To look at the sky through a bamboo tube and measure the sea with a shell dipper; used to describe having a limited, narrow, or superficial understanding or outlook on things.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Western Han Dynasty, the talented literary figure Dongfang Shuo often satirized Emperor Wu. Due to this, despite his abilities, he only held minor official posts such as Grand Master of Remonstrance and was not heavily relied upon by Emperor Wu.
He penned 'Answering a Guest's Questions' (答客难) to articulate his feelings of unfulfilled potential.
In this work, he compared himself to figures like Su Qin and Zhang Yi, emphasizing that a person of talent should not 'guān kuī lí cè' (have a narrow and superficial perspective) but should instead pay close attention to their conduct and moral integrity.