My grandfather, who was magistrate of the district of Chen, once invited his secretary, Du Xuan, to drink with him during the midsummer festival.
A red bow which was hanging on the north wall cast a reflection in the cup just like a snake; but although Du Xuan was frightened he dared not refuse to drink. Then he had a severe pain in his
stomach, and could not eat, so that he grew very thin. Though he tried all manner of drugs, he could find no cure.
Later my grandfather called on him on some business, and asked him how he had contracted this illness.
“Through fear of the snake which I swallowed,” Du Xuan told him.
After going home my grandfather thought this over, then turned and saw the bow, and understood what had happened. He sent a suborclinate with a carriage to escort Du Xuan to his house, and set wine in the same place, so that once more a snake appeared in the cup.
”This is simply a reflection of that bow on the wall,” he told his secretary. At once Du Xuan felt better and, greatly relieved, recovered.
Allegorical Meaning
This story, where Du Xuan mistakes the reflection of a bow in his wine cup for a poisonous snake, drinks in terror, and becomes ill, perfectly illustrates the destructive power of misperception and unfounded fear.
Misperception Creates Reality:
Du Xuan’s illness stems entirely from his mistaken belief that he swallowed a snake. His physical suffering is real, proving that a false perception, if believed, can generate genuine physical and psychological consequences.
The Paralyzing Nature of Fear:
His unfounded fear (of the “snake”) is so powerful it triggers a physical illness. This highlights how irrational fears, even when based on illusions, can dominate the mind and harm well-being.
Clarity Dispels Fear:
The cure comes only when the host reveals the bow’s reflection, proving the “snake” was an illusion. Understanding the true cause (the bow) instantly dissolves the fear and its physical effects, demonstrating that confronting reality is the antidote to baseless anxiety.
A Warning Against Assumption:
Du Xuan didn’t investigate; he jumped to a terrifying conclusion. The story warns against accepting fearful assumptions without verification.
Modern Parallels:
- Health Anxiety: Cyberchondria (online self-diagnosis panic)
- Social Dynamics: “Cancel culture” snap judgments based on incomplete information
- Media Literacy: Viral misinformation spreading through reflexive fear
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