Eliminating the 3rd Evil
This is an old story. One that has stayed with me since I was 10. It has an important lesson for those facing evil today.
This is an old story.
It is one that stayed with me throughout my life, and had a deep impact on my philosophy of life.
I remember watching the movie on TV when I was about 10. It was in black and white, which is how long ago it was. The story was about Zhou Chu and how he eliminated the three evils that plagued the town where he lived. “ 周处除三害”
This is based on my recollection and may not be historically accurate. If you have accurate details that I have missed out, kindly share in the comments. The story is from the “Book of Jin — Biography of Zhou Chu”. I understand it is also a popular folklore since the third century AD.
Zhou Chu (242–297 AD) was from Yixing, Dongwu (Eastern Wu), modern day Yixing County in Jiangsu Province. He was an orphan whose father died in battle when he was young. Without supervision, he grew up with little discipline or social behaviours.
Zhou Chu was also very strong and tall, and spent most of his time outside. He refused to study and had a terrible temper. He would frequently beat up whoever he disagrees with, or dislikes. Zhou Chu was your typical spoiled brat who did whatever he liked: hunting and brawling, and harassing the women of the town. A brute and menace to everyone around him.
But he was mostly a bully. And the people of Yixing hated him.
One day, Zhou Chu noticed that many people were unhappy. When he asked them, they avoided him or ran away. Zhou Chu went to see a wise scholar by the name of Lu.
“We live in peaceful times, and this year’s harvest is good. Why is everyone so miserable?” he asked.
Lu replied. “Well, there are 3 evils that terrorise people every day. Unless they are eliminated, how can the people be happy?”
This is the first time that Zhou Chu heard about this. “Three evils? What three evils are you referring to? I can eliminate them. Tell me!”
Lu replied. “The first evil is the White-browed Tiger (白额虎) of Nanshan (Southern Mountain).” The white-browed beast is a tiger that lives in the deep jungle and frequently kills hunters when they go up the Nanshan. It also often descends at night near the villages and destroys livestock of farmers who live nearby.
“If you can eliminate the first evil, then I will tell you the rest.”
“Well, since everyone is troubled by the three evils, I will get rid of them. Starting with the tiger of Nanshan.”
The next day, Zhou Chu went into the mountains to look for the tiger with a bow and arrows, and a sword on his back. In the depths of the jungle, he heard the tiger’s roar, and the white-browed tiger sprang out and charged at him.
Zhou Chu evaded. He picked up his bow and shot the tiger in the forehead with an arrow, killing it.
Zhou Chu then went down the mountain and told everyone what he did. The hunters went up to bring the dead tiger down. Everyone was glad and congratulated Zhou Chu.
“That was easy,” Zhou Chu said to Lu. “Tell me, what is the second evil?”
Lu replied. “The second evil is the Jiao Long (蛟龙) beneath Changqiao (长桥 meaning Long Bridge). It is a dragon that lives in the river. It is very cunning. It appears and disappears without warning, and has killed many fishermen. It can even control the water. It is much more powerful and dangerous than the first. Are you sure you can kill it?”
(Since this happened in Southern China, there’s reason to believe that the Jiao Long might have been a huge crocodile.)
The next day, Zhou Chu changed into his tight clothes, took his dagger with him, and went in search of the dragon. He jumped into the river and looked for it. The dragon, hidden deep under the water, noticed Zhou Chu and swam towards him.
Zhou Chu was prepared, and using the dagger, he stabbed the dragon repeatedly. The dragon grabbed Zhou Chu’s arm by its jaws and they struggled with each other. Zhou Chu battled against the beast for three days and three nights (meaning a long time), fighting for his dear life. The people watched as they both tried to pin down each other. Each rolling and twisting to get an advantage over the other.
The Jiao Long proved to be much harder to kill than the White-browed Tiger.
Zhou Chu was badly injured from the relentless bite of the dragon as the current swept them further and further down the river, into the depths.
The people waited and waited for Zhou Chu to resurface. But after a few days, they believed that both Zhou Chu and the Jiao Long had died and were at the bottom of the river.
Three days later, Zhou Chu returned to the village. He was tired and badly injured, but victorious.
He was looking forward to the townsfolk congratulating him for eliminating the second evil. To his surprise, he saw everyone celebrating. There was no funeral or mourning. In fact, he heard them congratulating each other, saying, “Gong xi, gong xi! Zhou Chu has finally died!” And when they saw him, they ran away in fear, as they always did.
Zhou Chu was heartbroken. He went to look for Lu to ask why they were not grateful when he had eliminated the first and second evil.
“Because you, Zhou Chu, are the 3rd evil.”
Zhou Chu was shocked, and he broke down for the first time in his life.
Lu said that he made people’s lives miserable. Bullying and beating up those who disagreed with him, harassing the young women, and taking whatever he liked.
Unlike his father, Zhou Cang, who was a famous general of the Eastern Wu, Zhou Chu was the biggest of the three evils in the eyes of the people. That’s why they celebrated, thinking that he died with the dragon in the river.
Zhou Chu was devastated.
Lu said. “You must now eliminate the 3rd evil. This will be the most difficult task.”
Zhou Chu realised the people hated him. And looking back, he was a nuisance for everyone in town. He recalled all the horrible things that he did and deeply regretted them.
“It is too late. What will they think of me?” Zhou Chu said. “I have wasted too much time.”
Lu replied. “Don’t be discouraged. From ancient times, the most important thing for a man is to have a purpose and ambition. Why do you care about how people think of you?”
“You were very determined when you fought and eliminated the two evils. Now use the same to become a good and useful person.”
Zhou Chu turned over a new leaf. He left his hometown and went to Wujun. Under the tutelage of Lu, Zhou Chu studied and became a civil and military official. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister (左丞相) of Dongguan, in Dongwu. He also became the Prefect of Xinping when the Jin Dynasty reunified China, the Prefect of Guanghan, and promoted to the Chief Censor.
He was upright and fearless. In the sixth year of Yuankang in the Western Jin Dynasty (296 AD), he was appointed General Jianwei and led troops to the west to pacify the rebellion from the Qiang people (羌人).
In the spring of the following year, he died on the battlefield in Liumo (now Qianxian County, Shaanxi).
After his death, he was posthumously awarded the title of General Pingxi (平西将军), meaning the General in charge of pacifying the West, and granted the title of Xiao Hou (孝侯), meaning Filial Marquis.
Final Thoughts
This is my version of the story. It may not have been historically accurate, but it was how I remembered the story. I think that when we try to change the world and make it a better place; we have to reflect and ensure that we do not become the very problem that we are trying to solve.
There are many stories of how the hero becomes the villain that it tried to destroy. The same goes for all of us. And often, the biggest challenge is not outside, but within us. To become better versions of ourselves. It is a lifelong struggle that we must work on for as long as we live.
Eliminating the 3rd evil is a mission that never ends.
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