English Original
Gong Zhiqiao obtained a piece of fine Chinese tung wood and crafted a qin, a traditional stringed instrument. When strung and played, it produced a wonderful sound, harmonious and pleasing to the ear.
Believing it to be the finest instrument in the world, he 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 Zhiqiao took the qin home. He engaged a lacquerer to paint crackles on it to imitate an antique and a sculptor to carve inscriptions of ancient scholars. He then placed it in a box and buried it underground.
After a year, he unearthed the qin and took it to the market to sell. An influential personage happened by, purchased it for one hundred pieces of gold, and presented it to the imperial court. The court musicians vied to examine it and praised in unison:
"Ah! It is indeed a rare treasure among stringed instruments!"
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。安上琴弦弹奏，声音和谐悦耳，美妙动听。
他自认为这是天下最好的琴，于是将它献给太常寺卿。这位掌管宗庙礼仪的官员让皇家乐工检验。乐工却不屑一顾，只说：“不古。”便把琴退还了。
工之侨只好把琴拿回家。他请漆工仿古，在琴上漆出裂纹，又请雕匠刻上古代学者的题字。随后将琴装入匣中，埋入地下。
一年后，他将琴挖出，拿到集市上出售。一位显贵恰好路过，用百金买下此琴，并把它献给了朝廷。乐工们争相传看，齐声称赞：
“啊！这真是世上罕见的珍琴！”