Tulong Zizhu told a story to Chang Yang, who had come to learn archery from him, which contained the principles of the art:
The King of Chu was once hunting in Yunmeng Marsh. A spotted deer ran out to his left. The king aimed his arrow at it, but just before releasing, an elk appeared to his right. As he was about to shoot the elk, a swan flew overhead. The king was utterly lost as to which target to choose.
Yang Youji, a master archer, approached the king and said, "If a single leaf is placed a hundred paces away, I can hit it ten times out of ten. But if ten leaves are placed there, I am not sure I could still do it."