法苑珠林 27.47

27.47

Ganjiang and Moye of Chu forged swords for the King of Chu, taking three years to complete them. The king was enraged and intended to execute him. The swords had a male and a female. His wife was heavily pregnant and about to give birth. The husband said to his wife: "I have forged swords for the king, and it took three years to complete them. The king is angry; if I go, he will surely execute me. If the child you bear is a boy, when he grows up, tell him: 'Go out of the door and look toward the southern mountains; a pine tree grows upon a rock, and the sword is on its back.'" Thereupon, he took only the female sword to present to the King of Chu. The King of Chu was furious and had it examined by a connoisseur. [The connoisseur said,] "There are two swords, male and female; the female has arrived, but the male has not." In his wrath, the king had him executed. Moye's son was named Chi. When he later grew up, he asked his mother, "Where is my father?" His mother said: "Your father forged swords for the King of Chu, taking three years to complete them. The king was angry and executed him. When he departed, he entrusted me to tell you: 'Go out of the door and look toward the southern mountains; a pine tree grows upon a rock, and the sword is on its back.'" Thereupon, the son went out the door and looked south, but saw no mountains; he only saw, before the hall, a pine pillar standing upon a whetstone. He then split open its back with an axe and obtained the sword. Day and night he thought of taking revenge on the King of Chu. The King of Chu dreamed of a boy with a foot of space between his eyebrows, who wished to take revenge. The king immediately offered a bounty of a thousand pieces of gold for him. Hearing of this, the boy fled into the mountains, singing as he walked. A traveler who encountered him said, "You are so young; why do you weep so sorrowfully?" He replied, "I am the son of Ganjiang and Moye. The King of Chu killed my father, and I wish to take revenge on him." The traveler said, "I hear the king has offered a thousand pieces of gold for your head. Give me your head and your sword, and I will take revenge for you." The boy said, "That would be most fortunate!" He immediately cut his own throat and, holding his head and sword in both hands, presented them [to the traveler], standing upright without falling. The traveler said, "I will not fail you." Thereupon the corpse collapsed. Carrying the head, the traveler went to see the King of Chu. The King of Chu was overjoyed. The traveler said, "This is the head of a brave warrior; it should be boiled in a cauldron of boiling water." The king did as he said. They boiled the head for three days and three nights, but it would not dissolve. The head leaped out of the boiling water, glaring in great anger. The traveler said, "This boy's head does not dissolve. May the king go and inspect it in person, and it will surely dissolve." The king immediately stepped up to look at it. The traveler struck at the king with the sword; his neck was severed and fell into the boiling water. The traveler then struck at his own head, and his head likewise fell into the water. All three heads dissolved completely and could not be distinguished. The broth and flesh were divided and buried; hence they are commonly called the Tombs of the Three Kings, which are now within the borders of Yichun County, north of the Ru River.