Getting the casket and returning the pearl
　　A man from the state of Chu wanted to sell a precious pearl in the state of Zheng. He made a casket for the pearl out of the wood from a magnolia tree, which he fumigated¹ with spices. He studded the casket with pearls and jade², ornamented³ it with red gems⁴ and decorated it with kingfisher feathers. A man of the state of Zheng bought the casket and gave him back the pearl.
　　Too luxuriant decoration usually supersedes⁵ what really counts. This man from Chu certainly knew how to sell a casket but he was no good at selling his pearl. And the man of Zheng didn't know which is really valuable.
　　(《Hanfeizi》)

　　买椟还珠
　　有个楚国人想在郑国出售一颗珍贵的珍珠。他用木兰为珍珠作了个匣子，用香料把匣子熏香，还用珠，玉，红宝石来加以装饰，并插上了翠鸟的羽毛。一个郑国人买走了这个匣子，却把珍珠还给了他。
　　过于华丽的装饰往往会喧宾夺主。那个楚国人知道如何卖掉匣子，却不擅长出售珍珠。至于买匣子的郑国人，他根本不懂什么才是真正有价值的。