|
During the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476B.C), a skillful craftsman1 named Gongshu Zi in the State of Lu, Known to people as "Lu Ban", made a magpie2 with bamboo and wood. A machine was installed in this magpie which, when started, could fly high like a real bird. It actually flew continually for three days and nights before it landed. Gongshu Zi greatly appreciated this excellent work of his own. When Mo Zi (Master of the Mohist School ) heard of this, the went immediately to see Gongshu Zi and said to him: "As you know, it takes an ordinary carpenter a very short time to make a linchpin of a wheel with the minimum amount of timber. A vehicle with a linchpin inserted into each end of an axle can carry many things and bear a heavy load of 50 dan(1 hectolitre.)" But you took painstaking3 effort to make this wooden magpie. Thought pretty and able to fly, it cannot compare with the linchpin in terms of practical value. Things made by a carpenter should be useful for people's life, so that everyone will praise him for his cleverness and skill. Otherwise, he is bound to be derided4. 春秋时期，鲁国有个能工巧匠公输子，人称“鲁班”。他用竹木造了一只喜鹊。 这只木制的喜鹊，安装着机关。只要一开动它，就能像真的鸟一样展翅高飞。它一连飞了三天三夜才降落下来。 | 
