折疑論 4.29

4.29

Gan Ying, Fei Wei, Ji Chang, Feng Meng, and Pu Qiezi were the expert archers of antiquity; though their art was marvelous, they could not draw a bow without a string (彀 is read as the fanqie 古侯; drawing a bow. Liezi: Gan Ying was an expert archer of antiquity; when he drew his bow, beasts crouched and birds came down. His disciple Fei Wei studied archery under Gan Ying, and his skill surpassed his master's. Ji Chang then studied archery under Fei Wei, subsequently advancing his art. Chang plotted to kill Fei Wei; the two shot at each other, and their arrows met midway, striking each other and falling to the ground. Fei Wei's arrows were exhausted first; Chang had one arrow left. When it was loosed, Fei Wei parried it with the tip of a bramble thorn without the slightest error. Though their art was marvelous, they could not draw a bow without a string).