Che Kung stick 22

Judge people by their actions

This middle-grade stick asks you to look beyond someone's manner and examine what they do. The warning about profit applies to your own choices too. If a relationship or agreement looks attractive, check whether the people involved keep their word when doing so costs them something.

The poem, line by line

1. 刻木之夫不可親

   Do not draw close to a person carved from wood.

2. 當於善惡上觀人

   Judge people by the good and harm they do.

3. 但凡見利莫忘義

   Whenever you see a profit, do not forget what is right.

4. 須向仁中慮不仁

   Even in apparent kindness, consider the possibility of unkindness.

English translation by kaucim.ai. The explanation below describes our reading of the poem.

Words and references

The opening image, 刻木之夫, literally describes a man carved from wood. Here we read it as a figure lacking a responsive human heart. That is an interpretation of an unusual phrase. The following lines give the clearer instruction: assess conduct, keep your principles, and do not take a display of kindness as proof of good intentions.

Bring it back to your question

Recall one promise this person has kept and one that remains unresolved. For a work or money agreement, ask for the terms in writing before deciding.

You can use the poem to reflect on a situation. It cannot confirm a future event or decide another person's intentions.

Text and source notes

Chinese text and grade: Chinese Temples Committee, Che Kung stick 22. Compared with the independent 96-stick text in our July 2026 corpus review.

Our source comparison records no wording difference for this stick.

English edition: 2026-09-05. The translation and interpretation are independently written by kaucim.ai. There is no official temple affiliation or authorization.

Other Che Kung readings

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