Today we want to talk about contradictions.
The Chinese word for contradiction contains two nouns, or two objects, namely a spear and a shield, or Mao Dun.
A spear and a shield are opposing forces, so in certain circumstances they could provide a contradiction. Maybe you can imagine an appropriate scenario of your own where this would be the case.
But while you’re working on your own idiomatic background, here’s the original story……
SHANSHAN: Once upon a time, a man was hawking spears and shields on the street.
“Spears! Shields! First class spears and strong shields!”
Very soon, a big crowd gathered around him.
“Look,” said the man, picking up one of his shields. He banged and showed it to the crowd. “My shields are very strong. Nothing in the world can pierce my shields, no matter how hard and sharp it may be. Just look at these tough shields!”
With a proud expression on his face, the man put down his shield and picked up a spear. Brandishing the spear, he said: “My spears are the best under heaven. They are hard and sharp. They can cut through anything, no matter how tough and strong it might be. Come on, buy my spears and shields. Don’t hesitate. You won’t find anything better anywhere.”
“Wait a minute,” shouted one of the on-lookers from the crowd, “I wonder if you can tell us what would happen if you jabbed one of your shields with one of your spears.”
“Then…erh…then…” the seller was tongue-tied. He didn’t have an answer and the crowd burst out laughing.
……
Of course, he couldn’t answer that question — he was being self-contradictory — Zì Xiāng Máo Dùn 自相矛盾 .
As we mentioned earlier, the Chinese characters Máo 矛 for “spear” and Dùn 盾 for “shield” together form a compound MáoDùn 矛盾 meaning “to contradict”, “contradiction” or “contradictory”.
Add Zì Xiāng and you have Zi Xiang Máo Dùn, a phrase meaning “self contradictory,” which is a very useful and popular phrase in Chinese.
And it’s especially useful in a debate. If you can prove that your opponent is being Zì Xiāng Máo Dùn, you immediately have the upper hand. Your opponent may claim to have the strongest shield and sharpest spear, but there will be no doubt as to who has the sharpest wit.
(Source:english.cri.cn)
