Xishi was a celebrated beautiful woman in Chinese history. It is said that each time when a school of fish in the river saw her washing yarn, they would feel ashamed of their ‘ugliness’ compared to the lady and swam to the bottom. Although she shone out with her speechless beauty, poor Xishi suffered from a weak heart that often left her knitting her brows as she agonized with pain.
One day, Dongshi, an ugly woman saw Xishi while she was suffering. “This lady is really cute. Her slender eyebrows are striking,” Dongshi thought as she gazed up at her in admiration. So, Dongshi began to imitate Xishi’s way of walking and frowned in the same style on her way back home.
Whenever Dongshi walked through the houses of the village, people would immediately shut their doors. She was once shunned by a farmer along with his wife and children.
Note: Find your own style because if you follow in others’ footsteps, you will never find your own. You may also look pathetic and awkward. We are all wonderfully unique.
This story is taken from The Korea Herald magazine (http://www.koreaherald.co.kr)
