A businessman in the State of Chu had a beautiful pearl. He was going to sell it. In order to get more money, he used a good box to contain the pearl. The box was made of great wood by a highly skilled carpenter. And also he used jade and feather to decorate the box.

Then he put the pearl into the box and went to the market to sell it. A man of the State of Zheng bought the box at a high price and left. But later he went back and said: “Sir, you forgot a pearl in the box.” He gave the pearl back to the businessman.

The businessman was surprised and laughed.
一个楚国人，他有一颗漂亮的珍珠，他打算把这颗珍珠卖出去。为了卖个好价钱，他便动脑筋要将珍珠好好包装一下，他觉得有了高贵的包装，那么珍珠的“身份”就自然会高起来。

这个楚国人找来名贵的木兰，又请来手艺高超的匠人，为珍珠做了一个盒子(即椟)，用桂椒香料把盒子熏得香气扑鼻。然后，在盒子的外面精雕细刻了许多好看的花纹，还镶上漂亮的金属花边，看上去，闪闪发亮，实在是一件精致美观的工艺品。

这样，楚人将珍珠小心翼翼地放进盒子里，拿到市场上去卖。有个郑国人把匣子买了去，却把匣子里面的珠子还给了他。这让楚国人哭笑不得。