Ji Quan Bu Ning – Chickens and dogs are not at peace

Idiom Story:

The Tale of the Snake Catcher was written by Liu Zongyuan in 805 AD after he was exiled to Yongzhou (now Lingling District, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province). This work employs a narrative style that mixes storytelling with philosophical commentary.

The essay begins with the account of a snake catcher, who describes how his family has been involved in snake catching for three generations, with both his grandfather and father falling victim to snake bites. Despite this, he continues the family tradition. This narrative serves to highlight the hardships faced by the common people during the mid-Tang period, a time marked by heavy taxes, forced labor, and rampant exploitation by officials.

Liu Zongyuan contrasts the dire situation of farmers with that of snake catchers. He points out that many families who farmed the land have dwindled in number due to death or migration caused by oppressive taxation and violence. In one poignant section, he writes:

“… In the past, with whom my ancestors lived, there are now hardly any families left; among those who lived with my father, only two or three families remain out of ten; in the twelve years I have lived here, there are now only four or five families left. They have either died or fled. Yet, I alone have survived by catching snakes. When the ruthless officials come to our town, shouting in all directions, causing chaos, even the chickens and dogs cannot find peace.”

From this passage, it is clear that the arrival of oppressive officials creates a climate of fear and unrest, disturbing not just the people but also the animals. The phrase “虽鸡狗不得宁焉” (even the chickens and dogs cannot find peace) was later simplified and evolved into the idiom “鸡犬不宁.”

This idiom effectively captures the essence of a disturbed environment, illustrating how far-reaching the effects of social unrest can be, affecting all living beings.