Forgetting each other in the world: Now it mostly refers to letting go of the overly persistent pursuit of emotions, forgetting each other in the world, and not communicating with each other.

When the spring dries up, the fish and the fish are on the land. They gnaw at each other to get wet and wet each other with foam. It is better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes. ----Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period. Zhuangzi. "Zhuangzi, Great Master, Tianyun"

Translated as: The spring has dried up, and the fish under the spring have nowhere to escape. They breathe water vapor with each other and remove the foam from their mouths. Put it on each other's cheeks, instead of doing this, it is better to forget each other and live happily in the world.

The meaning of this passage is: Instead of everyone helping each other and suffering in life and death, it is better for everyone to live freely without knowing each other.

Through this story, the author wants to convey that instead of asking people to help each other through difficulties in the dark and chaotic days of "no justice", it is better to live in "the world has peace and justice". In the world of "Tao", everyone lives a peaceful life that has nothing to do with each other.

Extended information

Zhuangzi here uses the analogy of fish to incisively express the view that "Tao" leads to change.

The understanding of this sentence can be related to "a poor family produces a filial son" and "a loyal minister appears in troubled times". While praising filial sons and praising loyal ministers, "poor families" and "troubled times" were ignored. Similarly, the reason why the two fish need to "help each other" is because the spring water has dried up.

The meaning of "forgetting each other in the world" does not mean that people who once knew each other have severed contact because of feelings or other factors. Rather, it refers to two strangers who do not contain emotions such as love or hate. The word "forget" in this sentence is a common method used by ancient Chinese to express yin and yang and contradictions.

Similarly, there is "benevolence" in "Sages are not benevolent and treat the common people as stupid dogs". "Benevolence" here also does not refer to kindness, but to treating everyone equally and equally. "Treating all things as a humble dog" can also be said to be treating all things as raw jade. This representation of a unified whole through one of two mutually opposed attributes was commonly used by the ancients.