To wait idly for a stroke of luck, hoping for unearned gains; to stick rigidly to old ways or narrow experiences without adapting to new circumstances.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
Legend has it that during the Warring States period in the State of Song, there was a farmer who toiled from dawn till dusk. Even in good years, he barely had enough to eat and wear; during famines, he would suffer from hunger. He longed to improve his life but was both lazy and timid, always hoping for unexpected windfalls to come his way.
A miracle finally happened one autumn day. While he was plowing his field, hunters were active nearby. The shouts echoed, and frightened wild animals ran desperately. Suddenly, a rabbit, by sheer coincidence, crashed headfirst into a tree stump at the edge of his field and died.
That day, the farmer enjoyed a hearty meal. From then on, he stopped farming. All day long, he would guard that magical tree stump, waiting for another miracle to occur.
The idiom "shǒu zhū dài tù" (guarding a tree stump waiting for a rabbit) is used to describe someone who foolishly hopes to gain without effort, or who rigidly adheres to outdated methods without adapting to new situations.