Where does the contradiction come from

This idiom comes from "Han Feizi Difficult One".

In ancient times, spears and shields were used in battle. Spears are used to stab enemies, while shields are used to protect the body from being stabbed by opponents' spears.

Legend has it that a long time ago, there was a man in the state of Chu who sold weapons and sold spears and shields in the market. In order to make people want to buy his goods, he first raised his shield and boasted to the people: "You see, my shield is the strongest shield in the world, and nothing sharp can pierce it."

Then he lifted up his spear and boasted, "Look at my spear again, it is so sharp and indestructible that no shield may be able to stop it, and it will pierce it with a single piercing!" ”

The onlookers were amused by his words, and one of the crowd asked, "According to you, your spear can pierce no matter how hard your shield is, and your shield, no matter how sharp your spear is, can pierce it." Then take your spear and pierce your shield and see what happens. ”

When the weapon seller heard this, he was speechless and had no choice but to take his spear and shield and leave.

"Paradox" evolved from this story. Nowadays, people use it as a metaphor for doing things and talking against each other.

"Han Feizi".

The Chu people have shields and spears, and they say: "The strength of my shield is that things can't be trapped." He also praised his spear and said:

The benefits of my spear are not trapped in things. Or rather"How is the spear of the son and the shield of the son?

His people can also respond. Everyone laughed. The shield that cannot be trapped and the spear that is not trapped cannot stand together in the world.

During the Warring States period, there was a man in the state of Chu who sold spears and shields, and he first boasted that his shield was very hard, saying: "No matter what you use, you can't destroy it." Then he boasted of the sharpness of his spear, saying:

Anything can be destroyed by it. The marketman questioned him, "What would happen to your shield if you pierced your shield with your spear?" , that person can't. The crowd laughed at him. It is impossible for a shield that cannot be pierced and a spear that cannot be pierced and cannot be pierced coexist.

The original text of "Self-Contradiction" is as follows:

The Chu people have shields and spears, and they say: "The strength of my shield is that things can't be trapped." He also praised his spear and said:

The benefit of my spear is all trapped in things", or said: "The spear of the son traps the shield of the son, what is it"? His people can also respond, and the shield that cannot be trapped and the spear that is not trapped in the stupid hail cannot stand together in the world.

Translation: There was a man from Chu who sold both shields and spears. He boasted of his shield and said:

My shield is so strong that nothing can penetrate it." And he boasted of his spear, saying, "My spear is so sharp that it wears through anything that is strong."

He was asked, "What would happen if you pierced your shield with your spear"? The man didn't say a word, and a shield that could pierce nothing and a spear that could pierce anything could not exist in this world at the same time.

Idiom meaning

Self-contradiction is an idiom evolved from a fable, which was first published in "Han Feizi Difficult One". This idiom exposes the contradiction in the thinking of Confucian scribes, who "use literature to be chaotic and cautious", and that it is impossible for an unbreakable shield and an indestructible spear to coexist in the world. This Chu native one-sidedly exaggerated the role of spears and shields, and there was a situation where he could not justify himself.

The paradoxical story warns people to be realistic and appropriate, and not to be mercenary, exaggerated, and boastful.

The businessman blew and contradicted himself in his words, and as a result, he made jokes and broke his trust. This kind of dishonest attitude is not advisable. The idiom also tells people to seek truth from facts when they speak and do things, and think twice before acting.

Speak or act consistently, lest you end up being speechless when you find it difficult to justify yourself.

The above content reference: Encyclopedia - self-contradiction.

Contradictory. [zì xiāng máo dùn] [paraphrase] spear: to attack the enemy's stabbing **; Shield: A shield to protect yourself. It is a metaphor for the contradiction between what you say and do.

Examples] of these theories.

He also praised his spear and said: 'The benefit of my spear is all in things.' Or rather

How is the spear of the son and the shield of the son? Don't be able to do that. ”

There was a man in the state of Chu who sold weapons and went to the market to sell spears and shields. When many people came to see it, he lifted up his shield and boasted to them, saying, "My shield is the strongest in the world, and no sharp thing can pierce it!"

Then the weapon seller picked up another spear and boasted unashamedly: "My spear is the sharpest in the world, no matter how strong and solid it is, it can't stop it from poking it, as soon as it touches it, hehe, it will be pierced immediately!" He was so proud that he shouted again:

Come and see, come and buy, the strongest shield and sharpest spear in the world! Then one of the spectators came up and picked up a spear and a shield and asked, "What would happen if you poke this shield with this spear?"

This—" The onlookers were stunned for a moment, and suddenly burst into laughter, and then they all dispersed. The man who sold weapons walked away with his spear and shield on his shoulder.

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Original text: The Chu people have shields and contradictions, and the reputation says: "My shield is strong, and things can't be trapped." He also praised his spear and said: 'The benefit of my spear is all in things.' Or say, "What is the spear of the son and the shield of the trap?" His people can also respond.

Translation: Once upon a time, there was a man in the state of Chu who sold both spears and shields. Once he boasted of his shield and said:

My shield is the strongest in the world, and nothing can pierce it. Then he boasted of his spear and said, "My spear is the sharpest and can pierce anything."

One man asked, "What if you stab your shield with your spear?" After hearing this, the man did not know what to say.

Truth: It means that words and deeds are inconsistent and inconsistent. Speaking and writing articles, if there are two opposite statements at the same time and in the same relationship, which contradict each other, then it will be full of contradictions, and it will be like a merchant in the Chu State who can't stand the same refutation.

This fable has become so deeply rooted in the hearts of the people that "self-contradiction" has become a common word.