The Zhen bird (a mythical poisonous bird)) met a venomous snake on the road and advanced to peck at it.
“Don’t you peck me!” said the snake to the Zhen bird. “People say you’re poisonous. That’s a bad thing to be called, and it’s because you eat us. If you don’t eat us you won’t get our venom in you and people will no longer hate you.”
“Quiet, you!” scoffed the Zhen bird. “It’s a lie to say I’m poisonous. It’s you who bite men with malicious intent, and I’m eating you to punish you for your crimes. People keep me because they know I can bring you to account. They know too that my limbs and feathers are contaminated with your venom; that is why they use these as a means to poison others. But that’s no concern of mine. It’s like the weapon a man uses to kill someone. Is the weapon to blame? Or the man? I don’t harm people wilfully, and I’m used as a weapon against wickedness. But as for you, you lurk in the grass, intent on harming people. Fate has ordained that you should come my way today. No sophistry can help you.”
So saying, the Zhen bird swallowed up the poisonous snake.
Allegorical Meaning
This fable explores deep philosophical ideas about good and evil, responsibility, reputation, and justice.
Good and evil are defined by intention, Not appearance
The snake accuses the Zhen bird of being poisonous, but the Zhen bird argues that its actions are not driven by malice. This highlights that intentions matter more than appearances.
Reputation vs. Reality
The Zhen bird bears a bad reputation simply because it consumes the snake. But it explains that its “poison” comes from the snake — it is only a vessel, not the source.
This reflects the idea that names and labels often do not match reality.
Tools are not to blame — People are
Should we blame the tool or the user? In modern terms, this could apply to weapons, technology, or even artificial intelligence — the danger often lies not in the object itself, but in how it is used.
Suffering a bad name for a just cause
The Zhen bird willingly accepts a bad reputation because it believes in its mission — to punish the snake and protect humans.
This teaches the virtue of enduring misunderstanding or slander for the sake of justice. It’s a form of humility and sacrifice — doing the right thing even when no one appreciates it.
Condemnation of malicious intent
The snake acts out of desire to harm others — it bites people without reason. The Zhen bird condemns this as the true form of poison — evil that comes from within.
This warns against intentional harm and selfish motives, suggesting that inner corruption is far worse than any external label.
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