Observing Signs to Know the Rain
During Confucius’ stay in the state of Qi, one day, Duke Jing of Qi was holding his morning court when a one-legged bird suddenly flew down in front of the palace, hopping about. Duke Jing found this very strange and asked his ministers, “I have never seen a bird with only one foot. Do any of my esteemed ministers recognise this bird?” As he spoke, he fixed his gaze on Yan Ying, hoping that the wise and knowledgeable Yan Ying could resolve his confusion. However, Yan Ying was also at a loss and had to reply, “I truly do not know.” Gao Zhaozi then said, “Confucius is known as a gentleman of extensive knowledge. Why not seek his advice?” Duke Jing then sent for Confucius.
After examining the bird, Confucius said, “This bird is called a Shang Yang, and it is an omen of water.” Duke Jing asked, “How do you know this, Master?” Confucius replied, “In the past, there was a child who bent one leg, spread both arms, and hopped while singing: ‘When heavy rain is about to fall, the Shang Yang dances.’ Now that this one-legged bird has appeared before the palace, it surely indicates an impending flood. We must quickly notify the people to dig ditches, clear channels, and reinforce dikes to prevent a major disaster.”
Yan Ying and Gao Zhaozi immediately made arrangements with the relevant ministers and issued orders for the entire state to take action. A few days later, as predicted, heavy rains fell, causing floods that affected the surrounding states. Only Qi, having made preparations early, was spared any damage to its crops. The entire court was filled with murmurs of admiration, and the people of Qi were deeply grateful to Confucius. After the flood, Duke Jing regarded Confucius with newfound respect, even referring to him as a “sage.”
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