Note 24 — LXVI. THE TIPSY TURTLE.
Herbert Allen Giles translation
A favourite Chinese figure expressive of old age. It dates back to the celebrated commentary by Tso Ch‘iu Ming on Confucius’ Spring and Autumn (See No. XLI., note 237):—“Hsi is twenty-three and I am twenty-five; and marrying thus we shall approach the wood together;” the “wood” being, of course, that of the coffin. return to text