10th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories, Tang dynasty
An early example of reductio ad absurdum approach to changing the ruler’s mind. Rather than having a head-on confrontation with unreasonable behaviour, the jester instead agrees wholeheartedly, taking the whole thing to such a logical but extreme degree that...
10th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories, Tang dynasty
A rare example of a jester facing execution and all the more exceptional for having the ruler about to strike the fatal blow himself. Equally astonishing is the quick-wittedness to come up with a pun which made the emperor laugh and so commute the death sentence....
