The mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole follows behind

The mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole follows

(táng

láng

bǔ

chán, huáng

què

zài

hòu)

The mantis is about to Catching a cicada, I don’t know that the oriole is behind it and is about to eat it. It is a metaphor for being short-sighted and only thinks of plotting against others, but does not expect that others are plotting against him.

Excerpted from "Warring States·Zhuangzi·Outer Chapter Mountain Trees No. 20" "When you see a cicada, you will find its beautiful shade and forget its body; a mantis grabs the shade and fights against it; you will see it and forget its shape; a strange magpie To benefit from it, to see the benefit and forget the truth."

"Liu Xiang·Shuo Yuan·Volume 9·Admonishment" "There is a tree in the garden, and there is a cicada on it. The cicada sits high and sings sadly, drinking the dew. The mantis is behind it! The mantis bends over to catch the cicada without realizing that the oriole is beside it! The oriole stretches its neck to peck the mantis but does not realize that the bullet is under it! Regardless of the troubles that may follow."

"Qing·Ji Yun·Yuewei Cottage Notes·Volume 4·Huaixi Magazine 14": "A few years later, I heard that a Taoist priest was struck by lightning in Shandong. This Taoist committed excessive sexual acts and killed people in the sky. "The mantis stalks the cicada, and the oriole follows behind." Attacking Chu, he said: "Anyone who dares to give advice will die.