| Chinese Fable Stories | |
Bian Heh's Jade
In the Spring and Autumn Period, Bian Heh in the Chu state got a rough jade on Mount Chu.
He decided to present the valuable jade to the emperor to show his official loyalty to
his sovereign, Chuli. Unluckily, the jade was judged as a common stone by the court
jadders, which made Emperor Chuli very angry, and had Bian Heh's left foot cut down cruelly.
After the enthronement of the new emperor Chuwu, Bian Heh decided to submit the jade to
Chuwu to clarify matters. Emperor Chuwu also had it checked by the jadders in the court.
And the conclusion resulted in the same fact that Bian Heh lost the other foot.
After the death of Emperor Chuwu, the prince Chuwen was enthroned, that gave the poor Bian
Heh a gleam of light of proving his clear conscience. However, the moment he thought of
what he had incurred, he couldn't help crying beside a hill. He could not stop crying
for several days and nights; he almost wept his heart out and even blood was dropping
from his eyes. And it happened to be heard by the emperor in the court.
He ordered his men to find out why he was so sad. Bian Heh sobbed out "Call a spade a spade.
Why was a real jade mistaken as a plain stone again and again? Why was a loyal man thought
faithless time and time?" Emperor Chuwen was touched by Bian Heh's deep grief and ordered the
jadders to open the jade to have a close look. To their astonishment, in the rough coat,
the pure content was sparkling and translucent. Then it was carefully cut and
polished fine and at last the jade became a rare treasure of the state of Chu.
In memory of the faithful man Bian Heh, the emperor named the jade by Bian Heh.
And so the term "Bian's Jade" came into being.
People usually describe something extremely precious in its value with Bian's Jade.
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