Brief introduction of colchicine

The title of South China True Classics is Qiushui, which was named after the previous two words. The main moral of this article is that the meeting between Hebo (the river god) and Hai Ruo (the sea god) is a metaphor, which shows that personal knowledge is limited. Only by comparison can we know our own shortcomings, and we must not be complacent and ridiculous. The whole article consists of two parts. The first part is about the dialogue between Poseidon and the river god in Beihai. This conversation can be divided into seven parts:

The river god thinks he is big and complacent, but the sea god thinks he is just a frog in the well, showing a relative view of knowing things. It shows that it is impossible for people to know things exactly because of the uncertainty of things themselves and the infinity of things as a whole. It is not easy for people to recognize things. The difference between things is relative, that is, there is no absolute boundary between things. From the viewpoint of "the unity of all things" and "the endless Tao", it is pointed out that people should govern by doing nothing and wait for things to "transform themselves". People should conform to the Tao, and only in this way can we understand the nature and changing law of things. Put forward the idea of returning to nature, that is, not destroying nature by man. There are six fables in the second half of the article, pointing out the relativity of things and the change of people's cognitive process, and then proposing that things are incomprehensible.

Related items compiled by Guo Qingfan and proofread by Wang Xiaoyu: Zhuangzi Qiushui Collection (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 196 1). Chen Guying: Notes and Translation of Zhuangzi (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1983).