TheMandarin's Ear
By Frank Owen
An odd and curious Story about a Chinese mandarin who had the ear of a thief grafted in place of the ear he had lost
The mandarin Wang Mok was distraught. He had gone hunting in the hills west of Peking. Not only had he returned without any game, but he had returned without one of his ears. Where the ear had been, there was now a jagged wound which his numerous doctors bustled about in an effort to heal. Not only was the pain excruciating, but Wang Mok considered that he had lost face. Now he would not be able to be buried in completeness on that day when earth should cease to need him more. And another thing disturbed him. Now when he walked in the garden among his numerous slender slave-women, they might turn their heads that he would not behold them smiling. No longer was the face of Wang Mok round and bland as a full moon. It was a broken moon. Saurin the poet could no longer write sonnets about him.
How he lost his ear ever remained a mystery. Some said that it had been shot off accidentally, others that a wild beast of the mountains had attacked Wang Mox in savage fury, resentful of his desire to spread death through the mountains. But those in the mandarin's party wisely said nothing. Although as a rule the mandarin was a gentle master, upon occasion he had been known to slit the tongue of a cook because he had prepared food for him that had caused his stomach vexation.
And now the doctors shook their heads as they gathered in conclave. For once their extensive resources were inadequate. They could not very well resort to acupuncture, nor for that matter could they prescribe shed snakeskins, asafetida or apricot gold pills. Only a magician could grow a new ear. Then Doctor Wen Hsi, who always walked alone in the pathways of therapeutics and philosophy, craved audience with the mandarin and was at once shown into his august presence.
"My master," he said humbly, after preliminary salutations had been exhausted, "if you will permit me to speak, I will advise you of my humble conclusions in regard to the replacement of your ear."
"Speak freely," the mandarin directed, "for I know you are a doctor possessed of remarkable powers, though I greatly doubt your ability to grow a new ear for me."
Doctor Wen Hsi bowed. "Most gracious master," he said slowly, "I make no claim that I can grow you a new ear, but I believe that with the help of the gods and your august sanction I can replace the one you have lost."
"You mean with an ear of wax?"
"No, with a living ear!"
The mandarin leaned forward on his chair. His eyes lit up and glowed like bright lanterns.
"If you could do that," he whispered tensely, "the fortunes of China would be yours."
