Tian Zifang (5)

1 Chuang Tzu was invited to visit the State of Lu. Duke Ai of Lu told him, “In my country the scholars who study Taoism is less. Most of them study Ju doctrine.”

2 Chuang Tzu said, “In your country, scholars of the Taoism is really less but they who really follow the Ju doctrine are less too.”

3 The duke didn’t think it so. He replied, “You look that our people are all dressed in Ju style. Are the people who believe in Ju doctrine less?”

4 Smiling, Chuang Tzu whispered, “As I know, the Ju regulation goes as follows: he who knows the heaven is eligible to wear the round top hat; he who knows the earth is eligible to wear the wooden shoes, he who can handle things by a prompt decision is eligible to wear the jade ring fixed with five-color silk ribbon.”

5 The said are Ju regulations. Frankly speaking, they are surface practices that result from attaching importance to etiquette, not to the inner heart. A man of perfect practice doesn’t care for what dress and accessory he wears. The well-dressed men of beastly temper are ubiquitous in every where.

6 If you don’t believe me, you may announce that he who doesn’t practice Ju doctrine but wears Ju dress will be put to death. Let see how many people still wearing it.”

7 Adopting his suggestion, he announced it all over the country. Immediately, nobody dared to wear Ju dress. After five days, a buddy who wore Ju dress walked out of the gate of the city. The duke invited this man to his palace; the duke raised many questions about Ju to him. His answers were smooth and right. Standing by the duke, Chuang Tzu remarked, “Am I wrong? There is only one Ju scholar in the State of Lu. Is it more?”