Chinese Proverbs

An Illusory Snake in a Goblet

Once upon a time, there was a person named Guang Le, who was fond of drinking with his friend in his house. This friend, however, hadn't been to visit Guang Le in a long time, and so Guang Le sent his servant out to bring his friend back to his house.

When Guang Le saw his friend, he asked him the reason why he hadn't been to visit.

"Last time when we were happily drinking I saw a little snake in my goblet, but I had already swallowed it by the time I had realised it was there," said the friend. "I keep worrying about it there in my body and it has made me sick."

Guang Le then takes one of his goblets and pours some alcohol into it, but when he looks into the goblet, he can see no snake. Guang notices the bow that is hanging on his wall and he understands immediately what his friend saw.

Guang places his friend where he had sat when he had thought he had seen the little snake and handed him the goblet. On looking into the goblet, the friend sees the snake again, but Guang Le explains the 'snake' is merely a reflection of the bow hanging on his wall. After realising this, the friend made a sudden recovery

This proverb describes people who are over sceptical or over sensitive.