Buying the Box and Returning the Pearl

Synopsis

A Chinese idiom from Han Feizi about a man who buys a beautiful box but returns the precious pearl inside.

Source

From "Han Feizi" (韩非子)

Meaning

Mai Du Huan Zhu (买椟还珠): Buying the ornamental box but returning the precious pearl. A metaphor for poor judgment in choosing what is valuable.

The Story

A man from Chu made an exquisitely decorated box to sell his pearls. A buyer from Zheng was so captivated by the beautiful box that he purchased it but returned the pearls inside — he valued the packaging more than the treasure it contained.

Moral

Don't let attractive packaging blind you to the true value of what's inside.

References

1. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/买椟还珠