Ji Shengzi was training a fighting cock for King Xuan of Zhou.
Ten days later, King Xuan asked whether the cock was ready. Ji Shengzi replied, ‘Not yet; it appears fierce, but this is merely a pretence.’
Another ten days passed, and King Xuan asked again. Ji Shengzi said, ‘It is still not ready; it still reacts when it hears a sound or sees something.’
A third ten-day period passed, and King Xuan asked once more. Ji Shengzi said, ‘It is still not ready; when it sees other cocks, it still glares at them with a haughty air.’
After the fourth ten-day period, King Xuan enquired for the fourth time. Ji Xunzi replied, ‘It is nearly there. Even if other cocks are crowing nearby, it remains utterly unperturbed, looking just like a wooden carving*. Its prowess and virtue are now fully developed; other cocks dare not challenge it at all—as soon as they see it, they turn and flee.’
Origin: “Lie Zi: Huangdi”
* The idiom ‘呆若木鸡 (dai ruo mu ji)’ originates from this story. It was initially a term of praise used to describe someone of profound cultivation, who does not flaunt their abilities, yet is immensely capable, composed and steady; nowadays, it is mostly used pejoratively to describe someone who is frozen in a daze due to fear, astonishment or stupidity.
#55 养斗鸡的学问
纪渻子为周宣王训练斗鸡。
十天后，周宣王问鸡训练好了没有。纪渻子回答说：“还没好，它看起来勇猛，其实是假的。”
过了十天，宣王再问。纪渻子说：“还不行，它听到声音或看到东西，依然会受有反应。”
第三个十天过去了，宣王又问。纪渻子说：“仍然不行，它看别的鸡时还是怒目而视、盛气凌人。”
第四个十天后，宣王第四次询问。纪渻子说：“差不多了。即使有别的鸡在旁边鸣叫，它也毫无动静，看上去就像一只木头雕刻的鸡*。它的功力与德行已经完备，别的鸡根本不敢来挑战，只要一看到它就会转身逃跑。”
出自《列子·黃帝》
* 成语“呆若木鸡”出自这个故事，本义是形容一个人修养深厚、不露锋芒、实力强大而又沉稳镇定，褒义；现多指人因恐惧、惊异或愚笨而发呆，贬义。