Chuang Tzu

Chines Daoist Philosopher

(Born 369 BCE, died 286 BCE, China)

Chuang Tzu ranked as a prominent philosophical figure and early interpreters of Daoism
during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Chuang Tzu is known and goes by the
name Zhuangzi or "Master Zhuang," and his original name Zhuang Zhou and was born at
Meng (now Shanqiu, Henan Province.) Sima Qian, the "Grand Historian" of the Han
dynasty, stated in his biographical sketch of Zhuangzi that his teachings were primarily
drawn from the sayings of Laozi; however, Chuang Tzu/Zhuangzi's perspectives were much
broader. Chuang Tzu/Zhuangzi is to believe used his literary and philosophical skills to
debunk the Confucians and Mohists.

The Zhuangzi is one of the earliest texts that has one of the most significant
contributions to the philosophy that has come to be known as Daojia, school of the Way.
This text is attributed to Chuang Tzu/Zhuangzi himself; it is a collection of different
parables and philosophical dialogues on Daoist themes. This text is hailed among the
greatest of literary and philosophical masterpieces has produced. The style is complex,
poetic, narrative, humorous, indirect, and polysemic. Scholars believed that the first seven
chapters of the Zhuangzi, called as Inner chapters (nèi piān 內篇), was the actual work of
Chuang Tzu/Zhuangzi himself. However, the other chapters were still debated whether it's
written by him as well.

Image source
(https://literariness.org/2019/04/21/the-
philosophy-of-zhuangzi/)

DO-NOTHING SAY-NOTHING
 When Knowledge traveled north, across the Black Water and ovei the Dark Steep Mountain, he met Do-nothing Say-nothing and
asked him about Tao, and Do-nothing Say-nothing did not reply. He turned back and went to the south of the White Water, up the Fox Hill
and asked All-in-extremes about Tao. "Ha! I know. I will tell you . . ." But just as he was about to speak, he seemed to forget what he^
was going to say and Knowledge also received no reply. Then he came back to the royal palace and asked the Yellow Emperor concerning
Tao. And the latter said, "Man becomes alive from the collection of the vital spirit. When the vital spirit collects, he is alive, and when it
scatters, he dies. If life and death are steady companions, why should I care? "Therefore all things are one. What we love is the mystery of
life. What we hate is corruption in death. But the corruptible in turn be- comes mysterious life, and mysterious life once more becomes
corrupti- ble. The world is permeated by one spirit. Therefore the Sage places value upon Unity." " "Then you and I know Tao, and they
don't," said Knowledge. Do-nothing Say-nothing was right," replied the Yellow Emperor. All-in-extremes was quite near it. But you and I
are still far from Tao. He who knows does not speak, and he who speaks does not know." "I asked Do-nothing Say-nothing about Tao,"
said Knowledge, "but ii it 1056 CHINESE WIT AND WISDOM he did not answer me. Not that he would not, but he could not. So 1
asked All-in-extremes. He was just going to tell me, but he did not tell me. Not that he would not, but just as he was going to do so, he
forgot what he wanted to say. Now I ask you and you are able to tell me. Why do you say, therefore, that you are far from Tao?" "Of the
two," replied the Yellow Emperor, "the former was genu- inely right, because he really did not know. The latter was quite near it, because
he had forgotten. You and I are still far from Tao, because we know.*' When All-in-extremes heard this remark, he praised the Yellow
Emperor for knowing what he was talking about. - CHUANGTSE

Lieh Tzu
Daoist Philosopher
(4th Century BCE, China)

