31, Zhuangzi Tianxia

In today's Warring States Period, there are many experts in the academic field, and they all think that they have reached the pinnacle.

The ancients preached the truth, not limited to the academic field.

Where is the so-called Taoism?

The correct answer is everywhere. Since Taoism is everywhere, where does the cosmic spirit come from?

Did it fall from the sky? So where does human wisdom come from? Did it come up from the ground? No, no.

Saints who embody the spirit of the universe have arisen one after another, and virtuous kings who embody human wisdom have arisen one after another, all of whom have been endowed with the One Way.

Before this article begins, it is necessary to clarify the following seven concepts.

Immortals. The origin of not departing from the Tao is called the immortal.

God. The spirit of not deviating from the Tao is called a man of God.

To people. The true meaning of not deviating from the Tao is said to be human.

Sage. Worship nature as a master, see the signs, foresee the future, and change with the changes of society, called a saint.

Gentleman. Benevolence is used to care for the lives of the people, righteousness is used to guide interpersonal relations, etiquette is used to restrain social behavior, and music is used to ease the emotions of the masses.

Code of Conduct for Officials. Law-abiding, discipline-abiding, conscientious. There are names and realities, and they are models. By comparison, it is verified. Through the investigation, a decision is made. The above rules, 1234, are used to evaluate officials at all levels and serve as the basis for interpreting promotions and promotions.

Civil rights. You have to have something to do, you can't be unemployed. Eating and dressing, overwhelming.

I also want to have children, and I want to make a fortune. The old and the weak should be taken care of, and the widows and orphans should be taken care of. Everyone must live if you live, and this is the minimum principle of national rights.

The above seven concepts contain beliefs and ideals, and readers may wish to take them as the starting point of this article.

Ah, the ancient Great Chief of Virtue! The cosmic spirit, the human intelligence body, is present in Him. They observed the heavens and the earth, used their knowledge of astronomy and geography, domesticated wild animals, cultivated wild plants, alleviated bloody conflicts between clans, and gave benefits to all members of the clan society equally, creating an ideal country of virtue. They, the ancient chiefs who have been passed down from generation to generation, have understood the principles of ontology and come up with specific methods to prosper the clan society. They realized the principle, the Tao. They came up with methods, techniques. The combination of principles and methods is the Taoism preached by the ancients. Taoism is not limited by space and time, there is no difference between macro and micro, and it can be used no matter how it is used. The Taoism taught by the ancients is still alive today as a cultural heritage. First, it is clearly preserved in the ancient township rules and people's covenants, which have been passed down from generation to generation, and there are many records in historical books. Second, it is reflected in the works of "Poems", "Books", "Rites" and "Music", and Mr. Confucius is able to explain the history. Third, it is scattered in the vassal states of the world and spread in the academic circles of Zhongzhou, and each faction occasionally blows what it needs in the classroom.

When there is great chaos today, even if there are saints who embody the spirit of the universe and virtuous kings who embody the wisdom of mankind, they have no choice but to be hermits.

Each family and sect, each cultivating its own so-called Tao, each cultivating its own so-called virtue, how can there be a common language?

There are so many narcissistic one-eyed dragons in the academic world, who only know how to love themselves, and they see problems one-sidedly.

There is a person who is not deaf, blind, cold, or dumb, but the connection between the ears, eyes, nose and mouth is severed and becomes waste.

Hundreds of schools of thought and hundreds of schools of thought have been combined into an academic world, much like this waste.

In isolation, each faction has a skill, and occasionally it can be useful.

It is a pity that they are experts, and they are very one-sided and have no universal knowledge.

They are just sour talents who lack knowledge in the middle of the ravine, so how can they talk about Taoism.

There are many such experts in the academic circles, and there are many schools and factions, who are dedicated to dividing the whole of the objective world, breaking the conventions of all things, and obliterating the virtues of the ancient sages and kings.

It is impossible for them to have an overall understanding of the objective world in their writings, and there is no shadow of the cosmic spirit and human wisdom in their minds. The entire academic world has become a big waste, and the way of the inner and outer kings is bound to be unlucky, depressed, and difficult to cheer up.

