Once upon a time in China there lived a great and powerful emperor who generously supported the arts and crafts. He surrounded himself with painters, sculptors and other gifted artists, who competed with each other to surprise the emperor with the outstanding achievements of their genius. One of the artisans made a golden cage, so exquisite and perfect that it had no equal among the treasures of the whole world. The cage had the appearance of a temple, its many roofs were decorated with precious stones, and inside it there were many rooms with doors and gates.
The Son of Heaven was so delighted when this magnificent work was presented to him that he immediately presented the master with a jasper award and made him a prince of the empire. Then the emperor called all his hunters and bird-catchers to him and ordered them to go out into the world with nets and catch all the most amazing and beautiful birds that would come their way.
After many adventures, which can only be compared with the most intricate stories from the Thousand and One Nights, the birdcatchers returned and appeared before the emperor. They all took turns telling about their adventures and showing the birds they managed to catch. In the end, the oldest of the bird catchers who went hunting presented the lord with a phoenix caught on the mountains of the moon.
The emperor ordered a cage to be installed in the garden and placed one of the rare birds in each of its rooms. Then he ordered the throne to be moved into the garden and sat for hours watching the wonderful performance.
While he was sitting like that, surrounded by mandarins and princes, a Taoist monk knocked on the gate of the palace. The monk was surrounded by mystery, for he did not come along the road, but descended straight from the clouds. It was the spirit. Approaching the emperor, the monk sat down and asked him where he got the golden cage. The Emperor explained to him what had happened. Then the old man sadly shook his head and said:
- Your Majesty, do not set a bad example for people. Release the birds and break the cage.
The emperor was very surprised and saddened. He asked the elder to explain his words.
“You, O Son of Heaven,” continued the monk, “are a model of righteousness for all those living in your empire.” You're in charge here. Your actions are the law for residents of the entire country. What is good and what is bad is judged by your behavior. You have a great responsibility because everyone looks to you as a source of public good.
This cage, built in the form of a temple, contains a threefold secret. First of all, this is a world with many rooms, in each of which someone lives. In addition, this cage symbolizes China - an empire located in the center of the world, and you, O Emperor, and your honorable subjects are like captive birds. Their state attire is the bright plumage of birds, while you yourself are a phoenix. The chambers of your palace are prison cells, temples are cages, and your sovereign affairs are a net in which you are caught. And finally, this cell is your mortal nature, and these little feathered creatures are dreams and hopes that are captivated by your flesh. Everything you know in poetry, music and art, everything beautiful that you can understand and appreciate, is captive in your mortal consciousness.
O Emperor, release the birds to freedom, and then, by releasing them, you yourself will be freed. Never hold anyone captive. If you keep these birds in a golden cage, they will stop singing. Each of them will begin to yearn and die. Life in a cage is not worth living, and therefore whoever cages birds will sooner or later destroy them.
It was very pleasant for you to catch these birds, and now give yourself another joy, show truly royal nobility and set them free.
Having finished speaking, the old monk wrapped himself in his robe and disappeared right before the emperor's eyes. The Emperor, who had knowledge of many sciences, realized that the being who had just spoken to him was not an ordinary mortal monk in a robe, but a celestial entity, the guardian of birds. Since the monk's words were the command of heaven, the Son of Heaven could not disobey them. He ordered all the cage doors to be opened and the birds released. Then he ordered the cage to be taken far into the mountains and left there with the doors open as a monument for the birds.
Some time passed, and the birds returned to the cage and built nests in it. When the emperor was tired of his worries, he climbed the mountains, sat down next to the cage and watched for hours how the birds flew in and out through the open doors of the cage. At the end of his life, he wrote a poem that reflected the understanding he acquired as a result of contemplating the mystery.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru