Following the previous three stories, the fourth chapter of the Zhuangzi Inner Chapter begins to use trees as an example, talking about "useless use".
The first example of the novel is that a useless tree has achieved its "tree life" because of its uselessness, and it survived.
Not only was it not cut down, but it was worshiped as a tree god by the people around him because of his longevity.
That's the use of uselessness Not only did he save his life uselessly, but he also became a tree god because of his longevity, which is worth pondering The second example is of another big tree, which is also a useless tree.
But because it is large, it avoids felling.
Notice the big tree in the first example, because it is useless and live long, and because of its longevity, it becomes a tree god and is worshipped.
And in the second case, the big tree survived because it was useless and big.
One survived because of uselessness and longevity, becoming a tree god.
One survived because of the increase in uselessness.
If they were useless, they would have been cut down.
Notice what the metaphor of these two examples is?
Values We noticed that there were no values What kind of standard do we use to measure the value of things?
These two big trees, from a woody point of view, are useless trees.
Because their wood is not good, it is a useless wood.
In other words, from a woody point of view, these two trees are worthless.
But if we look at it from another angle, that is, if we talk about it from a different value, they have value.
For example, the first tree is useless from a woody point of view.
But from another point of view, it's valuable.
This tree was not cut down because it was useless, and thus became the tree of longevity, became the god of trees, and was worshipped by the world.
Why should the world worship the tree of longevity?
Because in troubled times, people see the hope of longevity from the tree of longevity, and see the hope of life.
I hope that I and my family can live as long as this tree, thus giving the world spiritual sustenance.
From this point of view, the tree is valuable and useful.
The other tree, from a woody point of view, is useless.
But from another point of view, it's valuable.
Because it is tall, you can enjoy the shade under the big trees.
So it went from being a useless tree to a useful tree.
From these two examples, we can see the problem Is it that if we look at the problem from a different angle, there will be different results?
If you look at the problem with a different set of values, the result will be different, and the useless will become useful.
So we extend to the human body.
Let me ask if we are a useful person or a useless person In the same way, if we look at it from another angle, maybe we are a useful person.
Maybe we're a useless person.
Therefore, let's extend the criticism of Confucianism and the world that Taoism is negative, non-action, escapism, etc., so is it true or not?
What's more, this is not the case, Taoist thought is not negative, but has been misunderstood and misunderstood by academic spies and the world.
Whether Confucianism and the world are misunderstood or misunderstood, from the perspective of Confucianism itself, Taoism is passive and inactive, etc., just like the world looks at the two useless trees, from the perspective of wood.
And if we look at it from a different angle, maybe it's not "useless".
It's very useful Therefore, we can see that there are differences between Confucianism and Taoism in terms of cognitive perspective and values.
So the results of looking at the problem are different.
Just like it is rare to be confused, sometimes, being confused will open the sky.
Since what's the bad of being confused like this, sometimes you can be confused about things that are difficult to deal with in front of you, and what's wrong with being confused In fact, it is rare to be confused, and there is never more than the above examples.
In life, there are often cases of confusion.
If there is a benefit to being confused and can solve the problem in front of us, why should we be blindly smart?
Returning to the main topic, since the values are different, the angle of looking at the problem is different, and the results are different, there is no such thing as "useless" and "useful".
From this point of view, values think useless, and from that point of view, values think they are useful, so there is no need to dwell on what is useful and useless, how it is beneficial for us to survive, how we can live When usefulness is conducive to our survival, we become a useful person.
When uselessness is conducive to our survival, let's be a useless person Later in the world, Zhuangzi gave a specific example to illustrate what is useful and what is not.
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There was a man named Fragmented, whose chin was hidden under his navel, his shoulders were higher than the top of his head, the back of his head was pointed to the sky, his facial features were all pointing upwards, and his two thighs and ribs were born together.
It should be a dead end But this is not the case He sewed clothes and washed clothes for people, enough to make ends meet; He also sifted chaff and dustpan for others, enough to feed ten people.
When the monarch was conscripting, everyone else hid, and the ghosts cried and the wolves howled.
But the detachment is not, he walks around in front of the conscripts with his sleeves and arms raised, the conscription officials do not hang him at all, and no one wants him to be a soldier; The king had a great servant coming, and he was exempted from servitude because of his disability; The monarch gave rice and millet to the disabled, and received three bells of grain and ten bundles of firewood and grass when they were estranged.
A person who is as physically crippled as he is is enough to support himself and live out his old age.
What's more, what about us, can't we, a sound person, find a way to survive in this society?
In addition, Zhuangzi also gave an example of the opposite, that is, the uselessness of being useful in life.
Compared with the fragmentation, Confucius was a useful man, and he was called a sage by later generations.
But he traveled all over the world and lived in trouble.
Our saints, in the face of life, are not even as disabled as a disabled person.
Therefore, what should we use to deceive others, to judge "useful" and "useless".
Zhuangzi said in the world: When Confucius was in the state of Chu, the hermit of the state of Chu came to the door of Confucius and said, "O phoenix bird, how did you come to this declining country."
No matter how beautiful the world will be in the future, we don't know if we can wait until that day.
The days of the past, no matter how painful they were, are over.
The world is governed because there are kings of sages.
The world is chaotic, and the sages have to only care about themselves and survive.
In this day and age, it is better to think about what you can do to avoid torture and humiliation.
Happiness is lighter than a feather, and you don't know how to achieve it; The calamity is heavier than the earth, and I don't know what to dodge it.
Forget it, forget it, don't preach your virtue in front of people, it's dangerous, it's dangerous, it's dangerous, it's artificially drawing a path for people to follow, and it's going to tie the hands and feet of the world.
Don't hinder my walking, O thorns, don't hurt my feet, I want freedom, I want freedom of humanity."
The trees on the mountain are cut down because of their useful material, and the candles lit by grease are fed and frozen.
The bark of the laurel tree was fragrant and edible, so it was cut down, and the lacquer was cut by knives and axes because it could be used to coat wood.
People know what is useful, but they don't know what is more useful than what is useless.
When usefulness is conducive to our survival, we become a useful person.
When uselessness is conducive to our survival, let's be a useless person End of chapter: