During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, two renowned Confucian scholars, Wang Gong and Wang Chen, both served as tutors to the crown prince and shared a close friendship. One day, Wang Chen visited Wang Gong and saw a beautiful six-foot bamboo mat. Admiring it, he said, "You came from Kuaiji, which is famous for its bamboo, so I assume you brought plenty of these." Without a word, Wang Gong handed him the mat. Later, when Wang Chen left, Wang Gong realized he had given away his only mat, leaving himself to sit on a simple straw mat instead. When Wang Chen heard this, he was deeply impressed and remarked, "I always thought you had many, so I didn't hesitate to ask. Now I see your generosity." Wang Gong replied, "You don't understand me—I never have more than one of anything." This story highlights the selfless generosity and humility of ancient scholars, reminding us that true friendship values giving over possessing.
Once, Wang Gong accompanied his father, the imperial advisor Wang Yun, on a trip to Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang), where the local bamboo mats were renowned. Wang Gong bought one and brought it back to the capital.
Soon after, Wang Chen visited Wang Gong at his home. After exchanging pleasantries, Wang Gong enthusiastically described the scenic wonders of the region—the Tomb of King Yue and the Huan Sha Stream. Wang Chen listened with great interest, captivated by the tales.
Wang Chen noticed Wang Gong sitting on a new six-foot-long bamboo mat and thought, "This mat is truly beautiful and smooth—it must be very comfortable to sit on. It must be a specialty he brought back from Kuaiji, and he probably brought back quite a few."
Wang Chen, growing more fond of it with each look, said, "Brother Gong, this bamboo mat is the one you brought back from Kuaiji, isn't it? How about giving me one?"
Wang Gong readily agreed and gave Wang Chen the very bamboo mat he was sitting on.
After some days, Wang Chen had business at Wang Gong's home and, seeing Wang Gong sitting on an old straw mat, asked in surprise, "Brother Gong, why aren't you sitting on a new bamboo mat instead of this old straw cushion?" Wang Gong replied, "Didn't I give my new bamboo mat to you? How could I have another?"
Wang Chen felt deeply embarrassed and apologized, "Brother Gong, I thought you had brought back more than one bamboo mat, so I asked you for one. I didn't know you only had one. I'm truly sorry."
Wang Gong smiled and said, "Friendship matters most. It's fine. You know, I have no other possessions in my life." Later, the idiom "No Other Possessions" came to describe having nothing beyond the bare necessities.
Source: *Book of Jin*, "Biography of Wang Gong"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "别无长物" came to describe having nothing beyond the bare necessities.