In this legend, famous Jin Dynasty calligrapher 王羲之 [pinyin]Wang2 Xi1 zhi1[/pinyin] avoids death by throwing up on himself. Nice work, Mr. Wang. 

While I have no idea if this story is true - probably not - the real Wang Xizhi was quite a guy. You know what else he was into, besides calligraphy? Are you ready for this? Ducks. <a href="http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/calligraphy-wang-xizhi.php" target="_blank">He was really into ducks.</a> And fathering children, I guess, because he had seven. 

<h3>Sleeptalking - 呓呓</h3>
We're all acquainted with the common Chinese onomatopoeia by now, yes? 喵喵 [pinyin]miao1 miao1[/pinyin] is the sound a cat makes, etc? Here's a less familiar one: the Chinese onomatopoeia for talking in your sleep is "呓呓" [pinyin]yi4 yi4[/pinyin]. So, that's a thing. 

<h3>Adventures in Murder - 灭口</h3>
Lot of meaning packed into this one tiny word, 灭口 [pinyin]mie4 kou3[/pinyin]. Makes sense, though: 灭 means "to snuff out", 口 is that big hole in your face, the one you keep opening right when you shouldn't. Together, these character describe committing murder in order to protect a secret. "To snuff out the mouth", indeed. 

<hr />

[one_half]
<div class="chinesetext">
<h3>Chinese text:</h3>
东晋时期著名书法家王羲之，七岁就开始练字，尚未成年，已经落笔不俗，被人誉为“小神笔”。  

当时，朝廷中有位名叫王敦的大将军，常常把王羲之带到军帐中表演书法，天色晚了，还让他在自己的床铺上睡觉。  

有一次，王敦起床了，王羲之还没有醒。一会儿，王敦的心腹谋士钱凤进来了，两人悄悄地商量事情，谈的是想造反的事，却忘记了王羲之还睡在帐中。王羲之醒来，听见了他们的谈话内容，非常吃惊，心想：“如果他们记起了自己睡在这里，一定会怀疑机密泄露，说不定要杀人<strong>灭口</strong>呢！怎么办？” 恰好昨天喝了点酒，于是，他就假装酩酊大醉，把床上吐得遍处都是，接着，又蒙头盖脸，发出轻轻的鼾声，好像睡熟了似的。  

王敦和钱凤密谈了多时，忽然想起了王羲之，不由得心惊肉跳，脸色骤变。钱凤咬着牙根，恶狠狠地说：“这小子，不能不除掉。不然，我们都要遭灭门之祸了。” 两人手握尖刀，掀开帐子，正要下手，忽听王羲之“呓呓”地说起梦话来，再一看，崭新的被褥吐满了饭菜，散发出一股呛鼻的酒味。王敦和钱凤相视片刻，都以为王羲之酒后熟睡未醒，也就算了。

<a href="http://www.tom61.com/ertongwenxue/mingrenqushi/2008-09-05/7960.html" target="_blank">See source</a> 
</div>
[/one_half]

[one_half last=last][hide-this-part morelink="SHOW ENGLISH TRANSLATION"]
During the Eastern Jin Dynasty there was a famous calligrapher named Wang Xizhi, who by the age of seven had already begun to practice writing, and when he was still not fully grown, he was already producing original work, and was acclaimed as "Little God of the Pen". 

At that time, there was a great general in the imperial court named Wang Dun, who often brought Wang Xizhi back to his army tent to perform calligraphy, and when it grew dark, would let him lay down to sleep in his [the general's] bed. 

One time, when Wang Dun awoke, Wang Zhixi had not yet arisen. Soon, Wang Dun's trusted advisor Qian Feng entered, and the two of them quietly discussed their affairs, they talked about starting a revolt, but they forgot that Wang Xizhi was still sleeping in the tent. Wang Zhixi woke up, heard what they were talking about, and was extremely startled, thinking inwardly: "If they remember that I'm sleeping in here, they'll surely wonder if their secret is out, they might kill me to keep me silent! What do I do?" It just so happened that the day before they'd had a bit to drink, so, he pretended to be drop-dead drunk, threw up all over the bed, and covered his face, then let out light snores, as if he was thoroughly asleep. 

Wang Dun and Qian Feng spoke secretly for some time, then suddenly remembered Wang Xizhi, and could not but be extremely alarmed, their faces changing suddenly. Qian Feng gritted his teeth, and said fiercely, "This guy must be gotten rid of. Otherwise, both of our families will be exterminated." Both men gripped sharp blades, lifted up the tent flap, and were just about to act, when they suddenly heard Wang Xizhi talking in his sleep, and looking closely, saw that the brand new bedding was covered in thrown-up food, and the pungent smell of alcohol emanated from within. Wang Dun and Qian Feng traded glances, both thinking that Wang Xizhi had slept soundly after drinking and hadn't woken, so they let the matter go.    
[/hide-this-part][/one_half]