So each faction casually divided the Dao cutting technique into an academic, and each took what he needed, picked it up and ran away. They ran in all directions, saying they had found the way.

And I can't look back, sad, sad, I lost the possibility of cooperation forever! I sympathize with you, future scholars, if you do not find the classical holism of the objective world, if you do not know the virtues of the sages and kings of ancient times, it will be difficult for you to understand the beauty of the way of the inner and outer kings.

That's because Daoshu has been unlucky, and it has already been cut to pieces by hundreds of schools.

The Taoism taught by the ancients is ubiquitous, but now it has degenerated into an academic field, and it is difficult to restore the old view, and it has fallen into a modern crisis, and the prospects are bleak.

It is now necessary to comment on the following six schools and draw lessons from them for future scholars to choose from.

One is diligent, two thrifty, and three are simple, and we should refrain from extravagance so as not to affect future generations, vigorously refrain from extravagance so as not to waste material resources, and vigorously refrain from preaching and preaching principles and methods in an empty manner, and use strict discipline to restrain ourselves, advocate righteousness and courage, go to the soup and fire, and save society.

The ancients preached the art of preaching, and there were sects that tended to this kind of assertion. At the beginning of the Warring States Period, Mo Zhai, also known as Mozi, and his disciple Yu Huali admired this idea of diligence and frugality, inherited and developed it, and founded the Mo family.

The Mohist proposition is too extreme for ordinary people to accept. Organizational discipline is also too strict, and I am afraid that they are the only ones who live in it.

Mozi composed "Non-Music", so music is also a luxury, and he does not sing or listen to it for the rest of his life.

Mozi also wrote "Saving Use", so the funeral ceremony is also extravagant, and there is no need to put clothes into the funeral when you die.

Mozi advocated fraternity and mutual interests, and opposed war.

In terms of personal cultivation, it is required to restrain feelings and not to get angry.

He himself was studious and well-informed. It is rare that the way of life is not special, and he can mingle with the common people, not like a scholar, but he ignores the tradition of Yao Shun Chan and the Tang Wu Revolution advocated by Confucianism.

He was particularly disgusted by the traditional system of ritual music, and often criticized it.

When it comes to the etiquette system, I need to say a few more words.

The Yellow Emperor was proficient in the principles of music and composed "Xianchi Song".

Emperor Yao has "The Great Chapter Song". Emperor Shun has "Da Shao Song".

King Xia Yu has "Daxia Song".

Shang Tang Wang has "Da □ [Wok character '钅' for '氵' next to the song".

King Wen of Zhou has "Biyong Song". King Wu of Zhou has the "Martial Dance Song" composed by Zhou Gong.

The above music is used in national sacrifice ceremonies, which are entertaining and educational.

The ancient ritual law is complicated and strict, and here is only the funeral method.

In ancient funerals, the rituals were expensive and low, and the specifications were high and low, which varied from person to person. The inner coffin and the outer coffin, the Son of Heaven has seven layers, the princes have five layers, the officials have three layers, and the scholars have two layers, that is, a coffin and a coffin.

Nowadays, the unique Mohists rebelled against the ritual music system, did not sing or listen to music for the rest of their lives, did not use clothes to bury them when they died, and also stipulated that the paulownia tree should be made of coffins, with a thickness of no more than three inches, and the outer coffins were abolished, striving to be frugal.

This series of big and strict regulations, to ask outsiders, it is difficult to embody the spirit of fraternity, to demand themselves, of course, there is no intention to love themselves.

Isn't that contrary to Mohism? But they oppose music with passionate singing, mourning with painful tears, and pleasure with cheerfulness. Are you really like that? These tough guys, who worked hard in life and were depressed after death, are too cruel, their way! It makes people afraid, it makes people cold, their way is difficult for people, I am afraid it is not the way of saints. Contrary to the contemporary trend, the world can't stand it.

Even if Mozi alone carries the heavy burden, the people of the world ignore it, but what! It's out of place, and what kind of inner saint and outer king are you talking about, it's far from it!

Mozi admired King Xia Yu the most, and praised: "In the past, Yu Ye led the flood fight, dredged the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, traveled all over the four borders of Kyushu, surveyed 300 mountains, and identified 3,000 tributaries of rivers.

