A Guest Bird once landed on the gate of a house and called out a few clear notes. Hearing the sound, the homeowner was delighted and said to his child that when a Guest Bird calls, it means an honored visitor is coming, so the bird deserved a reward. The child obeyed, went inside, and brought out a handful of food to offer the bird.
At that moment, a Crow happened to fly by. Seeing the Guest Bird being treated so generously, the Crow swooped down and asked curiously why humans gave him such good food. The Guest Bird calmly explained that he had just delivered good news, so the family rewarded him in return.
The Crow grew even more surprised and pressed further, asking how the Guest Bird managed to announce good news to people. The Guest Bird replied that he simply perched near the house, at the gate or in the yard, and called out loudly three times, and people would immediately understand.
Hearing this, the Crow laughed and said it sounded easy, adding that his voice was much louder than the Guest Bird’s, so he should be even better at it. Without thinking further, the Crow flew to the neighboring house, landed right on the center of the roof, stretched his neck, and cried out three times at the top of his lungs.
The moment the harsh cries ended, the homeowner shouted in alarm. Neighbors rushed out with poles and stones, chasing the Crow furiously. Terrified, the Crow used all his strength to escape, flying high and fast toward the open fields, barely saving his life.
The next day, the Crow returned to the Guest Bird and angrily accused him of deception. The Guest Bird, now annoyed, answered that he had never told the Crow to imitate him. He explained that although both of them cried three times, the meaning of a sound does not depend on volume but on reputation. His own call was clear, calm, and pleasant, so people believed it brought good news.
In contrast, Crows are known for gathering noisily around death and easy prey, so their cries have long been associated with misfortune. Because of that, people naturally interpret a Crow’s call as a bad omen. The Guest Bird concluded that the Crow suffered trouble because he did not understand his own nature, and therefore had no right to blame anyone else for the outcome.
This story clearly shows that success depends not only on copying actions, but on understanding context, identity, and perception. What works for one may bring disaster to another if done blindly.