Book Discourse on Chuang Tzu:
The Story of King Tan-fu
Excerpt from book Discourse On Chuang Tzu
While the eminent King, Tan‑fu was residing in Pin, the Ti tribes launched an attack against his territory. He tried to negotiate with skins and silks, but the Ti refused him; he proposed dogs and horses, but the Ti rebuffed him; he then tendered pearls and jade, but the Ti spurned him. What the men of the Ti coveted was his territory. The Great King Tan‑fu said, “To scramble for territory implies to kill people. To dwell together with the elder brothers, yet stand by and watch their younger brothers were killed in the battle; to dwell together with the fathers, yet stand by and watch their sons were slaughtered in war — I cannot take any part in that! My people, set up your homes here and be dutiful and compliant. It is of no significance whether you are my subjects or subjects of the tribe of Ti. Furthermore, it is said that those who are to receive nourishment should not be harmed on account of that which provides nourishment.” Then, supporting himself on his cane, he departed. However, spurring each other on, his people followed after him, and in due course, they founded a new state at the foot of Mount Kh’i.
The Great King Tan‑fu knew how to honor the nourishing and preservation of life. No matter how rich and honored he may be, one who knows how to honor the nourishing and preservation of life will not permit that which sustains life to inflict injury on his person. However poor and humble he may be, he will not permit profit or reward to prompt entanglement of his body or mind. Nowadays, those appointed to high office and honored with titles, dwell only on the momentous import of the potential loss, should they be stripped of their high office and titles. Eyes fixed on profits and reward, they neglect their lives; what is this if not delusion?
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