Yu Ye personally went to the front line of flood fighting, dug mud and lifted soil, opened ditches and drained water, and drained the water system into the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. He had a hard time in his old age, he lost weight on foot, lost his shin hair by wading through water, bathed in the rain, combed his hair in the wind, resettled thousands of villages, and established local political power.

An epoch-making great sage, in order to save the people, he worked out like this.

We're not thrifty, okay?" Therefore, Mozi's disciples followed the instructions of their teacher, and worked day and night in old sheepskin jackets, leather and wooden shoes, and straw sandals. The one who can endure hardships the most is a good comrade, and everyone looks up to him. They declared: "Whoever enjoys is corrupted, and he is expelled!" If you can't endure hardship, you are betraying Yu Dao, and you are not qualified to enter the ink gate!"

The above is the situation of the early Mohists. Later, Mozi died, and the situation changed dramatically. Two southern factions were split from within the orthodox faction, one headed by Xiang Liqin's disciple Wu Hou, and the other headed by Ku Shou, Ji Ya, and Deng Lingzi, each recruiting disciples. The two southern factions also followed the "Book of Ink" as their program, but they each held disagreements and accused each other of betraying the Mo.

They are not interested in the tradition of being industrious, thrifty, and simple, but are enthusiastic about the debates of the theory of solidity, similarity and difference, and odd and even, criticizing and counter-criticizing, slandering and slandering, and fighting an endless war of words.

In addition, he also elected a saint within the organization of his own sect, known as the giant son, that is, the eldest brother. The Mohist comrades are all eager to be big brothers. Because when he becomes the eldest brother, he is qualified to play Mozi and accept the kneeling of his comrades, and everyone has to admit that he is the reincarnation of Mozi. The battle for the eldest brother has been fought so far.

To be sure, Mozi and Fowl's ideals are indeed very good, but their ideas are too extreme to work. They induced the younger generations of the Mo family to suffer for themselves, starved their legs, tore off their shin hair, and so on.

Create turmoil, Mo family experts. To achieve stability, the Mohist layman.

However, it is true that Mozi loves the people of the world. People like him are nowhere to be found now. Hard-working, yellow and thin, identify the ideal and do not look back. Virtue can't be said, it should always be admitted that he is talented.

We do not pretend to be clean, we do not please the people, and we do not offend the people, but we hope that the world will be peaceful, that everyone will save their lives, and that the lives of the masses and individuals will be kept to a minimum standard, and that they will not be allowed to enjoy excessively, so as to cleanse people's hearts and purify their spirits.

The ancients preached Taoism, and there were sects that tended to this kind of assertion. In contemporary times, there are Song Yu and Yin Wen, both of whom belonged to the Qi Guoji School, admired this low-key and pragmatic proposition, inherited and developed it, and founded the Song Yin School.

The people of the Song Yin school wore the crown of Huashan. This cylindrical hat was invented by them, and the circumference of the upper and lower circles was the same, indicating that social equality was their ideal. They treat people and things first, and first of all, they emphasize breaking down the social hierarchy and treating everyone equally. We should exchange hearts for hearts, advocate tolerance, and oppose struggle. Working the word tolerance is the so-called inner cultivation. Take the initiative to compromise and shake hands. Reconcile contradictions and maintain public order. People from all walks of life at all levels are required to take these 16 characters as the key link, keep them in mind, and use them to guide their personal behavior and social activities.

When the people of the Song Yin school heard about the civil fighting, they hurried to the scene to be peacemakers, and they were not angry when they were scolded by both sides. When the two countries were about to go to war, they went to mediate again and demanded an armistice and peace talks. In this way, they ran everywhere, all over the world, to make suggestions to the officials, to propagate to the people, and not to fight or fight. The other party could not listen to them, and they still talked bitterly and poorly.

No wonder there are jokes in society that ridicule the Song Yin School: "The top is annoying, the bottom is tired, only they are not tired."

