Zhuang Zhou, a core Daoist thinker, rejects lavish official offers twice. Using tortoise and sacrificial ox metaphors, he chooses humble, free rural life over dangerous noble power, maintaining lifelong seclusion to preserve his spiritual autonomy.
He Bo (Lord He, River Lord or the River God, 河伯) is the god of the Yellow River in Chinese mythology, originally named Feng Yi. Legend has it that Feng Yi tragically drowned while crossing the river, after which the Lord of Heaven appointed him as He Bo (Lord of the River) to oversee…
– By Mao Zedong, April 1918 Clouds part over Heng Yue, long gloom at last dispelled,Among Tianma and Phoenix Peaks spring trees unfold.
The Farmer of Shihu was a man whose origins are unknown. He was a friend of Shun. When Shun offered to yield the world to him, the Farmer of Shihu remarked: “How tirelessly laborious the Lord is! He is indeed a man who exhausts his strength [for the sake of others].”
Zi Zhou Zhi Fu was a man from the time of Emperor Yao. When Yao offered to yield the throne to Xu You, Xu You declined. Yao then offered it to Zi Zhou Zhi Fu.
Nie Que was a man from the time of Emperor Yao. Xu You was the disciple of Nie Que.
Wang Ni was a worthy man from the time of Emperor Yao, and he was the disciple of Bei Yi. Nie Que studied under Wang Ni and asked him about the Dao.
Bei Yi (or Pi Yi) was a man from the time of Emperor Yao. Yao’s teacher was Xu You; Xu You’s teacher was Nie Que; Nie Que’s teacher was Wang Ni; and Wang Ni’s teacher was Bei Yi.