Zhuangzi (about 369 BC - 286 BC), known as Zhou, Zixiu (a saying Zi Mu), a native of Mongolia (now Mengcheng, Bozhou, Anhui) who lived in the Song State during the Warring States Period, was a famous thinker, philosopher, and writer, a representative of the Taoist school, the successor and developer of Laozi's philosophical thought, and the founder of the pre-Qin Zhuangzi school.
Throughout his life, Zhuangzi was known for being carefree and at ease, living both carefree and long-lived. How did he do it? The following is an answer to this question in conjunction with the interpretation of the 62 lines of the I Ching's "Diagram":
Taoist representative figure Shozi image
Why can Zhuangzi, a representative figure of Taoism, live a carefree and long life?
1. Interpretation of the 62 lines of the I Ching "Hexagram".
The second line of the I Ching "Comparison Hexagram" "Sixty-two: Compare it from the inside, Zhenji." The meaning of "comparing with the inside" refers to having one's own principles, which means that if you do not lose your principles to compare with outsiders, and do not envy the glory and wealth outside, you are Zhenji.
And Zhuangzi's life is precisely because he is well aware of the philosophy revealed in the 62 lines of the "Comparison Hexagram", so that he can live freely and carefree, and he can live a long life. Listen to the story below:
2. Shozi 逍遥比自内
The Zhuangzi family, originally a prince of Chu and a descendant of the king of Chuzhuang, later moved to the Song State due to chaos. He once served as a local lacquer garden official in the Song Kingdom, and King Hui of Liang and King Xuan of Qi were contemporaries, and learned to obtain a high position of wealth with the talent of Zhuangzi, but Zhuang Zhou had no intention of entering, and only did a small official in charge of the lacquer garden for a short time. Zhuangzi was very knowledgeable, traveled to many countries, studied and analyzed and criticized various schools of thought at that time.
A still from a young Zhuangzi
The Warring States period was an era of heavy talent. Although Zhuangzi himself was content with his own pleasure, his scholarship made him famous all over the world, and many kings of many countries wanted him to be an official, but they were all refused. In order to escape the constant employment, Zhuangzi fled to Pushui. When King Chu Wei heard about it, he immediately sent two Qing doctors and hundreds of retinues, with a rich dowry, to invite Zhuangzi to Chu with a high position in Xiangguo.
When the two doctors came to Pushui, they met Zhuangzi fishing. After they explained their intention to hire Zhuangzi as a prime minister, Zhuangzi didn't even stand up, still fishing for him, and just said lightly: "Please don't disturb my Yaxing." The two doctors had no choice but to stay quietly and wait for Zhuangzi to fish.
Looking at the two doctors waiting anxiously, Zhuangzi smiled and said to them: "Qianjin, heavy profit; But don't you see the sacrificial ox, feed it for several years, and then clothe it with floral brocade and take it to the temple where the ancestors are sacrificed. At this time, it wants to be a little pig and avoid being slaughtered, and it can't do it. You hurry up and walk away for me, don't insult me. ”
Zhuangzi "Getaway"
After that, Zhuangzi fished for four or five hours before he collected the rod and went home, only following his own path. The two doctors hurriedly followed, talking as they went, saying how the king of Chu admired Zhuangzi, and how they must invite Zhuangzi to the state of Chu! Zhuangzi couldn't listen anymore, so he told a story to the two of them:
"I heard that there was a divine turtle in the Chu country, and because the gods were very spiritual, they were killed. The murdered turtle was enshrined in the temple by the king of Chu, and the temple was very gorgeous, and the box that collected the turtle was made of pure gold, and the turtle was wrapped in exquisite brocade. You say, if you're a turtle, do you want to be killed and be rich, or do you want to crawl through the dirt with your tail in your hands?"
The two doctors replied in unison: "Of course, I choose to live in the mud instead of enjoying wealth after death!" Zhuangzi then said: "Then since this is the case, you should go back and report to the king of Chu, saying that I, Zhuangzi, am also willing to be a turtle in the mud with a tail." The two doctors listened and knew that Zhuangzi's intentions could not be forced, so they had to go back. Later, some unrelenting kings sent people to ask Zhuangzi to be an official, but they did not impress Zhuangzi.
Shoshu Butterfly Image
In this way, Zhuangzi has always been attached to the mountains and rivers, leisurely eating coarse tea and light rice, and then he hated the official career, wrote books in seclusion, and became one of the representatives of the pre-Qin Taoist school. He was called the Taoist patriarch, Nanhua Zhenren, and one of the four great Taoist real people by later generations. Although sometimes Zhuangzi was so poor that he couldn't even eat, he was full of heart, did not seek external comparison, and eventually became a long-lived person.
3. Zhuangzi's inspiration to future generations
Zhuangzi can compare himself with the inside because he knows the meaning of the 62 lines of the I Ching, and understands that there are two aspects of people, one is the inner world, and the other is the external glory and wealth. The most precious thing for a person is his own inner world, and if his inner world is sufficient, he will have a healthy spiritual world, and he will be able to "compare himself from within" when encountering things, and will not be burdened by complicated material desires.
The epithet of the "Hexagram".
People like Zhuangzi are the richest, though they are poor, and they are able to seek pleasure and spiritual comfort in the midst of suffering, so that they can live much longer than those who live in luxury and cannot "compare with themselves." This fully proves that "comparing oneself from within" should be a law of happiness in life.
In short, the key to Zhuangzi's ability to live a carefree and carefree life is his unique philosophy of life and wisdom. His philosophical ideas such as conforming to nature, being indifferent to fame and fortune, being at peace with what happens, pursuing infinity, and cherishing life enabled him to maintain inner peace and stability in the face of various challenges in life, and to achieve true freedom and liberation. These ideas not only provide valuable spiritual wealth for future generations, but also provide useful inspiration for us to pursue a better life today.
Portrait of Shoko
This article was originally written by "Ruri Zhongtian 54", welcome to pay attention, learn together, and improve together!