The Song Yin school served too much for society and too little for itself. They run errands on an empty stomach, and the host prepares meals to entertain them. They humbly replied: "Please do not break the bank." Five liters of rice porridge is enough for us. "As a gentleman, you are often worried, and as a disciple, you are hungry, and you must work hard to overcome it and have the world in mind. They were busy day and night, malnourished, and one by one they were exhausted, and they encouraged each other: "Comrades, we have no right to die. Stay alive! Resolutely stay alive!" The Savior descends to earth and acts as a savior. Listen to this tone, what a pride! They do not like to argue, and declare: "Gentlemen, it is rare to be confused, so why bother to be profound, and pick on others to miss their eyes, we will never dedicate ourselves to academics!" A hundred schools of thought contend, they believe that it will not help the peace of the world. Rather than proving the hypocrisy of others, it is better to raise one's own gods and try to confront them theoretically, which is a waste of effort.

All in all, the Song Yin School of Salvation took the prohibition of attack and truce and the rejuvenating of the army and the people as the main theme, and the theme of self-cultivation was to dilute feelings and restrain material desires. Their theories, whether they are applied at the macro level or at the micro level, do not go beyond these two themes, and that's it.

Attitude is fair, no party, no selfish interests, no preconceived preconceptions, follow the crowd, do not make innovations, do not have to worry about handling cases, do not have to calculate, and dare to intervene in the face of social problems.

The ancients preached the art of preaching, and there were schools of thought that tended to this kind of assertion. In contemporary times, there are Peng Meng, a hermit of Qi State, and two disciples, one is Tian Jiao, the other is Shen Dao, all three of them belong to the Qi State Jixia School figures, admired this kind of proposition according to the law, inherited and developed it, and founded Legalism.

The Legalists engaged in politics, and Tian Jiao and Shen became the officials of the Qi State. When faced with social problems, they first emphasized that all things should be one-size-fits-all, which means that everyone is equal before the law. This is not the same as the Qi thing in Xia Zhuang Zhou, fortunately do not make a mistake. They explain the necessity of all things by saying, "All things are complex. Heaven can cover all things, but it cannot carry all things. The earth can carry all things, but it cannot cover all things. The Tao can encompass all things, but cannot discern all things. Everything has its reasons for being affirmed and its reasons for being denied. Well, it's the same thing. So, don't pick, you will be biased; Don't educate, and education will sprain nature. The best policy is to follow the law and spread a wide net, so that those who reward will have their own rewards, and those who punish will have their own punishments. ”

Since reasoning and explaining the law can solve problems, we should be cautious to despise objective knowledge, eliminate subjective will, be willing to act as a law enforcement manipulator, reward and punish out of self-will, and regard the elimination mechanism of the legal network as a natural principle.

What kind of objective knowledge, so cautious that it is not worth a penny in the eyes.

He said: "Learning what you don't understand and forcing yourself to delve into it hurts your brain, but it hurts you." "He doesn't want knowledge, he just enforces the law. He is slippery and irresponsible, and he is debauched and disregards his face, but he laughs and scolds the great sages and sages of the world.

Be cautious in handling cases, knock on the iron [钅 chase], hit the bamboo board, tie up to the killing field and cut it quickly. With the severity of the sentence, the punishment is constantly changing. The defendant waived his plea on the merits or could be spared leniency.

They do not ask for knowledge, do not study and think, do not investigate the causes, do not estimate the consequences, and just sit in the court and try the case. He was cautious in enforcing the law, and acted as a last resort, and the reward seemed to be pushed by an external force to reward him, and the punishment seemed to be dragged by an external force to punish him.

As a last resort, it is like the whirlwind of a tornado, the circle of water grinding, and the falling feathers drawing a beautiful thread. He is so safe and unreproached. There is no mistake to be made in the trial of the case or not. Even if a wrongful conviction is discovered, the culpability will be borne by external forces. Why is it so safe? Because he is an ignorant and ignorant passive being, there is no trouble caused by subjective will and objective knowledge. Trying cases Whether or not he tries cases, he does things according to reason and according to the law, so there is no good story to circulate in his life. If there is no good story to circulate, there will be no worries.

