The general idea is: there is a way in the world, and saints can achieve their careers; There is no road in the world, and saints can only save their lives.
Zhuangzi (real name Zhuang Zhou), Zi Zixiu (also known as Zi Mu), was born in Song Dynasty. His ancestors were Song Dynasty princes and monarchs. He was a famous thinker, philosopher and writer in the mid-Warring States period, one of the seven philosophers in pre-Qin, and one of the main representatives of Taoist school. He founded Zhuangzi, a school of philosophy, and was called Zhuangzi with Laozi.
Zhuangzi first put forward the idea of being a saint inside and a king outside, which had a far-reaching influence on Confucianism. He profoundly pointed out that the Book of Changes is based on the way of Yin and Yang, and the thought of "three tones" is consistent with the way of three talents in the Book of Changes. Zhuangzi's works like to explain philosophy in a fascinating way, which is called the philosophy of literature and the literature of philosophy, among which Zhuangzi is the masterpiece.
Zhuangzi is divided into internal chapters, external chapters and miscellaneous chapters. The first fifty-two articles were gradually spread, mixed and benefited in the middle and late Warring States period, and took shape at the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty. But the version that was circulated at that time has been lost. At present, there are 33 articles compiled by Guo Xiang, and the titles and chapters are also different from those of the Han Dynasty. Generally speaking, the inner chapter can represent the core of Zhuangzi Thought in the Warring States Period, while the outer chapter and miscellaneous articles have developed for more than one hundred years, and Huang Lao and Zhuangzi's post-school studies have formed a complex system.
The world famous sentences in Zhuangzi are arranged as follows:
1, between big knowledge and small knowledge; Big words are hot, small words are Zhan.
The cleverest people always show an open-minded attitude; Small and talented people always haggle over every ounce. The words that conform to the avenue are like a prairie fire, which is both beautiful and grand and convincing. Those clever remarks are all trivial nonsense.
Although I can't cure my illness, I hope the body can be replaced.
Although the chef does not make sacrifices, the emcee who presides over the sacrifices will not do it instead of the chef. This means that although man has not done his duty, the corpse hopes to act on his behalf without exceeding his authority to sacrifice to the gods. It shows Zhuangzi's thought of governing by doing nothing, from which the idiom comes.
My life is limited and my knowledge is limited.
Human life is limited, but knowledge is infinite. Put your limited life into infinite learning.
4, fire fighting, water saving, the name is more favorable.
Putting out fire with fire and saving water with water will not get things done, but will increase (Wei Jun's fault). Explain a way of life under the guise of Confucius teaching Yan Hui. The idiom "Fight fire with fire and save water with water".
5, the mountain wood is broken, the paste is fried, and the cinnamon is edible, so it is cut; Paint can be used, so cut it. Everyone knows what is useful, but not what is useless.
Trees growing on the mountain are cut down because of natural needs, and resin is burned because of lighting, so osmanthus trees can be eaten, so they are cut down; Paint can be used, so it is peeling. Everyone knows the useful use, but they don't know the useless use. Useful and promising will be harmful, and useless and inaction will be blessed. This paper expounds the useless use that is often ignored, which contains simple dialectics.