Ancient Chinese Wisdom: 刻舟求劍

刻舟求劍 (kèzhōu qiújiàn)

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楚人有涉江者，其劍自舟中錐於水，遽契其舟曰：“是吾劍之從墜。”

舟此。從其所契者入水求之，舟已行矣，而劍不行，求劍若此，不亦感乎？

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Notching a Boat to Seek a Sword

Among the Chu people was one crossing the Yangtze river. His sword fell into the water from his boat. Hastily notching his boat he says, "That is my sword's place from which it fell."

The boat stops. From his notching place he enters the water to look for it. The boat already moved, but the sword couldn't. Seeking the sword like this, isn't it foolish?

Wahh I guess no one appreciates Ancient Chinese Wisdom :(

Ahh, at least there is one other appréciateur. :)

(It was a pain typing in the Chinese, let me tell you. If you know anything about the pinyin-to-hanzi input system...)

38

The image
Above, fire, below, the lake:
The image of Opposition.
Thus amid all fellowship
The superior man retains his individuality.

In small matters, good fortune.

I prefer ancient wisdom and recordings of/from God.

"

I prefer ancient wisdom and recordings of/from God.

That goes without saying, friend. :)

Assuming that this isn't intended to be literal, but is referencing someone seeking the sword (Etc, war) when it's not necessary? I don't know anything about Ancient Chinese stuff, but is that even partly right?

@MrSmiley,

It's more about marking a changing thing, as if it were set, for later.

So to use a PoE example... if an Exalted were to drop in a Caverns map, and you were to note where it was and log off... then log back on later, popping in a new Caverns map, going to where it dropped and expected it to still be there... That would be like notching a boat to find a sword.

Get it?