Letter describing why we still read Zhuangzi today.

 Helen,

            Hey! How’s life? What’s new? How’s school? You’re in a U.S. history class right? I’m in a history of China class. There’s so much history. We just read some Zhuangzi selections. It’s some old Chinese book written a long time ago by a very old Chinese philosopher. Its kind of weird that after 2,500 years people still read his stuff. I’m going to try to understand why smart scholars care to still read it today.

It’s still relevant to today. Zhuangzi philosophy about death was actually interesting. There was one story that talked about when Zhunagzi’s wife died. Huizi, a friend, came to the funeral and thought Zhunagzi was being really disrespectful because he wasn’t even crying. You’d think after being married for that long he would be really upset right? He was also banging on a tub singing. Yea, that’s definitely a really nice thing to do at his wife’s funeral. I thought he was being really disrespectful until Zhunagzi started talking about death. He said it was unavoidable. He thought why should he be upset. His wife had lived a long happy life. “If you are content with the time and abide by the passing, there’s no room for sorrow or joy.” This is a quote I found that I really liked. I think it means that if a person has lived a long, content life you shouldn’t be sad because death is inevitable so why mourn when crying and being sorrowful will get you no where. We should celebrate that person’s life. It makes me wonder if we should really get upset when are elders die. Yes, we loved them and we will miss them but why get upset when we all know death is going to come at one point. We should’ve been prepared for it by the time they pass.

            Scholors still read this because it’s still relevant to today and the story above is one example. His philosophies make us think and we all interpret them differently. The question is what is the write interpretation and what was he really trying to say? I think we are still trying to figure out what they mean and that’s another reason we read his stuff today. Anyways, not that you really care about this old stuff but I actually thought his philosophy about death was interesting and I’m not just saying that because I’m getting graded on this. :D Hope to talk to you soon.

                       

Laura Doolittle

My understanding/thoughts/interpretations

1.12 Youzi said, “In the application of ritual, it is harmonious ease that is to be valued. It is precisely such harmony that makes the Way of the For- mer Kings so beautiful. If you merely stick rigidly to ritual in all matters, great and small, there will remain that which you cannot accomplish.

This is basically saying that one has to embrace change in ritual practices to accomplish something. I agree with this. Rituals need to change with the times because the values and principles of people can/could change. 

2.3 The Master said, “If you try to lead the common people with govern- mental regulations and keep them in line with punishments, the laws will simply be evaded and the people will have no sense of shame. If, however, you guide them with Virtue, and keep them in line by means of ritual, the people will have a sense of shame and will moreover reform themselves.”

This is stating that a government ruled by virtue and ritual will be successful rather a government ruled by laws and punishments because people won't have or feel shame for the wrong they do. 

2.15 The Master said, “To learn without si 8, ‘thinking,’ will lead to confu- sion. To think without learning, however, will lead to fruitless exhaustion.”21

The master is saying that thinking and learning go hand in hand. One has to do both to acquire knowledge. 

4.5 The Master said, “Wealth and honor are things that all people desire, and yet unless they are acquired in the proper way I will not abide them.

It is true that people desire wealth and honor. If wealth and honor is gained unjustly, the master will not accept or obey them.

5.12 Zigong said, “What I do not wish others to do unto me, I also wish not to do unto others.

This quote stood out to me because it is very similar to a golden rule in the bible stating that you should treat others as you would like to be treated. This golden rule is mentioned twice in the bible. 

                                  "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for

       this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12 RSV)
       
       "And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them."
        (Luke 6:31 RSV)

6.11 The Master said, “What a worthy man was Yan Hui! Living in a nar- row alley, subsisting upon meager bits of rice and water—other people could not have borne such hardship, and yet it never spoiled Hui’s joy. What a worthy man was Hui!”

This represented the culture of the chinese people. Even though Yan is shabby and poor, he is still optimistic about life. This shows to me that the chinese don't judge someone on social class or status but on character and personality. They judge people on merit. 

6.22 Fan Chi71 asked about wisdom. The Master said, “Devoting yourself to transforming the values of the

common people, to serving the ghosts and spirits with reverence and yet keeping them at a distance—this might be called wisdom.”

This is saying that by helping people, ghosts, and spirits  directly or indirectly you will find the true meaning of wisdom. 

7.14 When the Master was in the state of Qi he heard the Shao music,80 and for three months after did not even notice the taste of meat. He said, “I never imagined that music could be so sublime.”

This represents how music was such an impact on people's lives and how influential it can be. This passage represents it's significance to the people and it's ability to change people just like how the master "did not even notice the taste of meat."

11.12 Zilu asked about serving the ghosts and spirits. The Master said, “You are not yet able to serve people—how could you be able to serve the ghosts and spirits?”

“May I inquire about death?”

“You do not yet understand life—how could you possibly understand death?”

This passage states that you need to experience the other, whatever it may be, to truly understand its opposite-- life and death, people and ghosts/spirits.