Zhōu Chù (周处) was an infamous bully. One day, he overheard others talking about three great disasters (三大祸害), with the first being a ferocious tiger (猛虎) and the second being a flood dragon (蛟龙). Being impatient, he rushed to meet the self-imposed challenge of subduing them. Having killed the tiger, when wrestling with the dragon in and out of water, he disappeared for three days. He was thus assumed to have died.
Upon return, he witnessed a celebration for the three great disasters having been eliminated. Thereupon did he realise that he was the third ‘disaster’ dreaded. He was regarded as a villain more than a hero, despite after eliminating the other two ‘disasters’. Instead of eliminating himself, he repented and transformed himself, to the extent of becoming a great official to benefit the people. This has since been an example about personal redemption.
Loosely inspired by Zhōu Chù, a notorious killer (Chén Guìlín: 陈桂林) urged to surrender decides to take out two criminals more wanted and less repentant than himself — partly out of a (self-)righteous ego trip, and partly to make amends for himself. This begs some questions. Is it possible to do ‘evil’ to do ‘good’? Will the ‘evil’ cancel out the ‘good’ done? If a little ‘evil’ is done to subdue greater ‘evil’, will more ‘good’ arise?
To answer these questions, good and evil has to be defined first. True evil are thoughts, words and deeds that arise from greed, hatred and delusion (贪嗔痴), also known as the three poisons (三毒). True good is that which arises from generosity, compassion and wisdom instead, which can be called the three antidotes. Thus, the motivations of the protagonist and antagonists matter more than their actions, in defining them as more good or evil.
We are mixed bags mentally, verbally and physically — not entirely good or evil, at times more good, and others more evil. May we keep advancing towards greater good; away from more evil. Now for the answers… It all depends on how whether there was good or evil in mind, and which was more, which might not be apparent if judging by what done only. Well, what matters more, is to be mindful of our own true intentions, instead of speculating on the motivations of a fictitious character.
The titular pig, snake and pigeon refer to the three key characters. There is Chén, who wears a child’s watch with a cartoon pig (given by his beloved grandmother), the notorious gangster with a snake tattoo on his forearm, and the cult master with a pigeon tattoo on his back. The animals seem inspired by the trio featured at the centre of the Buddhist Bhavacakra, which powers the ‘wheel of life’ and death.
The rooster (which is ‘related’ to the pigeon) represents greed (of the hungry tiger and money-guzzling cult master), the snake represents hatred (of the violent flood dragon and gangster), and the pig represents delusion (of Zhōu and Chén). Just as the characters interact, the three poisons do too, between people and within each person, with or without certain poisons being more prominent. As causes of suffering, the true three disasters to eliminate are the three poisons within us!
Related Reviews:
‘The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon’ Master Of Guilt
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2024/03/the-pig-the-snake-and-the-pigeon-master-of-guilt
Nihilism Vs Existentialism In ‘The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon’
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2024/03/nihilism-vs-existentialism-in-the-pig-the-snake-and-the-pigeon
