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King Zhuangwang of the State of ChuKing Zhuangwang of the State of Chu

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Written by TONY WANG

Monday, 14 April 2008

This story is about the tolerance and magnanimousness of King Zhuangwang of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period in the 7the century BC. He finally achieved overlordship at the support of his people. King Zhuangwang of Chu was a brave and decisive figure. The state of Chu gradually grew into a strong state under his reign. One day. he extended a banquet to all his officials. His court ladies were also at present. Every one was having such a good time that the banquet continued well after it was dark. Quite a few people had already drunk a bit too much. King Zhuangwang asked two of his favorite concubines to serve wines for all the officials present. Quite a sudden a breeze came and blew down the candle light. Amongst the darkness. one of the concubines felt that a man had intentionally touched her hands while she was filling out wine for him. She couldn`t identify him in the dark so she broke the red tassel on his hermit and went back to the King to report the affair. She asked the King to light the candles to identify the man who`d harassed her. To her astonishment. the King immediately issued an order that no candles be light for the party for as he said. it`s so much fun drinking in the dark. At the end of the party. he asked all the officials to break the tassels on their hermit and hat. Then he had canles lighted. The party was over in laughter because every one looked so funny with their hats and hermits damaged.

The party`s over. the concubine asked why not punish the man who`d harassed her. According to the law of the time. the man could be given a death penalty. King Zhuangwang smiled: `` I gave the party to entertain my officials. If I kill one of them because of such trivial matters. it will be against my original wish.``

Later. King Zhuangwang started a war against the state of Zheng. A general named Tang Jiao was extremely brave during all the battles and made a lot of military exploits. He had helped greatly raised the soldiers` morale and soon Chu defeated Zheng and seized its capital. It turned out Tang Jiao was the man who`d touched the girl`s hand during the party in his drunkenness. He was repaying the King for his tolerance and magnanimousness.