The study of the Thick and the Black

Post 116 The crooked pot mender

I took out one of my favourite books to read the other day and found one paragraph which I thought should be shared here. The book is titled ‘The study of the Thick and the Black’. Li Zongwu (李宗吾1880 -1943) wrote this very popular cynical book in 1912 depicting the historical Chinese heroes as having thick skin and black heart to be successful.

However, there are people who may not subscribe to Li’s statement and consider the reading of this book as an anti-climax to achieving a harmonious society. Nevertheless there are also others who feel that the book actually mirrors the basic instinct of human beings who veneer their ‘thick face and black heart’ with a thin layer of integrity. Lin Yutang (1895 -1976), a Harvard scholar and an authority on China and Chinese culture, commented that scholars who had read Chinese and foreign books widely but had yet to read this book, were to regard this lost opportunity as really a matter for regret.

When the rice pot was leaking, a person was called to mend it. After scrapping the bottom of the pot with an iron scrapper, the man told the owner of the rice pot to go and get fire because he wanted to smoke. As the owner turned his back, the mender used a hammer to knock at the pot lightly to lengthen the existing crack. He then told the returning owner while pointing at the crack, “Your cooking pot has a long crack and it was covered with a layer of oil. The hidden crack could only be seen when the pot is scrapped and more nails are needed for the repair work.” The owner had a closer look at the crack and said surprisingly, “You are right! You are right! If I have not called you today, this pot could have become useless.” When the pot was mended, both the owner and the mender were happy to part each other.

When you send you car for repairs, make sure you go to the mechanics you trust.

1 November 2011