Gong Zhiqiao obtained a piece of fine Chinese tung wood and made a qin (stringed musical instrument) out of it. When installed with strings1 and plucked, it gave out a wonderful sound, harmonious2 and pleasing to the ear.
Gong Zhiqiao thought this was the finest instrument in the world, so he presented it to the Tai Chang Si Qing (a high official in charge of rites3 and protocol4 of the ancestral temple) who had it examined by an imperial musician, but the musician disdained5 to have a look at it. He only said "Not ancient!" and returned the instrument.
Gong Zhiqiao had to take it home and asked a lacquerer to paint many crackles on the instrument in imitation of an ancient qin, and asked a sculptor6 to carve on it some inscriptions7 of ancient scholars. Then he put it in a box and buried it underground.
After one year, Gong Zhiqiao took out the instrument from underground, and went to the market to sell it. It happened that an influential8 personage was passing by. He bought it with 100 pieces of gold and presented it to the imperial court. The imperial musicians vied with each other to look at it and praised in unison9:
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"Ah! It is indeed a rare stringed musical instrument in the world!"
工之侨得到一块优质的桐木料，用它制作了一把琴，安上琴弦，一弹，发出金玉一般的声音，和谐悦耳。
工之侨自以为这是世界上最好的一把琴了。于是，他就拿去献给太常寺卿。太常让皇家的乐工检验，乐工却不屑一顾，说:“不古。”把琴还给了他。
工之侨只好把琴拿回家，让漆工仿古，在琴上漆出许多裂纹，又让雕匠在琴上刻了古人的题字，然后装进匣子，埋在地下。
一年之后，工之侨把琴从地下取出来，赶到集市上去卖。有位显贵之人正好路过，出百金买下了这把琴，并把它献给了朝廷。乐工们捧着这把琴，争相传看，竟然齐声称赞：
“啊，真是世上少有的珍琴！”
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1 strings
n.弦
参考例句：
He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。 She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
2 harmonious
adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的
参考例句：
Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。 The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。
3 rites
仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 )
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参考例句：
to administer the last rites to sb 给某人举行临终圣事 He is interested in mystic rites and ceremonies. 他对神秘的仪式感兴趣。
4 protocol
n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节
参考例句：
We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。 The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。
5 disdained
鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做
参考例句：
I disdained to answer his rude remarks. 我不屑回答他的粗话。 Jackie disdained the servants that her millions could buy. 杰姬鄙视那些她用钱就可以收买的奴仆。
6 sculptor
n.雕刻家，雕刻家
参考例句：
A sculptor forms her material.雕塑家把材料塑造成雕塑品。 The sculptor rounded the clay into a sphere.那位雕塑家把黏土做成了一个球状。
7 inscriptions
（作者）题词( inscription的名词复数 )； 献词； 碑文； 证劵持有人的登记
参考例句：
Centuries of wind and rain had worn away the inscriptions on the gravestones. 几个世纪的风雨已磨损了墓碑上的碑文。 The inscriptions on the stone tablet have become blurred with the passage of time. 年代久了，石碑上的字迹已经模糊了。
8 influential
adj.有影响的，有权势的
参考例句：
He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物 。 He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。
9 unison
n.步调一致，行动一致
参考例句：
The governments acted in unison to combat terrorism.这些国家的政府一致行动对付恐怖主义。 My feelings are in unison with yours.我的感情与你的感情是一致的。
《工之侨造琴》添加时间：2024-12-14；更新时间：2025-03-09
