The Penumbrae asked the Shadow, “A moment ago you were looking down and now you are looking up; a moment ago you were sitting down but now, you are standing up; a moment ago you were walking, but now you have stopped. Why is this?” The Shadow replied, “Honored Sirs, why…
Zhuangzi said to Huizi,“When Confucius was in his sixtieth yearhe changed his views.What he previously held to be truehe now regards as false.We do not know whether what he now holds to be trueis not what he regarded to be falsefor fifty-nine years.” Huizi replied, “Confucius is earnestin his pursuit of learning and acts…
But without the words which flow daily as from a cup and without our nature being aligned with heaven, what could be made of these characteristics? Things are divided into various genera and develop successively into distinct physical forms. They begin and end In an unbroken circle; But how this occurs we cannot fathom….
How is a thing right? It is right because it is right. How is a thing wrong? It is wrong because it is wrong. How is a thing possible? It is possible because it is so. How is a thing not possible? It is not possible because it is not possible. Things have within…
Of my assertions,9 out of 10 are metaphorical;7 in 10 are from existing writings. Words flow on every day clarified bythe heavenly elementin our nature. The 9 assertions in 10 which are metaphoricalare borrowed from external sources to expound my arguments. It is said,“A father does not act as the matchmakerfor his own son.”This…
A comparison of two quotations is a riddle. Language is a pivot, a fulcrum to rouse understanding in the mind. Zhuangzi, the taoist sage and Ludwig Wittgenstein, a very influential intellectual of the 20th century, “play” in the same sandbox. Jump in the box with them! There’s enough toys for everyone. (A riddle naturally…
Virtue dissolves into fame; fame dissolves into excess; schemes arise from a crisis; cleverness from disputes; strife is fueled by obstinate adherence to one’s views. The work of government should be distributed in accordance with the approval of all. In spring, when the rains fall and the sun shines, the grass and trees burst…
All things which have a consciousness depend on their breath. If the breath is not ample, it is not the fault of heaven. Heaven provides breath day and night without ceasing but [humankind] closes up their passages. The womb encloses an empty space; but the mind finds delight in its natural movements. If the…
Huizi said to Zhuangzi, “You speak of what is useless!” Zhuangzi replied, “You have to know what is useless beforeyou can speak about what is useful… Zhuangzi said, “if a man has the capacity to wander freely,can he be stopped? If a man lacks the capacity, then whatcan induce him? There are those who…
When wood is rubbed against woodit begins to burn;when metal is heatedit melts. When yin and yang are out of balance, heaven and earthare perturbed. Then comes the crash of thunder, and from the rain,lightning sets the locust trees on fire. With men, it is still worse. They stand distraughtbetween two pitfalls of gain…
