Tyranny is more fearsome than a tiger
During a period of internal turmoil in the state of Lu, the government was in disarray, and the people were burdened with numerous harsh taxes, leaving them in extreme poverty. Some, with no other options, had no choice but to flee with their families to remote mountains, deep forests, desolate wilderness, or swamps to settle. Although life there was also marked by shortages of food and clothing, it was “a place where the sky is high and the emperor far away”—the government could not reach them, and they might still have a chance to survive.
Confucius decided to leave Lu with his disciples and head for the state of Qi. As the group reached the border of Lu, they saw the towering peaks of Mount Tai stretching between Lu and Qi. At that time, the area around Mount Tai was covered in dense forests where wild beasts frequently roamed, and few people lived there. While passing through a mountain valley, Confucius and his disciples heard the sound of a woman weeping. Confucius listened intently for a while from his carriage and then asked Zilu to stop the cart and go inquire.
Zilu approached the woman and asked, “You weep so sorrowfully—you must have suffered some deep grief?” The woman replied, “Indeed. First, my father-in-law was killed by a tiger. Then, my husband met the same fate. And just recently, my son was also eaten by a tiger.”
Unable to hold back, Confucius asked, “Since there are tigers here, why do you not leave this place?” The woman answered, “Here, there are no harsh taxes.” She meant that although living there carried the risk of tiger attacks, it was still possible to scrape by without the burden of oppressive taxes. If she were to go elsewhere, the heavy weight of corvée labour and other demands would make survival even more difficult.
Upon hearing this, Confucius was deeply moved. He said to his disciples, “Remember this, my students: Tyrannical governance is more fearsome than man-eating tigers!”
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