No wonder Shen Zhi said, "My way is simple, and if you strive to be an ignorant passive being, your merit will be fulfilled." You don't have to be a sage, a sage is not in line with my way, it is better to be a mud tile. A group of heroes in society, who are thorns in the side of the Legalists, laughed at Juyi: "The prudent way does not want people to live, but we all want to die and see fucking ghosts!"

Tian Jiao and Shen are almost the same, so I won't repeat them. When Tian Jiao first worshiped under the Peng Meng Sect, he did not have to listen to the teachings, but he understood in his own heart, and the so-called teaching without words. But they really don't make much sense. Peng Meng's teacher said: "The ancients taught their students that there was no theoretical system to talk about, but they were only teaching them to forget the concepts of right and wrong." At that time, the style of study was quiet and quiet, and he could not use the instigation of words. ”

All in all, the Legalist set is often against human nature and unpopular. If we want to put into practice the theory of Legalism, we will inevitably use the instruments of torture in the end. Their way is not right, and the truth they preach is ultimately a fallacy. Peng Meng, as well as Tian Jiao and Shen Dao, did not understand Taoism. However, from their theoretical point of view, it has to be admitted that they probably have a good sense of aisle.

Emphasizing morality over materialism, retreating rather than being pragmatic, believing that all things can only cause social dissatisfaction, and believing that personal wealth can only cause general insufficiency, so they retreat from the world, take refuge in the spirit of the universe and human wisdom, and seek self-improvement.

The ancients preached Taoism, and there were sects that tended to this kind of assertion. Before the Warring States Period, during the reign of King Ping of Zhou, a Guan Yin of Hangu Pass, Guan Yin was the Ling Yin who guarded the pass, not a surname or a name, and his descendants called him by an official title. The Taoist invention of impermanence has two basic concepts, which are the unity of contradictions that exist naturally and are used to explain the changes in the universe and all things. Taoism reveres the Great One, which is the only source of the greatness of the Tao. Taoism treats people and things, shows weakness and humility, and achieves the practical effect of non-interference with an attitude of humility and tolerance, so that all things can fend for themselves according to the law.

Guan Yin said: "I don't have to keep what belongs to me, but I can keep what belongs to him." I replied to the breeze with ripples, and I was at the level of the pool. I reflect the dynamics with static, and my heart is like a hanging mirror. I respond to the call with nothingness, and language is nothing but the echo of an empty mountain. In a trance, forgetfulness. Silence is silent, soul is transparent. If you don't go against society, you can have music to listen to. Always seeking fame and fortune from society, it is inevitable that we will lose everything. I never wanted to take the lead, I just followed slowly. ”

Lao Dan said: "See through the masculinity, guard my femininity, don't be a mountain, I am willing to be a ravine in the world." See through the glory, guard my humiliation, don't be high [up the mountain and down the solid], willing to be the deep valley of the world. "Everybody is busy making a lot of money, but he only makes a small amount of money. Why? He replied: "I am incompetent, and I am willing to be a children's piggy bank." Everyone is busy pragmatism, he is only pragmatic. Why is it so roundabout? He replied: "There is emptiness, and there is more than enough." "Wandering through society, moving slowly and not breaking the bank, laughing at those who are smart but are mistaken by being smart, and who are capable of lifelong fatigue, are not as good as his inaction. Everyone's eyes look upward, the housing needs to be improved, and the days are sweet, but he is in a bag, in tatters, and he is seeking perfection. Why is it so silly? He replied: "Survive and avoid calamity." "Diving deep into the sea of people is his position, and self-restraint is his principle. Why are you so cowardly? He replied: "Strength leads to destruction, and sharpness suffers setbacks." "So he doesn't mean to people. When others violate him, he always forgives. His moral cultivation can be called the pinnacle.

Guan Yin and Lao Dan, great predecessors are real people!

What does the law look like? There is no form. The only thing that can be seen is change.

What is Raw? What is Death? Is life the two of heaven and earth yin? Is death an escape of both spirit and wisdom? Space is vast, time is in a trance, and the human race is asked where to go. The law is a great net that detains all things, and no one who is alive can return to his hometown. The ancients preached Taoism, and there were sects that tended to this kind of assertion.

