn period) was supposedly to have been introduced by his loyal and able minister Fan Li to a young lady who was famous as a sword fighter. The story goes......

Just to add, it might interest you guys to know that I have a bronze sword in my collection belonging to King Zhougou of Yue, who was the descendant of King Goujian and who lived a few decades after his illustrious ancestor...

Nothing in the Zhuangzi is to be taken literally.

Thomas, ... Any chances of seeing a picture of it ??? ...

What translation of Zhuang zi do any of you recommend for a novice like me to read?

If you really want to know what he is talking about, none.

Zhuangzi (if such a person did exist) was a master of word games and puns. A single passage can be interpreted in countless ways just by reading it using different breaks in the sentenses, different meanings so certain words or placing emphasis on different sentenses. Because of this, any translation made would automatically be interpreting it in a certain way before being read by you. All one needs to do is to translate it differently and the entire concept changes. Imagine this, and then further complicating things by going through the process of translation of which English has massive gaps missing in its vocabulary on many Chinese conepts

Every Chinese Philosopher who is worth anything acknowledges it is impossible for one to read the Zhuangzi top to bottom in a coherant way. I remember Dr Chad Hansen once said that to try and make coherant sense of Zhuangzi is simply a 'philosophical blunder'

If you really do want to read it just for the sake of it, I think any version would be fine. Only remember to take everything it says with a grain of salt and read it like a lovely book of short stories. That is the only way one can stop their own heads from exploding.

Yun and Jeff

For your reference...

Fascinating information, Thomas. Keep em' comin'.

Ooh. Was there a link? I saw nothing...D=