Lieh Tzu, known as Liezi ("Master Lie"), is considered one of the three
primary philosophers contributing to developing the basic tenets of Daoist and the
believed author of Daoist work Liezi. There is too little information about Liezi aside
from his full name Lie Yukou. There are specific arguments whether Liezi did exist in
this world, as historian Sima Qian omitted Liezi's name on his biographical notices
that some concludes that his mere existence is just fictitious, a persona invented by
Zhuangzi. But then many oppose this idea and claims Liezi did really exist.
The Liezi is a Daoist text attributed to Liezi himself, a book containing
different parables and stories about the immortals or Daoist adepts who achieve
longevity. It is divided into eight chapters, that each of them addresses a theme
connected to the quest involving the Way (Dao). Most of the chapters of the book are
names of different figures from Chinese mythology and history.
LOOKS LIKE A THIEF
There was a man who had lost money, and thought that his neighbor's son had stolen
it. He looked at him and it seemed his gait was that of a thief, his expression was that
of a thief, and all his gestures and movements were like those of a thief. Soon
afterwards he found the money in a bamboo drain-pipe. Again he looked at the
neighbor's son and neither his movements nor his gestures were those of a thief.
LIEHTSE

Image source (https://www.goodreads.com/photo/author/4736651.Liezi)

Han Fei Tzu

Chinese Philosopher
(Born 280 Died 233 BCE, China)
 Han Fei Tzu was a Chinese statesman and philosopher and one of the greatest of
China's Legalist Philosophers and main formulators of Chinese philosophy. He was part of a
royal family, the ruling family of Han, a small state located in north-central China. Han Fei Tzu
is known for his autocratic government essays that made an impression to King Zheng of Qin.
The Hanfeizi, a book named after him, is a collection of his recorded works containing
syntheses of legal theories up to his time. This book showcased as well a very enthralling style
of parables and stories from the past to express his feelings. It is said as the only surviving
anecdote from the Warring States Period.
KING HUAN LOST HIS HAT
King Huan of Ch'i was drunk one day and lost his hat. For three days he shut himself up for
shame, without giving audience. Kuan Chung said to the King, "This is disgrace for a ruler.
Why don't you make amends by some generous act?" Accordingly, the King opened the granary
and distributed grains to the poor for three days. The people praised the King for his generosity,
and said, "Why does not he lose his hat again?"

Image source - HANFEITSE

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/author/1196500.Han_Fei)

Liu Hsiang
Author, editor, Scholar
Liu Hsiang was a famous and prominent author and editor of the Han Dynasty. Liu Xiang/Liu Hsiang compiled a book entitled Zhan Guo Ce (战
国策·魏) or The Strategies of the Warring States. It contains a necessary collection of stories, speeches, and historical records relevant during the
Warring States period (490-221 BC).

THE OWL AND THE QUAIL

An owl met a quail, and the quail asked, "Where are you going?""I am going east, "was the owl's reply." May I ask why?" then asked the
quail." The people of the village hate my screeching noise," replied the owl."That is why I am going east."Then said the quail, "What you should
do is to change that screeching noise.If you can't, you will be hated for it even if you go east." - LIUHSIANG

Image source

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Liu_Xiang_(Han_scholar).PNG

CHANKUOTS'EH
(4th and 3rd centuries, B.C.)
The Chankuots'eh is a containing of strategies and brilliant speeches of the scholars of the Warring Kingdoms. This book consists of clever
speeches used by different scholars who used to travel and counsel the kings reining during the period of wars and alliances and counter-
alliances.
 THE CRANE AND THE CLAM
Chao was going to invade Yen. Su Tai went to speak to King Huei of Chao on Yen's behalf. "This morning," said Su Tai, "when I was coming on
my Way, I was passingtheYiRiver.There I saw a clam sunning itself in the sun, and a crane came along to peck at its flesh, and the clam shut its
shell on the crane's beak tightly. The crane said, "I fit doesn't rain today and doesn't rain tomorrow, there will be a dead clam." And the clam also
said,"If you can't get out today and can't get out tomorrow, there will be a dead crane."Neither of the two was willing to let go when a fisherman
came up and caught them both, Now if you go and attack Yen, the two countries will be locked in a battle for a long time until the people of both
countries are exhausted. I am afraid the strong Ch'in will be the fisherman. You might think this over carefully." "Good," said the King, and he
gave up the idea. - CHANKUOTS'EH

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