CLASS REQUIREMENT 8

“The Turtle”

Chuang Tzu with his bamboo pole

Was fishing in Pu river.

The Prince of Chu

Sent two vice-chancellors

With a formal document:

“We hereby appoint you

Prime Minister.”

Chuang Tzu held his bamboo pole.

Still watching Pu river,

He said:

“I am told there is a sacred tortoise,

Offered and canonized

Three thousand years ago,

Venerated by the prince,

Wrapped in silk,

In a precious shrine

On an altar

In the Temple.

“What do you think:

Is it better to give up one’s life

And leave a sacred shell

As an object of cult

In a cloud of incense

Three thousand years,

Or better to live

As a plain turtle

Dragging its tail in the mud?”

“For the turtle,” said the Vice-Chancellor,

“Better to live

And drag its tail in the mud!”

“Go home!” said Chuang Tzu.

“Leave me here

To drag my tail in the mud!”  [xvii. 11.]

            In the story of “The Turtle”, one of the characteristics of the Taoist Sage is made known. In the story of the turtle, Chuang Tzu while enjoying what he’s doing is appointed to be a Prime Minister. With this news, he answered the vice-chancellors sent by the Prince of Chu by relating the story of the turtle who was made sacred by the Prince himself and made an object of cult to be worshipped for three thousand years. Then after relating the unfortunate destiny of the turtle in the hands of the Prince, Chuang Tzu asked – Is it better for the turtle to be revered and hanged to be made an object of cult for thousands of years or live simply as a plain turtle that drags its tail in the  mud? The Vice chancellor who is asked answered that it is better to live as a plain turtle and drag his tail in the mud. Then, Chuang Tzu answered the appointment of being a Prime Minister by saying, go home and leave me alone to drag my tail in the mud. Here, Chuang Tzu manifested the spontaneity of the Taoist Sage.

            In the story, Chuang Tzu manifested his spontaneity by choosing not to take the position that is given to him. If others would be given a chance to be appointed as Prime Minister, many would not let that opportunity pass by. While others would do everything to have what was offered to him, Chuang Tzu rejected it. It is because he knows that if he accepts the position of being a Prime Minister, he would lose the little things in life that he is enjoying. He knows that the price for being held up high in a position and revered would be his freedom to do anything as he wishes without constraint. The life of a Prime Minister may give him fame and power but he chose to live as plain as the simple turtle so long as he could live as he wishes. Like a simple turtle, he rather drags his tail in the mud than be revered as a shell. Chuang tzu wants to live his life in his own terms and find pleasure in doing everything without restrictions. Chuang Tzu with his character of Spontaneity that is found in every Taoist Sage, wants to live his life simply in his own pace, leisurely doing what he wants rather than live a life of power and fame, revered for thousands of years but not being able to enjoy and do as he wants.