In Xia Zhuang Zhou admired this inexplicable proposition, inherited and developed it, and became a family of its own.

He used ethereal and nonsensical principles, boundless statements, and endless conversations, and occasionally became interested in rambling at will. Fortunately, he did not want to take sides over the other, nor did he want to cling to his own opinions. He believes that the water in today's world is too muddy for serious dialogue, so he has to talk a lot about dialects, tautology, and allegory.

The so-called dialect is a fragmented word, which is very unsystematic. He interspersed the proverbs and interpreted them into a single text. The so-called tautology is the repetition of the words of the ancients, which is authoritative. He used tautology to sell private goods and deceive trust. The so-called fable is to use the words of the characters to speak the words of the author and make up stories. He preached that parables contain truth and are easy to popularize. He is independent of officialdom, far from reality, and yearns for the spirit of the universe wholeheartedly, but does not despise the worldly things and does not intervene in conflicts between right and wrong, so he compromises and coexists with the world.

This guy is the author of "Zhuangzi", which is full of dialects, tautology, and fables. Although the scale of the book is long, the structure is rigorous and flawless. Although the text of this book is anachronistic, the style is also eccentric. This book is full of content, with a long aftertaste, and it is unforgettable to read. This book can be used as a companion for the mysterious Creator. This book can make friends with those who transcend life and death and yearn for eternity. The principles on which the Zhuangzi is based are both extensive and obscure, and are not easy to find; It's both esoteric and open, and it's not hard to understand. The purpose of the Zhuangzi is to help readers tune their lives and to help them understand the way of heaven. This is not a boast, but you have to watch out for this guy. In the book, he improvised, slashing with a knife in the east and an axe in the west. Not only do you not know his rules, but you also don't know where he is going to kill. There he jumped so much that he left no trace, dazzling people who shook their heads and shouted: "Confused, hazy, not finished!" Perhaps future readers will be able to understand, saying, "Literature, that's it. ”

Old friend Hui Shi, Liang Guoxiangye, he is a contemporary famous authority. Objects are named after people's lives, and names are concepts. Hui Shi was erudite, studied concepts and logic in his spare time in politics, and also wrote books. Books are written on bamboo slips, strung together and bundled. Hui Shi's book can fill five carts, which is really an unprecedented great writer. However, there are many contradictions in his theoretical system, and his specific propositions have nothing to do with social pain. I don't need to talk about that.

Famous artists love to play concept games, and Hui Shi is never tired of it. He analyzed the connotation and extension of the concept of things and formulated various propositions. The most sensational are the following 10 propositions.

The largest is so large that there is no outside, the so-called freshman. The smallest is so small that there is no interior, the so-called small one. This is the first proposition.

(He came up with the concepts of infinitely large and infinitely small.) I thought, isn't the universe infinite? Are protons infinitesimally small?)

If there is length and width, there will be area. There is an area, no height, and the volume is zero. There is something today, with zero volume, and it can be as large as a thousand square miles, and it does exist. This is the second proposition.

(He thinks there is a two-dimensional space, right?)

Since the earth is the sky, the sky is low to the ground. Since the water is a mountain, the mountain is low to the surface of the water. This is the third proposition.

(The bottom surface of the sky and the ground level closely coincide, so they are of equal height.) The bottom line of the mountain and the horizontal line are densely overlapped, so they are of equal height. If that's what he meant, isn't it too boring?)

When the sun was at its top, the timekeeper announced, "It's noon!" Actually, it's already afternoon. When the fetus landed, the midwife said, "It's born!" In fact, it's already dead. This is the fourth proposition.

(Not bad.) The apex is the beginning of the descent, and birth is the beginning of death. The moment when the sun reaches the top, the moment when the fetus lands, can be as short as infinity and cannot be captured. Even if it is caught, it is too late to say it, because the language lags behind the facts. )

All people are human beings, this is the great harmony. Everyone is different, it's very different. Zhang San and Li Si are all workers, this is Xiaotong. But their types of work are different, and this is a minor difference. The great harmony includes the small sameness. Big differences include small differences. The big similarities and big differences are in terms of the whole, and the small similarities and small differences are in terms of the parts. This is the fifth proposition, the famous theory of identity and difference.

