A story about ‘Lord Ye Loves Dragons’ was recorded in the Miscellany chapter of the book ‘New Prefaces’ by Liu Xiang of Han dynasty. It is used to criticise those high-sounding hypocritical people.
Zi Zhang, a student of Confucius, went to see the Duke of Lu, hoping to get a job in his court. However, Zi Zhang was neglected by the duke for seven days. Felt embarrassed, he asked his servant to pass the following message to the Duke of Lu:
“I heard you have high regards for the talents, and therefore travelled a long distance to visit you. In order to travel here, I have to brave the cold current and sand storm, and walked non-stop for many days. However, you have been ignoring me for seven days. That makes me think your so-called cherishing talent is actually like Lord Ye who loves dragon.
It is said that in ancient time there was a Lord Ye who was so fond of dragons that he had them embroidered on his cloths, carved on his wine bronze vessels, and painted all over his house.
Hearing of this, the dragon in heaven came down to thrust its head through the Lord’s door and put his tail through the window. At this sight, the Lord Ye fled, frightened nearly out of his wits.
This shows that Lord Ye was not truly fond of the dragons. He liked what looked like a dragon, not the real things.
Now I heard you are fond of talents and travelled from far away to see you. But you have neglected me for seven days. You are not actually fond of talents; you like what looks like talents, not the real talents.
It is said in the Book of Poetry: ‘Things you love in your heart, how could you ever forget?’ So, I am sorry, I have to leave now.”
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汉•刘向《新序•杂事》记载的故事是用来讽刺那些位居高位的伪君子。
子张见鲁哀公，七日而哀公不礼。托仆夫而去，曰：
“臣闻君好士，故不远千里之外，犯霜露，冒尘垢，百舍重研，不敢休息以见君。七日而君不礼，君之好士也，有似叶公子高之好龙也。
叶公子高好龙，钩以写龙，凿以写龙，屋室雕文以写龙。
于是天龙闻而下之，窥头于牖，施尾于堂。叶公见之，弃而还走，失其魂魄，五色无主。
是叶公非好龙也，好夫似龙而非龙者也。
今臣闻君好士，故不远千里之外以见君，七日而君不礼，君非好士也，好夫似士而非士者也。
诗曰：‘中心藏之，何日忘之！’敢托而去。”
