Doctor and Patient: Trust in Healing

Dr. Ju was a famous physician of the state of Qin. He had cut a tumour for Emperor Xuan and healed haemorrhoids for Emperor Hui.

A certain Zhangzi(Mr. Zhang) who was afflicted with a sore back asked the physician to treat it.

“I will not regard it as my back any longer. Do whatever you think fit with it!” he said.

Given a free hand, the physician cured his patient in no time.

There is no doubt that Dr. Ju was well versed in his craft, but the fact that Zhang put himself entirely in the doctor’s hands also accounts for his prompt recovery.

Allegorical Meaning

The Power of Absolute Trust

Zhangzi’s declaration — “This back is no longer mine; I entrust it to your mastery” — is the pivotal act of surrender. Unlike the kings who passively received treatment, Zhangzi consciously relinquishes control. This transforms the healing from a technical procedure into a sacred covenant. His trust becomes the catalyst that activates Qu’s full skill.

The Physician as Vessel of Mastery

Qu’s genius shines brightest when met with unwavering faith. The story implies true mastery isn’t merely technical proficiency but the ability to receive trust and transmute it into healing. Qu’s hands become guided not just by knowledge, but by the patient’s sacred permission.

“We-Healing” vs. “I-Healing”

The kings’ cures were transactional (expert fixes a problem). Zhangzi’s cure is relational — a fusion of the healer’s skill and the patient’s radical trust. This mirrors ancient Chinese medical philosophy: illness manifests in isolation; health blossoms in connection.

The Paradox of Control

By declaring “entrust it to your governance(Do whatever you think fit with it)”, Zhangzi achieves what clenched resistance cannot: liberation from suffering. His surrender isn’t passivity but active collaboration — an invitation for the healer’s artistry to flow unimpeded.

The Unspoken Wound

Zhangzi’s swollen back symbolizes burdens carried alone. His release isn’t just physical — it’s the unburdening of solitary struggle. Qu heals not just the body but the existential loneliness of suffering.

The parable reveals healing’s deepest truth: vulnerability is strength. When patient and healer co-create a space of absolute trust — where the “my” dissolves into “ours” — even the most stubborn afflictions yield. Mastery meets miracles not in dominance, but in sacred partnership.