A Tale of Two Dragons from Lushan Provice

[Warrior_Man]

My teacher once told me the following tale.

In a village in Lushan Provice (鲁山县) there were two brothers born - Fang (芳) and Xiuying (秀英). Both of them received training in an ancient family style and grew up learning from the best master in the area. One day, a local bureaucrat introduced a large scroll into the centre of the village - a place where literate townsfolk could write down their thoughts for others to read.

Xiuying instantly took the opportunity to dismiss others, attacking rival clans and writing offensive slogans and provocative poems. One day, a ruffian came to his house and demanded he fight to settle the score. Xiuying refused, but the next day went back to the scroll to belittle the rascal. It was all too much and the next day he returned with a small army.

Xiuying instantly hid himself out of fear, but Fang, who had trained hard while Xiuying was spending all his time writing on the scroll, went out to meet the hoodlums straight on and defeated every one of them. The townsfolk rejoiced as Fang was declared a hero.

The next day, Xiuying, accepting the error of his ways, tore down the scroll and begging Fang for forgiveness.

It's a good lesson and I think many could learn from it - sometimes it's better to let your fists do the talking.

[Scott R. Brown]

My sifu, called The Ancient One, taught us, "Honor that must be defended using violence is not honor, it is narcissism!"

He also taught us, "Your honor is 'true honor' only when you can act with honor while you are being dishonored!"

He was very wise!

[rett]

Scott, have you ever owned a pet bluejay?

[Scott R. Brown]

Scott, have you ever owned a pet bluejay?

Bluejays do not make good pets. They are bullies.

[rett]

Bluejays do not make good pets. They are bullies.

Are you speaking from experience?

[Scott R. Brown]

Are you speaking from experience?

My father used to feed the squirrels outside his office window. The bluejays would come and steal all the feed and bully the squirrels away.

[rett]

Sounds like bluejays alright.

[Warrior_Man]

Stay on topic please.

[rett]

Stay on topic please.

I don't mean to be prickly, but you didn't actually specify a question or topic. So I kind of see it as open show and tell.

[Warrior_Man]

Well I was just wondering if any of you had any comments on the folk story I told...?

[rett]

The moral of the story seems to be don't write checks your body can't cash.

Magpies are a lot like bluejays btw.

[Syn7]

Sounds like bluejays alright.

I like Bluejays. They are kings. Minor kings, but kings none the less.

[Scott R. Brown]

I like Bluejays. They are kings. Minor kings, but kings none the less.

I don't like their singing voice!

[wenshu]

The average rectal temperature of a hummingbird is 106 degrees.

[Syn7]

I don't like their singing voice!

I just like how they manage to dominate pretty much anything that comes in my yard. The take what they want and they are very nonchalant about the whole business. They even steal from the squirrels after they rob the bird feeders. And the bigger birds seem to give them a ton of distance. They aren't as smart as the crows, but they seem to have more cajones.