English Original
Gong Zhiqiao obtained a piece of fine Chinese tung wood and crafted a qin (a stringed musical instrument). When strung and plucked, it produced a wonderful sound, harmonious and pleasing to the ear.
Believing it to be the finest instrument in the world, Gong presented it to the Tai Chang Si Qing, a high official in charge of rites and protocol. The official had it examined by an imperial musician, who disdained to look at it, saying only, "Not ancient!" and returned it.
Gong took the instrument home. He engaged a lacquerer to paint crackles on it to imitate an ancient qin and a sculptor to carve inscriptions of ancient scholars upon it. He then placed it in a box and buried it underground.
After a year, Gong unearthed the qin and took it to the market to sell. An influential personage happened to pass by, bought it for one hundred pieces of gold, and presented it to the imperial court. The imperial musicians vied with each other to examine it and praised in unison: "Ah! It is indeed a rare stringed instrument in the world!"
中文翻译
工之侨得到一块优质的桐木料，用它制作了一把琴。安上琴弦一弹，发出和谐悦耳的动听声音。
工之侨自认为这是天下最好的琴，于是将它献给太常寺卿（主管宗庙礼仪的官员）。太常让宫中的乐工检验，乐工却对此不屑一顾，只说：“不古。”便把琴还给了他。
工之侨只好把琴拿回家。他请漆工在琴上漆出仿古的裂纹，又请雕匠刻上古代学者的题字，然后将琴装入匣中，埋入地下。
一年之后，工之侨将琴从地下取出，拿到集市上出售。一位显贵之人正好路过，用百金买下此琴，并将其献给了朝廷。乐工们争相传看这把琴，齐声称赞道：“啊！这真是世上少有的珍琴！”