One day, Zhuang Zi went to pay his respects to Ai Gong, King of the State of Lu.

Ai Gong said:

Hearing this, Ai Gong replied by asking a question:

Zhuang Zi retorted:

"There are many Confucian scholars in our country, but very few study your Taoist doctrines."

"The actual situation is not like what you said. In fact, there are very few Confucian scholars in the State of Lu."

"How can you say there are very few Confucian scholars in the State of Lu, when all the people in the state wear the clothes of Confucian scholars?"

"I hear that Confucian scholars who wear round-shaped hats understand the weather and climate; those who wear square-shaped shoes understand geography; those who wear colourful jade can make prompt decisions in dealing with matters. But people who really have the particular kind of knowledge do not necessarily wear the very kind of clothes, whereas those who wear the very kind of clothes do not necessarily have the particular kind of knowledge. If you think what I said is wrong, you can issue an order to the whole country: `Anyone who does not understand Confucian doctrines but wears Confucian clothes will be sentenced to death without exception.' Try and see what the result would be."

Zhuang Zi said:

Zhuang Zi said:

"The State of Lu is the native place of Confucianism, but there is only one Confucian scholar. How can you say that there are many Confucian scholars in the State of Lu?"

Ai Gong did issue such an order. Five days later, to his surprise, no one in the country dared to wear Confucian clothes any longer. Only one man wearing Confucian clothes stood outside the palace gate. Ai Gong immediately summoned him and inquired of him about state affairs. As expected, this man answered the questions readily and fluently, clearly and logically.