Shi's Hing, the famous Chinese wise man, traveled around the country and it appeared in the city where the best painters competed among themselves for a rank of the most skillful artist. Many were already the famous masters, they arrived from all corners of China here to present to judges the works. It were fine pictures, but it was only necessary to choose from them one – the best.
The competition was already almost complete as suddenly judges got into difficulties. Before them there were only two pictures and they needed to name the winner, having chosen the most worthy from the latest works. But looking at these cloths, they confusedly whispered and in embarrassment looked at each other. As they tried to find though some defect in the best works, they did not see any mistake and therefore the outcome of a competition remained is not clear.
The wise man who appeared here watched negotiations of judges and guessed in what the reason of their confusion. He left crowd of the audience and went to them to offer the help. Judges recognized Hyingg Shi and at once agreed to accept it.
Then the famous wise man approached artists and told them:
- Both of you brought fine pictures here. I admit, I do not see in them shortcomings, as well as your judges. Therefore I ask each of you fairly to estimate the work and to frankly tell us in what it is insufficiently good.
Artists long peered into the cloths, having thought. At last, one of them told:
- The teacher, as I look, I cannot find defects in the picture. It is ideal.
The second master was silent.
- Why you will tell nothing? – Hyingg Shi asked. – Do not you find faults of the work too?
- Oh, is not present, - the artist confusedly said, - I see them, I only do not know with what it is necessary to begin …
Shi's Hing smiled:
- You won this competition. Accept my congratulations.
- But how so? Why? – the first exclaimed then. - In my work there is no mistake, neither you, nor judges saw them! I and did not find them! How could the one who found them in the picture and and very much defeat me?
The great wise man told it:
- That master who does not find defect in the works reached limits of the talent. And the one who notices shortcomings even where others cannot see them can grow and improve the art still. How could I call the winner of that from you, who already finished the way, but has the same level of skill, as the one who still continues the way?
"