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.
People who take coarse food and drink usually have morals as clean as ice and as pure as jade. Those, on the other hand, who set great store by fine garments and tasty fare tend to be servile flatterers and willing slaves.
The Mountain of Flowers and Fruits is the legendary birthplace and kingdom of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) in Journey to the West. While its name superficially refers to its lush flora, it carries profound Buddhist symbolism.