While
entertaining himself in Shanglin Garden, Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty
pointed at a tree and asked Dongfang Shuo, "What is that called?"
"It's called Goodness." replied Dongfang Shuo carelessly. Wu Di had it
written down.
Several years later, playing in the garden again, Wu Di saw the tree and turned
to Dongfang Shuo to ask its name. "it's named Jusuo (Overlooking
all)." said Dongfang Shuo again carelessly.
Wu Di's expression changed, "You have been cheating me over the years. How
can the same tree have different names?"
Dongfang Shuo defended himself with fervor and assurance "A horse is called
horse only when it grows up; it is a foal when young; chicken is the name for a
chick when it becomes older; and a cow is called a calf when born. So it is with
human beings: They are called infants when born and old men when aged. The tree
was Goodness several years ago and is now Overlooking-All. All the objects in
the universe change. Don't you think that is the truth?"
Satisfied with Dongfang Shuo's reply, Wu Di laughed heartily. "