(Not bad.) Big concepts contain many small concepts. )

The South is infinite, yet limited. This is the sixth proposition.

(Not bad.) Standing at the North Pole, any direction is south, so there is no limit to the south. When you go to the South Pole, there is no South left, so the South is limited. The earth is spherical, so the south is infinite and finite. In the same way, the North is infinite and finite. Is this kind of question also worth debating?)

Today's departure to Yue Guo can also be said to have set off yesterday. This is the seventh proposition.

(What he means is that today in the eastern hemisphere is yesterday in the western hemisphere, so today and yesterday are not the same as the two concepts.) It's a concept game, so let's listen to it as a joke. )

The jade chain can be untied without breaking. This is the eighth proposition.

(The ring is locked with the ring and cannot be unfastened.) Don't forget that there is a void in the ring. Please relax and let the ring disengage from the ring, and the jade link will be untied. Freedom is limited. Crookedly, he responded to the theory of freedom in the ring of the next Zhuang Zhou. See "The Theory of Things". )

Where is the center of the world? Only I understand. The southern ones are south of the Yue Kingdom, and the northern ones are north of the Yan Kingdom. This is the ninth proposition.

(Not bad.) Geographically, there are two centers, one is the South Pole and the other is the North Pole. Standing at the two poles looking at the zenith, the starry sky rotates like a grinding, and grinding the heart is the pole star. This proves that the two poles are truly the center of the world. He's implying that China isn't the center of the world, right?)

We should love all things, because from heaven to earth, including man, is one whole. This is the tenth proposition.

(All living beings are endowed with the same yin and yang qi, which belong to nature.) I wish he meant it. )

The above ten propositions, Hui Shi thought he was a great discovery, and he preached everywhere, causing a sensation among famous artists and becoming an authority.

There are many eloquent people among the famous artists, and their skills in playing conceptual games are not lower than the level of Hui Shi, and they have come to fight with him, and one by one their emotions are high, and they enjoy the joy of contention. Their propositions are even more elaborate and outlandish. The most sensational are the following twenty-one propositions.

Eggs are hairy.

(Birds have hair.) It is speculated that there is a gene for hair in the egg. )

Chicken three-legged.

(The concept of chicken feet, one, the number of chicken feet, two, one plus two equals three, so chickens have three legs.) )

Yingcheng has the world.

(The world is a whole.) The city of Yingcheng of Chu is a part of the world. Since it is a part of the world, it also has the world. )

A dog can also be a sheep.

(Concepts are imposed on things by man.) If human beings had called the babbling sheep and the bleating dog the dog, then the so-called dog today would have been commonly known as a sheep long ago. )

Horses have eggs.

(A mare ovulates when she lays an egg in her belly.) )

Frogs have tails.

(When I was a tadpole when I was a child.) )

The fire is not hot.

(The concept of hot and cold originates from the human sense of touch.) People feel hot when they are roasted by fire, they are hot, not hot. )

Mountain openings.

(If the mountain doesn't speak, where will it respond?)

The wheels do not roll to the ground.

(This is geometry where a circle is tangent to a straight line.) A tangent point only indicates the location, not the area, so the wheels are not rolling on the ground. The wheel rotation is nothing but the displacement of a certain point on the ground, and its trajectory is only the movement of a series of points with no area to speak of, so the wheel has not yet rolled on the ground. )

I can't see my own eyes.

(What you see in the mirror is the illusion of the eye, not the substance.) )

There are always omissions in the definition of a class of things, and it is impossible to be precise. If you want to be precise, the definition will spread infinitely, endlessly, and never come out.

(Because there are infinite numbers of particularities of individuals of the same kind.) )

Turtles are longer than snakes.

(In general, snakes are longer than turtles.) Individually, large turtles are longer than small snakes. Snakes are longer than turtles, and it is by no means a one-size-fits-all conclusion. )

The rectangular ruler cannot draw right angles. The compass does not draw a perfect circle.

(Right angles and perfect circles are both geometric concepts.) Drawing with rules can only approximate right angles and perfect circles, and there are always errors. )

It's not the mouth of the bottle that bites the cork, it's the cork that blocks the mouth.

