“Hui Zi is forever using analogies,” complained someone to the king of Liang. “If Your Majesty forbid him to speak in analogies, he won’t be able to make his meaning clear.”
The king agreed with this man.
The next day the king saw Hui Zi.
“From now on,” he said, “kindly talk in a straightforward manner, and not in analogies.”
“Suppose there were a man who did not know what a catapult is,” replied Hui Zi. “If he asked you what it looked like, and you told him it looked just like a catapult, would he understand what you meant?”
“Of course not,” answered the king.
“But suppose you told him that a catapult looks something like a bow and that it is made of bamboo – wouldn’t he understand you better?”
”Yes, that would be clearer,” admitted the king.
‘We compare something a man does not know with something he does know in order to help him to understand it,” said Hui Zi. “If you won’t let me use analogies, how can I make things clear to you?”
The king agreed that he was right.
Allegorical Meaning
he anecdote in Shuo Yuan where Hui Shi employs analogies illustrates three core philosophical principles:
Pedagogical Value of Metaphors:
The story demonstrates how complex ideas can be made accessible through simple comparisons, emphasizing analogy as an effective teaching tool in ancient Chinese thought.
Relativity of Perspectives:
Hui Shi’s layered analogies reveal that understanding depends on one’s vantage point, echoing Daoist concepts about the fluidity of truth. His rhetorical method shows how meaning shifts based on contextual framing.
Diplomatic Communication:
Historically, the narrative reflects Warring States period practices where scholars used indirect language for political persuasion, with metaphors serving as safe vehicles for sensitive advice.
In essence, Hui Shi’s parable teaches that true persuasion is an art form. It relies not on blunt force of argument, but on the strategic use of relatable stories and analogies to guide the listener towards self-discovery and acceptance of a necessary truth, making it a timeless lesson in communication and influence.
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