Real flavour does not lie in refined liquors or sumptuous dishes; only plain food gives forth a pure taste.
The pursuit of Daoist cultivation is a recurring theme in classical Chinese literature. For instance, Journey to the West’s Sun Wukong voyages to the Spirit Terrace, Square-Inch Mountain seeking immortality from Patriarch Subodhi (Subhuti).
Subhūti, the mentor of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), resides in Lingtai Fangcun Mountain (灵台方寸山), Slanted Moon and Three Stars Cave (斜月三星洞), located in the Western Continent of Aparagodānīya in Journey to the West.
Chapter 54 of the Dao De Jing – Tao Te Ching explores how cultivating inner virtue (De) naturally extends from the individual to family, community, nation, and ultimately the world. It emphasizes the organic growth of ethical influence through non-coercive alignment with the Dao.