作者	主编：吴灿飞
出版社
出版时间	1999-01-01

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片断：1.TheCalabashandtheOintmentforChappedHandsHuiZi(HuiTzu)(c.370-310B.C.),primeministerofKingHuioftheStateofLiang,oncesaidtoZhuangZi(ChuangTzu):"Mymaster,theking,sentmesomecalabashseeds.1plantedthemandtheyboreafruitasbigasafive-bushelmeasure.1triedtouseitasabowlforholdingwater,butitwasnotsolidenoughforthepurpose.So1cutthecalabashintwoandtriedtomaketwoladlesoutofit,buteachofthemwasfartoobigforthepurpose.Thereupon,becauseoftheiruselessness,1smashedthemtopieces.""Sir,"saidZhuangZi,"itisclearthatyoudonotknowhowtomakeallthingsservetheirproperpurpose.Now,therewasonceamanoftheStateofSongwhohadasecretrecipeforointmentforchappedhands.Fromgenerationtogeneration,hisfamilyhadmadethebleachinganddyeingofsilktheiroccupation,andtheointmenthelpedthemtodothis.Astrangerheardoftheointment,andofferedtheman100ouncesofgoldfortherecipe.Thefamilygatheredtoconsiderthisproposal.'Wehave,'saidthey,'beenbleachinganddyeingsilkforgenerations,andweneverearnedmorethanapittance.Nowallatoncewecanearn100ouncesofgoldsimplybydisclosingtherecipefortheointmentwehavebeenusing.Letusnothesitatetosellit.'Andsothestrangerobtainedtherecipe.Atthetime,theStateofWuwasatwarwiththeStateofYue,duringwhichmanyWusoldierscouldnotfightwithweaponsbecausetheyhadchappedhandsinthecoldweather.Havingheardofthis,themanfromSongwentstraighttothekingoftheStateofWuandmadehimapresentoftherecipe.Later,thekingofWugavethestrangerthecommandofhisfleet.WhentheWufleetcrashedthatofYue,thestrangerwasrewardedwithafiefandatitle.Thus,whiletheefficiencyoftheointmenttocurechappedhandswasthesamewhetheritwasusedbythesilkworkersorbythestranger,intheformercaseitonlyservedtohelpthemperformamenialtask,whileinthelattercaseitbroughtamanfameandwealth.Thiswasbecausetheyuseditdifferently.Nowyou,sir,hadafive-bushelcalabash;whydidyounotmakeofitalargebottlegourd,bymeansofwhichyoucouldfloatinriversandlakes?Insteadofthis,youwerepiquedthatitwasuselessforholdinganything.Itseemsthatyourmindisratherwoolly."