The Old Man of Hanyin was a native of the state of Chu. While Zigong was traveling to Chu and passing through Hanyin, he saw an old man tending a vegetable garden. The man had climbed down into a well to draw water in an earthenware jar for irrigation; he expended great effort but achieved little result. Zigong said,
“There is a machine here that is heavy at the back and light at the front. It draws water as if by pulling, and it is called ajie gao (a sweep well-pole). It requires little effort but yields great results.”
The old man’s expression changed, and he smiled as he replied,
“I have heard my master say: ‘Whoever uses machines will inevitably engage in mechanical affairs; whoever engages in mechanical affairs will inevitably harbor a mechanical mind. When a mechanical mind resides in the breast, pure and unblemished innocence is destroyed. When pure innocence is destroyed, the spirit becomes restless. A restless spirit is incompatible with the Dao.’ I do not know of this machine because I am ignorant; I refuse to use it out of a sense of shame.”
Zigong was stunned and felt deeply ashamed, lowering his head in silence. After a moment, the old man asked,
“What kind of person are you?”
Zigong replied,
“I am a disciple of Kong Qiu.”
The old man said,
“Are you not the one who boasts of vast learning to rival the sages, who plays the zither and sings alone to peddle your reputation across the world? You are on the verge of forgetting your spirit and vital energy, and ruining your physical form. How, then, could you possibly have the leisure to govern the world? Go away, and do not hinder my work.”
Zigong shrank back in embarrassment, his face pale, and wandered in a daze, feeling entirely lost. It was only after walking thirtyli that he finally regained his composure.
Note
A Daoist farmer rejects a labor-saving irrigation machine, fearing tools breed cunning minds and ruin purity aligned with the Dao. He rebukes Zigong, Confucius’ disciple, for seeking fame, leaving Zigong ashamed and unsettled for miles.
The Old Man of Hanyin (汉阴丈人):
An anonymous Daoist hermit representing the radical anti-technological and anti-intellectual stance found in theZhuangzi. He embodies the belief that true spiritual purity requires a complete rejection of artificial tools, societal ambitions, and even the Confucian pursuit of knowledge.
The Sweep Well-Pole (桔槔 – Jie Gao):
An ancient, simple lever-based water-lifting device. While practically efficient, the old man rejects it as a symbol of human hubris and artificiality. This passage is the origin of the Chinese philosophical critique of technology, arguing that technological convenience corrupts the natural state of the human mind.
The Mechanical Mind:
A core Daoist concept warning against the dangers of cunning, calculation, and utilitarian thinking. The old man argues that relying on machines breeds a transactional mindset, which destroys inner purity chun bai) and spiritual stability, ultimately severing one’s connection to the Dao.
Zigong’s Humiliation:
Zigong, typically portrayed as Confucius’ most eloquent and successful disciple, is completely dismantled by the hermit’s critique. His thirty li journey to recover his composure highlights the profound psychological shock of having his worldly achievements and intellectual pride stripped away by a simple farmer. It serves as a literary device to show the limitations of Confucian social engagement when faced with Daoist spiritual absolutism.
汉阴丈人者，楚人也。子贡适楚，过汉阴，见丈人为囿，入井抱瓮而灌，用力甚多而见功寡。子贡曰：“有机於此，后重前轻，挈水若抽，其名为槔，用力寡而见功多。”丈人作色而笑曰：“闻之吾师，有机械者必有机事，有机事者必有机心。机心存於胸中则纯白不备，纯白不备则神生不定，神生不定者，道之所不载也。吾非不知，羞而不为也。”子贡愕然，惭，俯而不对。有间，丈人曰：“子奚为者邪？”曰：“孔丘之徒也。”丈人曰：“子非夫博学以拟圣智，独弦歌以卖名声於天下乎？汝方将忘汝神气，堕汝形骸，而何暇治天下乎？子往矣，勿妨吾事。”子贡卑陬失色，顼顼然不自得，行三十里而后愈。
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