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Updated: May 19, 2025
In China, under the Tang dynasty, early in the seventh century of the Christian era, lived a learned and virtuous, but poor mandarin who had three sons, Fu-su, Tu-sin, and Wang-li. Fu-su and Tu-sin were young men of active minds, always labouring to find out something new and useful. Wang-li was clever too, but only in games of skill, in which he attained great proficiency.
They further covenanted that if either had missed his reward the other should share his possessions with him. Fu-su repaired to the artists who cut out characters in blocks of hard wood, to the end that books may be printed from the same. When he had fathomed their mystery he betook himself to a brass-founder, and learned how to cast in metal.
"In the city of Alexandria," replied they, "where the Commander of the Faithful is busy introducing the religion of the Prophet." Fu-su passed to Alexandria, carrying his types and tablets. As he entered the gates he remarked an enormous cloud of smoke, which seemed to darken the whole city.
"If it be so," said Omar, "we will not burn him, seeing that we have taken away from him the occasion to sin. Yet shall he swallow these little brass amulets of his, at the rate of one a day, and then be banished from the country." The sentence was executed, and Fu-su was happy that the Court physician condescended to accept his little property in exchange for emetics.
Before he could inquire the reason, the guard arrested him as a stranger, and conducted him to the presence of the Caliph Omar. "Know, O Caliph," said Fu-su, "that my countrymen are at once the wisest of mankind and the stupidest.
Fu-su and Tu-sin continually talked to each other of the wonderful inventions they would make when they arrived at man's estate, and of the wealth and renown they promised themselves thereby. Their conversation seldom reached the ears of Wang-li, for he rarely lifted his eyes from the chess-board on which he solved his problems.
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