In ancient times,from Confucius,Zhuang Zi to Lvshichunqiu and Huainanzi,all denied the thing that there is a frank and straight man who testified against his own father for stealing sheep.

This article aims at a depiction of how the ancient story of "ZhiGong indicts his father" has varied in early Chinese classical works from the perspective of "fact,sign and meaning"Based on an storyline with references in the reality,this story has been developped in multiple narrative orders,from which one can catch a glimpse of various principles of thought at work.

On the base of realizing his own natural character,Tao Yuan-ming chose to practise tilling by himself.