Pray for the Preying Mantis

One day, the King of Qi went out hunting with his men. The carriages were going along, when suddenly a mantis stood in the middle of the road with its sickle-like forelegs opened. It was obvious that he was trying to fight against the carriage to hold it back. Surprised at the case, the King of Qi ordered to stop and asked what creature it was. When he was told it was called mantis, and it would go well up to bridle decisively when it was challenged. The King sighed with exclamation at its braveness. He mused a moment and added: "It's a great pity that it is not more than an insect. If it were a man, he must be the bravest warrior in the world!" Then the King ordered his carriages turn around it to leave the mantis standing martially. [1] 

This legend has been translated into many themes, including bravery since the mantis is a ferocious warrior, and like in lore 1, is a proficient fighter who doesn’t retreat.  However, the most common interpretation of this lore has taken on the opposite meaning which is “know thyself” and/or “your limitations”.  In reality, the mantis would be crushed by the wagon.  When somebody overrates himself, he is often warned: "Don't be a mantis trying to stop a chariot." 

Examples in fittings: The manifestation of this legend in Tosogou (sword fittings) is the depiction of a mantis with either a broken and/or intact wagon wheel. Perhaps the broken wheel representing the bravery of the mantis and its shear determination will crush/break the much larger object, while the intact wheel symbolizing “know your limitations”. 

In the ancient Chinese poems "Monzen", it expresses an ancient idea of bravery which was inspired by a mantis”. [2]

[1]http://chineseculture.about.com/library/extra/story/blyrh02212000.htm

[2]http://www.shizengreen.com/mugiwakaba/matsuri.htm