昔赵文王喜剑，剑士夹门，而客三千余人；日夜相击于前，死伤者岁百余人，好之不厌。如是三年，国衰，诸侯谋之。太子悝患之，募左右，曰：「孰能说王之意止剑士者，赐之千金。」左右曰：「庄子当能。」太子乃使人以千金奉庄子。庄子弗受，与使者俱，往见太子曰：「太子何以教周，赐周千金？」太子曰：「闻夫子明圣，谨奉千金以币从者。夫子弗受，悝尚何敢言！」庄子曰：「闻太子所欲用周者，欲绝王之喜好也。使臣上说大王而逆王意，下不当太子，则身刑而死，周尚安所事金乎？使臣上说大王，下当太子，赵国何求而不得也？」太子曰：「然。吾王所见唯剑士也。」庄子曰：「诺。周善为剑。」太子曰：「然吾王所见剑士，皆蓬头，突鬓，垂冠，曼胡之缨，短后衣，嗔目而语难，王乃说之。今夫子必儒服而见王，事必大逆。」庄子曰：「请治剑服。」治剑服，三日，乃见太子。太子乃与见王，王脱白刃待之。庄子入殿门，不趋；见王，不拜。王曰：「子欲何以教寡人，使太子先？」曰：「臣闻大王喜剑，故以剑见王。」王曰：「子之剑，何能禁制？」曰：「臣之剑，十步一人，千里不留行。」王大悦之，曰：「天下无敌矣！」庄子曰：「夫为剑者，示之以虚，开之以利，后之以发，先之以至。愿得试之。」王曰：「夫子休就舍，待命令设戏请夫子。」王乃校剑士七日，死伤者六十余人，得五六人，使奉剑于殿下，乃召庄子。王曰：「今日试使士敦剑。」庄子曰：「望之久矣。」王曰：「夫子所御杖，长短何如？」曰：「臣之所奉，皆可。然臣有三剑，唯王所用，请先言而后试。」王曰：「愿闻三剑。」曰：「有天子剑，有诸侯剑，有庶人剑。」王曰：「天子之剑何如？」曰：「天子之剑，以燕溪石城为锋，齐岱为锷，晋魏为脊，周宋为镡，韩魏为夹；包以四夷，裹以四时；绕以渤海，带以常山；制以五行，论以刑德；开以阴阳，持以春夏，行以秋冬。此剑，直之无前，举之无上，案之无下，运之无旁；上决浮云，下绝地纪。此剑一用，匡诸侯，天下服矣。此天子之剑也。」文王芒然自失，曰：「诸侯之剑何如？」曰：「诸侯之剑，以知勇士为锋，以清廉士为锷，以贤良士为脊，以忠圣士为镡，以豪桀士为夹。此剑，直之亦无前，举之亦无上，案之亦无下，运之亦无旁；上法圆天，以顺三光；下法方地，以顺四时；中和民意，以安四乡。此剑一用，如雷霆之震也，四封之内，无不宾服而听从君命者矣。此诸侯之剑也。」王曰：「庶人之剑何如？」曰：「庶人之剑，蓬头突鬓垂冠，曼胡之缨，短后之衣，嗔目而语难。相击于前，上斩颈领，下决肝肺。此庶人之剑，无异于鬬鸡，一旦命已绝矣，无所用于国事。今大王有天子之位而好庶人之剑，臣窃为大王薄之。」王乃牵而上殿。宰人上食，王三环之。庄子曰：「大王安坐定气，剑事已毕矣。」于是文王不出宫三月，剑士皆服毙其处也。

        King Wen of Zi Zhao loved swords, and had more than 3,000 swordsmen guarding his door. Every day and night, they would fight each other, and every year more than 100 of them would be killed or injured. The king loved this, and continued to do so for three years. When the country declined, the princes plotted against him. The crown prince was worried, and asked his attendants, “Who can persuade the king to stop the swordsmen? I will give the reward to that person.” The attendants said, “Zhuangzi can do it.” So the crown prince sent someone to give Zhuangzi a thousand pieces of gold. Zhuangzi refused to accept it, and went with the messenger to see the crown prince, saying, “Why does the crown prince teach Zhou and give him a thousand pieces of gold?” The crown prince said, “I have heard that you are a wise and holy man, so I respectfully offer you a thousand pieces of gold. If you refuse to accept it, how dare I say anything?” Zhuangzi said, “I have heard that the crown prince wants to use Zhou to get rid of the king's fondness for him. If the messenger speaks well of the king and goes against the king's wishes, and if he goes against the crown prince, he will be punished and die. If the envoy speaks highly of the king to the prince, and the prince is the heir apparent, what does the state of Zhao not get? The prince said, “Yes. My king only sees swordsmen.” Zhuangzi said, “Yes. Zhou is good at making swords.” The prince said, “Yes. The swordsmen my king sees all have unkempt hair, protruding temples, hanging crowns, long man-beard tassels, short back-covering garments, and glaring eyes when they speak. Now you must wear the clothes of a Confucian and see the king. Your actions will surely be treasonous.” Zhuangzi said, ‘Please prepare the sword attire.’ Zhuangzi prepared the attire for the sword and waited three days before seeing the crown prince. The crown prince then went with him to see the king, who took off his weapon and waited for them. Zhuangzi did not hurry when he entered the palace gate, and when he saw the king, he did not bow. The king said, ‘What would you like to teach me, so that the crown prince can be first?’ Zhuangzi said, ”I heard that Your Majesty likes swords, so I have come to see you with a sword.” The king said, “What is the power of your sword?” Zhuangzi said, “My sword can kill a man at ten paces, and it is so sharp that no one can stay in its path for a thousand li.” The king was overjoyed and said, “There is no one in the world who can match it!” Zhuangzi said, “The maker of this sword showed me the void, opened it to reveal the sharp edge, and then let me hold it. I would like to try it.” The king said, “My teacher, please wait in your quarters until you are invited to the games.” The king then tested the swordsmiths for seven days, killing and injuring more than 60 people, and selecting five or six to present the swords to the king. The king then summoned Zhuangzi. The king said, “Today I will test the swords.” Zhuangzi said, “I have been waiting a long time.” The king said, “What is the length of the staff you use?” Zhuangzi said, “The staff I carry is suitable for any task. But I have three swords, and I would like to present them to you before I test them.” The king said, “I would like to hear about the three swords.” He said, “There is the sword of the emperor, the sword of the feudal lords, and the sword of the common people.” The king said, “What is the sword of the emperor like?” The Emperor's sword has the sharpness of Yanjing stone city, the edge of Qidai, the ridge of Jin and Wei, the tang of Zhou and Song, the sheath of Han and Wei; it is wrapped in the four barbarians, encased in the four seasons; surrounded by the Bohai Sea, bound by Changshan; regulated by the five elements, judged by the virtues and vices; opened by yin and yang, held by spring and summer, and carried by autumn and winter. This sword is straight and unstoppable, raised to the sky, laid on the ground, and swung in all directions. It cuts through the clouds and cleaves the earth. Once this sword is used, it will subdue the princes and the whole world will submit. This is the sword of the Son of Heaven.” King Wen was lost in thought and said, ‘What about the princes’ swords?” He said, “The sword of a feudal lord has a sharp edge made from the blade of a brave warrior, a clean blade made from the blade of an honest scholar, a sturdy spine made from the spine of a virtuous scholar, a sharp tip made from the tip of a loyal and wise scholar, and a sturdy handle made from the handle of a valiant scholar. This sword has no front when held upright, no top when lifted, no bottom when placed on a surface, and no sides when swung. It follows the laws of the universe, obeying the three lights of the sky, and the four seasons of the earth. It is in harmony with the people's wishes and brings peace to the four corners of the land. Once this sword is used, it is like the thunderclap. Within the four borders, no one will not obey the king's orders. This is the sword of a feudal prince.” The king said, ‘What about the sword of the common people?’ The minister said, ”The sword of the common people has a shaggy head, a tufted beard, a long tassel, short back-length clothes, and a fierce look. It strikes in front, cutting the neck and collar above, and the liver and lungs below. This commoner's sword is no different from a gamecock's. Once its life is gone, it is useless for state affairs. Now the king has the position of the son of heaven and likes the commoner's sword. I secretly despise the king for this.” The king then led him up to the palace. The butcher served the food, and the king circled three times. Zhuangzi said, ‘Your Majesty, sit back and calm down, the sword business is over.’ So King Wen did not leave the palace for three months, and all the swordsmen died of exhaustion in their places.