Response to Emperors (7)
應帝王（七）
1 The ruler of South Sea called Tiao, the ruler of North Sea called Hu and the ruler of Central Land called Hundun. They were close friends. Tiao and Hu were often entertained by Hundun in his home, drinking and singing happily. Tiao and Hu were very appreciated to Hundun’s warm-hearted and hospitality, so they often expected to do something for him within their reach in return.
南海的統治者名鯈，北海的統治者名忽，中央的統治者名渾沌。他們三人是好朋友，鯈與忽經常到渾沌家裡作客，飲酒歡唱。每當他倆來玩時，渾沌都熱心招待，善盡地主之誼。鯈與忽心中非常感激，常想在他們的能力範圍內幫助渾沌，為渾沌做一點事來報答他的盛情。
南海之帝為儵，北海之帝為忽，中央之帝為渾沌。儵與忽時相下遇於渾沌之地，渾沌待之甚善。
2 Tiao and Hu noticed that all people have seven apertures in their heads but only Hundun has no. Hence, they thought self-assertively that it must be wonderful for Hundun to see, to hear, to smell, to taste the varicolored world if he had apertures such as eyes, ears, nose and mouth. So they decided to offer apertures as a gift for him.
鯈與忽注意到所有人都有口耳目鼻等七竅，而唯獨渾沌沒有。他們自做主張地認為如果渾沌也能有口耳目鼻，能看見、體會這個花花世界，那該有多好！為此他們決定每天為渾沌開一個竅。
儵與忽謀報渾沌之德，曰：「人皆有七竅以視聽食息此獨無有，嘗試鑿之。」
3 Since then, they dug one aperture per day for Hundun. However, on the seventh day Hundun died unconsciously for the goofily digging by his close friends.
於是，在他們的努力開竅之下，到了第七天，渾沌便糊裡糊塗地被這兩位好朋友給弄死了!
4Tiao and Hu did not know the reason of their friend’s death. In fact, Hundun was known as Hundun because he had no aperture; once he had apertures, he was no longer the Hundun. That’s why he died in the halfway of his life.
鯈與忽不明白渾沌之所以為渾沌，就是因為沒有竅。一旦有竅，渾沌就不再是渾沌，自然就因此夭折了。
日鑿一竅，七日而渾沌死。