Sun Shu’ao (630 BC – 593 BC) was a famous chancellor of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period.
When Sun Shu’ao was a child, he went out to play and encountered a two-headed snake. He killed the snake and buried it. Upon returning home, he began to cry. When his mother asked him why he was crying, Sun Shu’ao replied, “I have heard that anyone who sees a two-headed snake will die. I just saw one, so I fear I am about to die.” His mother asked where the snake was, and Sun Shu’ao said, “I was worried others might see it too, so I already buried it.” His mother then told him, “I have heard that Heaven bestows blessings upon those who accumulate hidden virtues. You will not die.”
After Sun Shu’ao became the chancellor of the State of Chu, Huqiu Zhangren (a hermit and wise man of the Spring and Autumn period) said to him, “Are you aware of the three types of resentment that one’s conduct in life can attract?” Sun Shu’ao asked what they were. The wise man replied, “Those with high rank will be envied by others; those in high office are disliked by their sovereign; and those with abundant wealth are sure to attract resentment.” Sun Shu’ao answered, “The higher my rank, the more humbly I treat others; the greater my office, the more cautiously I shall act; and the more abundant my wealth, the more extensively I shall distribute benevolence. Perhaps in this way, I can avoid these three types of resentment?” (‘The Admonition of Huqiu’ subsequently came to signify the virtue of remaining incorruptible in the face of wealth and honour).
When Sun Shu’ao was gravely ill and nearing death, he admonished his son, “The King of Chu has sought on numerous occasions to bestow land upon me, yet I have never accepted it. After my death, the King of Chu will bestow a fief upon you; you must under no circumstances accept prime land. Between the states of Chu and Yue, there is a place called Qinqiu. The land there is barren and holds a bad reputation. The people of Chu believe in ghosts and gods, while the people of Yue believe in auspicious omens; therefore, this is the only land that can be kept permanently.” After Sun Shu’ao passed away, the King of Chu indeed offered fertile land to his son. Following his father’s advice, the son declined the offer and instead requested Qinqiu as his fief, which the King granted. Later on, this land was indeed retained by the Sun family for a very long time.
From: “Liezi: Shuo Fu” and “Xin Xu”
#60 孙叔敖故事三则
孙叔敖（前630年–前593年）是春秋时期楚国名相。
孙叔敖儿时外出游玩，见到一两头蛇，就杀了这条蛇并掩埋。他回到家中便哭泣起来，他的母亲问他哭泣的原因，孙叔敖说：“我听说见到两头蛇的人会死，我刚刚见到了，恐怕要死了。”母亲问他蛇在哪里，孙叔敖说：“我担心其他人看见就已经埋掉了。”母亲便告诉他：“我听说积有阴德的人，上天会为他赐福，你不会死的。”
孙叔敖成为楚国的令尹后， 狐丘丈人（春秋时期的一位隐士与智者）对孙叔敖说：“为人处世有可能招致三种怨恨，你知道吗？”孙叔敖便问是哪三种。丈人回答：“爵位高的人，人们会嫉妒他；官职大的人，君主会厌恶他；俸禄丰厚的人，怨恨就紧随而来。” 孙叔敖回答：“我的爵位越高，越谦卑待人；我的官职越大，越谨慎行事；我的俸禄越厚，越广施恩德。这样或许能避免这三种怨恨吧？” （“狐丘之诫”后来便指人应该有富贵不能淫的品德）。
孙叔敖重病将要去世时，告诫他的儿子：“楚王多次要封赏我土地，我都没有接受。等我死后，楚王便会封赏你，你一定不要接受好地。楚越之间有个地方叫寝丘，这里土地贫瘠且有恶名。楚国人信鬼神，越国人信吉祥征兆，只有这块地能长久保有。” 孙叔敖死后，楚王果然用肥沃的土地封赏他的儿子，孙叔敖的儿子推辞不受，并请求寝丘作为封地，楚王便答应了。后来，这块土地果然被孙家长期保有。
出自：《列子·说符》《新序》