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Prince of Ren casts his line
This commentary on Zhuangzi ‑ Wai Wu retells Ren Gongzi’s giant fishing parable. Contrasting grand, patient preparation against petty pursuits, it teaches that great attainment demands broad vision, huge investment and long‑term waiting.
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The Hunchback Catching Cicadas
This interprets the hunchback catching cicadas parable from Zhuangzi ‑ Da Sheng chapter. Through disciplined pellet stacking practice, the hunchback gains supreme skill via undivided focus, showing how humble craft can evolve into alignment with the Dao.
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The Sacred Turtle
This commentary covers the sacred‑turtle parable from Zhuangzi ‑ Autumn Floods. Declining Chu’s official offer, Zhuangzi chooses obscure, genuine freedom over courtly glory, preferring “dragging his tail in the mud” to honored lifeless preservation.
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River Snow
River Snow by Liu Zongyuan is one of China’s most famous winter poems. Written while the author was politically exiled, it paints a silent snow world empty of birds and people. The lone angler on the cold river symbolizes the poet himself, preserving his moral integrity against hardship.
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运斤成风 (Yùn jīn chéng fēng)
This page explains the Chinese idiom Yùn jīn chéng fēng from Zhuangzi ‑ Xu Wugui. Telling Carpenter‑Shi’s axe‑feat, it stresses supreme skill needs a trusting counterpart, also evoking grief over losing one’s worthy confidant.