Synopsis
A Chinese idiom from 'Lüshi Chunqiu' about a man who marks his boat to find a sword dropped in the water — a metaphor for rigid thinking.
Source
From "Lüshi Chunqiu" (Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals), chapter "Examining the Present"
Meaning
Ke Zhou Qiu Jian (刻舟求剑): To carve a mark on the boat to search for a sword dropped into the water. It is a metaphor for rigid, inflexible thinking — failing to adapt to changing circumstances.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Idiom | 刻舟求剑 |
| Pinyin | kè zhōu qiú jiàn |
| Source | Lüshi Chunqiu (吕氏春秋) |
| Similar | Waiting by a tree stump for another rabbit (守株待兔) |
| Opposite | Adapting to circumstances (随机应变) |
The Story
During the Warring States period, a man from the state of Chu was crossing a river by boat. When the boat reached the middle of the river, his sword accidentally fell overboard into the water. Without hesitation, the man carved a notch into the side of the boat and said, "This is where my sword fell."
The boat continued moving forward and eventually docked at the shore. The man then jumped into the water at the spot where he had carved the mark to search for his sword. However, the boat had traveled far away while the sword remained where it had fallen. Searching for the sword in this manner is indeed foolish.
Moral
This story satirizes those who cling to old rules and refuse to adapt. The situation had changed, yet the man was still looking in the original position. It teaches that one must handle problems flexibly based on actual circumstances, rather than rigidly applying old methods to new situations.
Usage Example
He refuses to listen to others' advice and insists on using old methods to solve new problems — isn't that marking the boat to find the sword?
References
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/刻舟求剑
2.古诗文网: https://www.gushiwen.cn/ - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_idiom
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