A stone at Weiyu in the State of Jin spoke. The court musician Shi Kuang argued the stone could not speak — either something was speaking through it, or the reports were mistaken. He suggested excessive palace luxury and exhausted labor had bred resentment, and used the event to counsel the duke to care for his people.
Account
A stone at Weiyu in the State of Jin spoke. Duke Ping asked the court musician Shi Kuang, who argued: a stone cannot speak — either something was speaking through it, or the reports were mistaken. Alternatively, excessive palace luxury, exhausted labor, and rising resentment had caused the stone to "speak." Shi Kuang used the event to counsel the duke to care for his people.
Sources
- Zuo Zhuan, Duke Zhao 8