Follow us on Facebook to receive important updates Follow us on Twitter to receive important updates Follow us on sina.com's microblogging site to receive important updates Follow us on Douban to receive important updates
Chinese Text Project
Back Forward
Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Outer Chapters -> Ingrained Ideas -> 1.1

Ingrained ideas and a high estimate of their own conduct;
leaving the world, and pursuing uncommon ways;
talking loftily and in resentful disparagement of others
- all this is simply symptomatic of arrogance.
This is what scholars who betake themselves to the hills and valleys,
who are always blaming the world,
and who stand aloof like withered trees, or throw themselves into deep pools, are fond of.
Discoursing of benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and good faith;
being humble and frugal, self-forgetful and courteous
- all this is simply symptomatic of (self-)cultivation.
This is what scholars who wish to tranquillise the world,
teachers and instructors,
men who pursue their studies at home and abroad, are fond of.
Discoursing of their great merit
and making a great name for themselves;
insisting on the ceremonies between ruler and minister;
and rectifying the relations between high and low
- all this shows their one object to be the promotion of government.
This is what officers of the court,
men who honour their lord and would strengthen the state
and who would do their utmost to incorporate other states with their own, are fond of.
Resorting to marshes and lakes;
dwelling in solitary places;
occupying themselves with angling and living at ease
- all this shows their one object to be to do nothing.
This is what gentlemen of the rivers and seas,
men who avoid the society of the world
and desire to live at leisure, are fond of.
Blowing and breathing with open mouth; inhaling and exhaling the breath;
expelling the old breath and taking in new;
passing their time like the (dormant) bear, and stretching and twisting (the neck) like a bird
- all this simply shows the desire for longevity.
This is what the scholars who manipulate their breath,
and the men who nourish the body
彭祖 and wish to live as long as Peng Zu are fond of.


Enjoy this site? Please help.Site design and content copyright 2006-2024. When quoting or citing information from this site, please link to the corresponding page or to https://ctext.org. Please note that the use of automatic download software on this site is strictly prohibited, and that users of such software are automatically banned without warning to save bandwidth. 沪ICP备09015720号-3Comments? Suggestions? Please raise them here.