1. The Tao Among Robbers
From 《庄子·胠箧》(Zhuangzi·Qū Qiè, “Opening Trunks” or “Against Confucian Virtue”):
Original Chinese:
跖之徒問於跖曰：「盜亦有道乎？」跖曰：「何適而無有道邪？夫妄意室中之藏，聖也；入先，勇也；出後，義也；知可否，知也；分均，仁也。五者不備而能成大盜者，天下未之有也。」
Translation:
The disciple of the robber Zhi asked him, “Do even robbers have the Tao (道)?” Zhi replied, “How could any activity lack the Tao? To intuit hidden treasures in a house is wisdom; to lead the charge is courage; to exit last is righteousness; to judge what’s possible is discernment; to divide loot fairly is benevolence. Without these five virtues, no one can become a great robber.”
Key Idea:
- Zhuangzi subverts Confucian virtues (wisdom, courage, righteousness, etc.) by showing they can be co-opted even by thieves.
- Tao is universal: It is not inherently moral or immoral—it is the underlying principle of all actions, good or bad.
- Critique of hypocrisy: Confucian virtues, when divorced from natural spontaneity, become tools for exploitation.
Philosophical Takeaway:
Even “immoral” acts follow patterns of the Tao, revealing that human labels of “good” and “evil” are artificial constructs. Zhuangzi urges detachment from rigid moral systems that distort the natural flow of life.
2. Horses’ Hooves
From 《庄子·马蹄》(Zhuangzi·Mǎ Tí, “Horses’ Hooves”):
Original Chinese:
馬，蹄可以踐霜雪，毛可以禦風寒。齕草飲水，翹足而陸，此馬之真性也。及至伯樂，曰：「我善治馬。」燒之，剔之，刻之，雒之。連之以羈縻，編之以皁棧，馬之死者十二三矣！飢之渴之，馳之驟之，整之齊之，前有橛飾之患，而後有鞭笞之威，而馬之死者已過半矣！
Translation:
Horses’ hooves tread frost and snow; their hair wards off wind and cold. They graze on grass, drink water, and gallop freely—this is their true nature. Then comes Bo Le (a legendary horse-tamer), saying, “I am good at training horses.” He brands, grooms, harnesses, and hobbles them, tying them with ropes and confining them in stables. Two or three out of ten die! He starves them, drives them, forces them to run in formation, with bits to control their heads and whips to threaten their backs—and over half perish!
Key Idea:
- Natural vs. Artificial: Horses’ innate freedom is destroyed by human attempts to “improve” them through training and domestication.
- Wu Wei (無為): Zhuangzi condemns forced intervention. Just as horses thrive when left wild, humans flourish when aligned with their spontaneous nature.
- Critique of Civilization: Institutions (like Confucian rituals or Legalist laws) are akin to Bo Le’s bridles—they distort humanity’s “true nature.”
Philosophical Takeaway:
Humanity’s obsession with control and “progress” alienates us from our inherent harmony with the Tao. Zhuangzi advocates for a return to simplicity and trust in natural processes.
3. The Phoenix (Fenghuang 凤凰)
From 《庄子·逍遥游》(Zhuangzi·Xiāo Yáo Yóu, “Free and Easy Wandering”):
Original Chinese:
蜩与学鸠笑之曰：「我决起而飞，抢榆枋，时则不至而控于地而已矣，奚以之九万里而南为？」
Translation:
The cicada and the little dove laugh at the great Peng bird (a mythical phoenix-like creature): “We flutter up, grab a branch, and if we don’t reach it, we just drop to the ground. Why fly 90,000 miles to the south?”
Later in the text:
小知不及大知，小年不及大年。奚以知其然也？朝菌不知晦朔，蟪蛄不知春秋，此小年也。
Translation:
“Small knowledge cannot grasp great knowledge; short-lived beings cannot comprehend long-lived ones. How do we know this? Morning mushrooms know nothing of the moon’s cycles; summer cicadas know nothing of spring and autumn—such is the limit of their lifespans.”
Key Idea:
- Relativity of Perspective: The phoenix (Peng bird) symbolizes transcendent wisdom, while the cicada and dove represent limited, mundane minds.
- Great vs. Small: The phoenix’s vast journey is incomprehensible to small creatures, just as the sage’s detachment from worldly concerns baffles ordinary people.
- Non-Attachment: The phoenix soars beyond petty struggles, embodying Zhuangzi’s ideal of effortless freedom (xiaoyao you 逍遥游).
Philosophical Takeaway:
True wisdom requires rising above narrow perspectives. The phoenix’s flight mirrors the sage’s liberation from societal expectations and petty desires.
Connecting the Themes
- Tao Among Robbers: Challenges rigid morality, showing Tao’s universality.
- Horses’ Hooves: Condemns artificial control, advocating natural spontaneity.
- Phoenix Bird: Transcends limited perspectives, embodying freedom from societal norms.
Zhuangzi’s Core Message:
- The Tao cannot be confined to human concepts of utility, virtue, or hierarchy.
- True freedom lies in embracing emptiness (xu 虚), non-action (wu wei 無為), and the relativity of all values.
Modern Relevance
- Anti-Capitalist Critique: Zhuangzi’s “horses’ hooves” resonates with critiques of exploitative labor and environmental destruction.
- Moral Relativism: The “Tao among robbers” warns against self-righteousness in ethics.
- Mindfulness: The phoenix’s flight mirrors modern pursuits of mental clarity and detachment from materialism.🕊️