(The mouth of the bottle is empty, and the stopper is solid.) The real destroys the imaginary, and the cork destroys the mouth. The pragmatists declared them victorious. )

The projection of the bird never moves.

(The projection is imaginary, and the bird is real.) The void is dead and quiet, and the real is active. The active pragmatists have won again. )

At one moment, the arrow neither precession nor stopping.

(If that moment is infinitely short, infinitely short, infinitely short.) )

A dog is not the same as a dog.

(Dogs include wild dogs and domestic dogs.) Domestic dogs are dogs. A dog belongs to a dog and is not equal to a dog. Big concepts contain small concepts. )

One yellow horse plus one black ox equals three.

(The presence of a horse plus the presence of an ox equals two.) Coupled with the existence of the coat color, it is equal to three. )

White dog black.

(Because the dog's eyes are black.) White coat and black eyes coexist on the body of a dog. It is not paradoxical to say that white dogs are black. )

The lone foal never had a mother.

(If mom is alive, the foal can't be called a lonely.) Since being called a lonely foal, it is true that there has never been a mother. )

In just one foot, it will be halved every day, and it will not be reduced in 300,000 years. (Because 1-1/2-1/4-1/8-1/16-1/32-1/64≥0.) What we are talking about here is that matter can be divided infinitely. )

The above twenty-one propositions, in Xia Zhuang Zhou's view, are inevitably able to show off their wisdom and argue for the sake of arguing, which is far away from Taoism. Those who are eloquent use these propositions to fight against Hui Shi endlessly. People like Zhao Guo's Huan Tuan and Gongsun Long have defiled the minds of their listeners and changed their concepts, so that they can make people take their mouths but not convince them, and they themselves have fallen into the trap they have set and cannot get out. Hui Shi tried his best to debate with such people every day, but it was not enough, and he had to preach everywhere, challenge the world's flamboyant mouth, and compete to see who was the most tricky and eccentric. Tricky and weird is his lifeline!

But Hui Shi himself could not see this. He thought that his sharp teeth were outstanding, and he often hated that the enemy was too difficult to find, and complained: "God kill me!" The earth is against me! I have nowhere to say it!" It just so happened that the strange man Huang Yi came from the south to discuss physics with Hui Shi and asked: "Why doesn't the canopy collapse? Why doesn't geography fall?" Why the wind? Why is it raining? Why thunder? Why Lightning?" Hui Shi not only did not refuse, but also refused to think about it, and replied urgently. He went beyond the scope of asking questions, and went farther and farther, talking about the encyclopedia and all things from the heavens, the earth, the wind, the rain, the thunder, and the lightning. He grabbed Huang Yu and forbade him to go, refusing to rest day and night. After talking so much, he was not addicted, and added absurd stories as an ending.

Hui Shi participated in polemics and always published crooked theories that were not close to human feelings, saying that they were the truth, which was used to overwhelm the opponents and hunt for academic reputation, so he offended people of all schools of thought and factions. He has little understanding of morality and more physics, and his future is dangerous and difficult. Looking at his intelligence from the perspective of the avenue, it is insignificant, like what a mosquito and a fly can do to mankind. In today's hundreds of schools, he plays a role in the middle, barely can. Claiming that he is holding high the banner of Taoism there, the Taoism taught by the ancients may be over.

If Hui Shi has a little self-knowledge, he should settle things and seek self-peace. But he couldn't do that, and the tricky oddities brought about by the root of his life caused him to lose his soul in the labyrinth of conceptual logic, playing games all the time, and tirelessly until death. He finally won the reputation of being able to speak eloquently, and he smiled in the grave. It's a pity, it's a pity, with his talent, he galloped all his life, except for his false name, he had no actual achievements. When I think back to those days, when he was so desperate to explore all things and refused to look back, I am reminded of two jokes. One said that someone hated the echo and ran into the hollow and opened his voice to the surrounding mountains: "Shut up! Don't shout!" Another said that someone ran out into the sun to chase after him, claiming that he wanted to surpass himself. There are so many such people in the academic field today, how can it be more than one charity, sad and sad, so sad!