Yang Bu, younger brother of Yang Zhu, went out wearing white clothes. Caught in rain, he took off the white robe and returned in black garments. His dog failed to recognize him and barked fiercely. Enraged, Yang Bu prepared to beat the dog.
Yang Zhu said: “Spare the dog; you would act the same way. Suppose your dog left white and came back black – could you keep from feeling surprised?”
Note
Changes in outer appearance easily cause misunderstanding. One should observe intrinsic nature instead of making judgments merely based on superficial looks.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher, cites this classic fable to warn against judging only by superficial appearances.
Yang Zhu
Famous pre-Qin thinker focusing on self-preservation philosophy.
Yang Bu
Yang Zhu’s brother, angry at the dog’s misunderstanding.
Classic Chinese fable
The tale “Yang Bu and barking dog” is a well-known allusion used for reasoning from daily life.
Distinction between appearance and essence
Pre-Qin scholars repeatedly emphasized outward changes do not alter inner nature; hasty judgment from looks leads to misunderstanding.
Analogy to official judgment
In state administration, rulers often misjudge ministers because of changed external behaviors while ignoring their essential character.
楊朱之弟楊布衣素衣而出，天雨，解素衣，衣緇衣而反，其狗不知而吠之。楊布怒，將擊之。楊朱曰：「子毋擊也，子亦猶是。曩者使女狗白而往，黑而來，子豈能毋怪哉！」
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