Mao and Dun were common weapons in ancient China, similar to a spear and shield; the former was used to hurt the enemy, while the latter was used to defend oneself.
Zi xiang mao dun Contradicting oneself
战国时期，有人在集市上同时卖矛和盾。他一边夸口说自己的矛锋利无比，可以刺穿时界上任何去何从个盾牌，一边又说自己的盾坚韧无比，可以挡住世界上任何一支长矛的攻击。有人问了一声：“用你的矛来刺你的盾呢？”这个人顿时张口结舌……
Mao and Dun were common weapons in ancient China, similar to a spear and shield; the former was used to hurt the enemy, while the latter was used to defend oneself. According to legend, a merchant was selling Mao and Dun at the same time one day in a market in the Warring States. One minute he bragged his Mao were the sharpest in the world, able to pierce into any Dun. A short time later he claimed his Dun were the most durable in the world, able to deflect any Mao. After hearing the merchant brag for a while, an onlooker challenged, "Well, why don‘t you attack your Dun with your Mao." The merchant was tongue-tied, and other onlookers laughed at him. That‘s how the Chinese idiom "Zi Xiang Mao Dun" began. So, even today, one might say, "You keep vowing to become a hard worker, yet to remain a drunk in a bar. Aren‘t you contradicting yourself?" or "Our boss hopes we will sell ourselves to him -- at the lowest price. What he is dreaming is self-contradictory."
战国时期，有人在集市上同时卖矛和盾。他一边夸口说自己的矛锋利无比，可以刺穿时界上任何去何从个盾牌，一边又说自己的盾坚韧无比，可以挡住世界上任何一支长矛的攻击。有人问了一声：“用你的矛来刺你的盾呢？”这个人顿时张口结舌……
Mao and Dun were common weapons in ancient China, similar to a spear and shield; the former was used to hurt the enemy, while the latter was used to defend oneself. According to legend, a merchant was selling Mao and Dun at the same time one day in a market in the Warring States. One minute he bragged his Mao were the sharpest in the world, able to pierce into any Dun. A short time later he claimed his Dun were the most durable in the world, able to deflect any Mao. After hearing the merchant brag for a while, an onlooker challenged, "Well, why don‘t you attack your Dun with your Mao." The merchant was tongue-tied, and other onlookers laughed at him. That‘s how the Chinese idiom "Zi Xiang Mao Dun" began. So, even today, one might say, "You keep vowing to become a hard worker, yet to remain a drunk in a bar. Aren‘t you contradicting yourself?" or "Our boss hopes we will sell ourselves to him -- at the lowest price. What he is dreaming is self-contradictory."