The Armpit Underfur of a Fox

During the Warring States Period, Zhou She was an official under the ruler Zhao Jianzi. He once stood at the doorway of Zhao Jianzi's mansion for three days and nights in order to be given an interview. Hearing that, Zhao Jianzi sent a servant to ask Zhou She,“What on earth is the reason that you insist on calling on me?”

Zhou She answered,“I am eager to be a righteous and outspoken man, who will frequently follow you with a pen, ink and wooden tablet in hand, and who will write it down when you make a mistake. If the man persists in writing down the mistakes every day and remind you to correct them at any moment, then after a month, you will make gains. After a year, the effect will be more remarkable.”

Hearing that, Zhao Jianzi was delighted. He agreed to Zhou She's request immediately. Ever since then, they lived under the same eaves. When Zhao Jianzi went on a journey, Zhou She was accompanied so as to remind him to correct mistakes in time in case he made any.

Beyond expectation, before long, Zhou She died. Zhao Jianzi was as sad as he lost his son. One day, Zhao Jianzi drank with his ministers on Hongbo Platform. Zhao Jianzi was on the fuddle and shed tears.

The ministers were frightened by this scene. They left their seats, walked forward and asked,“Your majesty, did we commit any kind of crime?”

“No, you didn't.” Zhao Jianzi replied,“I just thought of the words said by my friend Zhou She. He said,‘The value of a thousand goat skins is inferior to that of a fox's armpit underfur; the benefit of numerous people's obsequiousness is inferior to that of a righteous man's plainspokenness. Formerly, due to the fatuousness of King Zhou, the Shang Dynasty perished;in contrast, owing to the fairness of King Wu, the Zhou Dynasty came to prosper.' Since Zhou She passed away, I have never heard anyone who pointed out my mistakes to my face and reminded me to correct them. It seems that my perdition day will not be long. That's the reason why I am so sad and shed tears.”

The original meaning of the idiom“The Armpit Underfur of a Fox” is the skin under the fox's armpit. Today, this is a metaphor for something very precious.

Good advice may sound harsh to ears. People who dare to point out your faults face to face are true friends.