In ancient Guizhou, where donkeys were unknown, a curious man shipped one in by boat. Not knowing what to do with it, he let it graze at the foot of a mountain. A tiger spotted the strange beast and, thinking it a divine creature, hid in the forest to observe it. The tiger crept closer, trembling with awe, but the donkey brayed loudly, startling the tiger into a hasty retreat. However, after repeated encounters, the tiger grew accustomed to the donkey's voice and began circling it, testing its defenses. The donkey, enraged, kicked out with its hoof. The tiger laughed, realizing the donkey's only tricks were a loud bray and a weak kick. Leaping on the donkey, the tiger devoured it, leaving nothing behind. This story reminds us that when a seemingly formidable opponent reveals all their skills, they become vulnerable.
A tiger in the mountains spotted this donkey and, seeing how large it appeared, dared not approach, hiding in the forest to watch from afar.
After some time, the tiger grew bolder, ventured out of the forest, and inched closer to the donkey, scrutinizing it carefully, yet still unable to figure out what it truly was.
One day, the donkey suddenly let out a loud bray, startling the tiger so much that it fled far away, thinking the donkey was about to attack. But nothing happened. A few days later, the tiger crept closer, noticing the donkey had no special skills and growing accustomed to its braying. It edged nearer, circling the donkey, yet still found no danger.
Later, the tiger drew even closer to the donkey, even bumping against its body and deliberately provoking it. The donkey finally grew angry and kicked at the tiger with its hooves.
Realizing the donkey had no more tricks, the tiger grew bold. With a thunderous roar, it lunged, sank its teeth into the donkey's throat, and feasted heartily before strolling away, well satisfied.
Later, the idiom "The Donkey of Guizhou Has Exhausted Its Tricks" came to be used to describe someone with limited skills who has used them all up.
Source: Liu Zongyuan (Tang Dynasty), *Three Admonitions*
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "黔驴技穷" came to describe how someone with limited skills has used them all up.