Zhuangzi: The Useless Tree (A Classical Chinese Parable)
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- Опубліковано 6 чер 2024
- Within the classical Chinese text, the Zhuangzi, there is a motif of a big but useless tree. The tree introduces us to a number of ideas, the most notable of which is a perspective driven relativism that undermines the authority of conventional value standards by asserting the great use of uselessness. This video explores this idea which, at first, may seem farfetched and paradoxical but, in the end, will prove an insightful argument with modern significance.
Music: Forest Shrine by Kerusu
• Kerusu - Forest Shrine
Timestamps:
00:00 || 0. Introduction
00:44 || 1. Translation
03:41 || 2. The Craftsman’s Measurement
09:18 || 3. To Dream of a Talking Tree
18:53 || 4. The Craftsman’s Change of Heart
Essay available in 2021 version: meteorite.philosophy.lsa.umic...
Thumbnail Photo: 陈丹青：我看徐悲鸿
Pinyin Pronunciation Chart:
chinese.yabla.com/chinese-pin...
Classical Chinese from: Chinese Text Project. ctext.org/zhuangzi/. (Managed by Donald Sturgeon)
Translation Cross-Referenced with: Ziporyn (2020), Graham (1981), Watson (1964), Legge (1891).
Sources:
Kroll, Paul. A Student’s Dictionary of Classical and Medieval Chinese. Revised 2018.
Heidegger, Martin. The Question Concerning Technology and other Essays. Harper Perennial.
McDougall, Edward. "On Being Useless." IAI. 2019. iai.tv/articles/uselessness-a...
Cua, A. S. Encyclopedia of Chinese Philosophy. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013.
Galvany, Albert. "Discussing Usefulness: Trees As Metaphor In The Zhuangzi." Monumenta Serica 57, no. 1 (2009): 71-97. doi:10.1179/mon.2009.57.1.002.
Graham, A. C. Chuang-Tzu: The Seven Inner Chapters and Other Writings from the Book Chuang-tzŭ. London: Allen & Unwin, 1981.
Kohn, Livia. Chuang-Tzu: The Tao of Perfect Happiness-Selections Annotated & Explained. Woodstock: SkyLight Paths Publishing, 2011.
Major, John S. "The Efficacy of Uselessness: A Chuang-tzu Motif." Philosophy East and West 25, no. 3 (July 1975): 265-79. doi:10.2307/1398197.
Morejón, Gil. "Zhuangzi's Trees: Insubordinate Joy and Heavenly Becoming." Speech, The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy and The Society for the Study of Islamic Philosophy and Science, Fordham University, New York City, October 2013. www.academia.edu/5760519/Zhua... _Becoming.
Russell, Bertrand. The Problems of Philosophy. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Svarverud, Rune. "The Usefulness of Uselessness: The Realm of Useless Trees According to Zhuangzi." Studies in Chinese Language and Culture. Festschrift in Honour of Christoph Harbsmeier on the Occasion of His 60th Birthday (2006): 157-68.
Van Norden, Bryan W. Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub., 2011.
I believe that Chuang Tzu is one of the broad foundation stones upon which the edifice of Zen stands.
What joy it is to read his words, and then forget them, and understand. A mighty tree, indeed.
Great tangents regarding the views of modern society on the degree of philosophy. I was searching for this story of the useless tree because of Alan Watts but I didn't find it . Now thanks to you i know it now ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
truly great video in every way. analysis, scripting, delivery, its all great. youre doing this right. thanks.
Exactly bro! ❤
So Zhuangzi was the first who made the "they can't use you if you're useless" meme.
Very nice commentary. I like the distinction you make between 用 and 為. You're right that once some has been 用 it is usually exhausted/destroyed in the service of achieving ulterior aim (utility), where as for something to 為 "serve as" or "serve in the capacity of," means that the intrinsic nature of that thing does not change. A tree as a temple guardian is still a tree, a tree as a shade-provider is still a tree, and a tree as bird-habitat is still a tree. And the tree could not really carry out any of those roles if its intrinsic value and material integrity were not maintained.
Great job!
I am a Chinese. This introduction is wonderful
Thank you for the eye opening video
Love your content. Can't wait to take you out on lunch and discuss, if ever in NYC, hmu.
Nice! Been waiting for this one great work :)
Awesome channel
Please keep doing what you're doing
Fantastic video as always :)
I heard this story elsewhere and it's really good for people who grew up in places like mining towns where whatever sense of intrinsic value that people may have tends to be criticized. On a side note, lately I've been appreciating old theater devices like soliloquies or how Anne Hall would go into surreal scenes where you barely notice the transition, but it admits that it's theater....and the part where the tree came to him in a dream could actually be a part of a one act play because what the tree says is scene worthy, and the entire story could make an excellent one act play.
Time to get some face tattoos so I can get into heaven 😂
20:19 my translation would be “"Be secretive (on this)! Don't talk about it! it just casually dwells itself in the shrine, and those who don't understand its true value have already criticize it (like you). were it not served as a sacred tree, I am afraid it has already been chopped down. What's more, the approach it took to conserve itself is mysterious, if you judge it with moral standards, it will be far from the point. " In our world with everyone objectifying and objectified, the tree is actually helpless. it is not sacred, it is just a survivor of human everlasting objectification of the world. to conserve your "vitality" and protect yourself from the utility, you have to employ an unusual approach, which goes far beyond the norms of society.
You make really good videos. I genuinely appreciate them and they are much higher quality than I would expect looking at the views. I wish there was a platform out there for content creators like you, since youtube has a smaller audience for these kinds of videos. Anyways one last question: are you Chinese? I would make such an assumption due to some of your chinese-related videos. Hope you do well in college (looking at these videos I would assume you are doing pretty well)!
Thank you for the kind words! I am not Chinese. I just have a lot of interest in Chinese thought!
Thank you.
Coming back to this almost a year later. First, still a great video. Second, I wonder if there is too stark a dichotomy drawn between utility to others versus utility to oneself? Or, in general, to the notion of utility itself (as after all, the tree is still useful to itself)?
I thought, the tree is a metaphor for an enlightened being, or of the ‘absolute’ view, or of the enlightenment itself
Enjoyed the video, great work!
i'll forward this to my mum the next time she calls me "冇用“
Great video! as a devoted Chinese reader of Zhuangzi here are some thoughts:1. 13:53 "奈何哉其相物也”， means“why should we objectify each other” , we subconsciously seek the utility of others(and ourselves) when we objectify them(and also ourselves). 2. 13:53 散” literally means “scattered”， as a tree in scatter form has no big hunk and thus is useless 。“散木” may be paraphrased as “useless tree”， however “散人” is more a metaphor, and may be paraphrased as “a person without a well-developed mind or thought”. the person cannot enjoy longevity as the tree because he has some utility to the society(carpenter), which is proof of this stupidity. you can contact me if you have an interest related to Zhuangzi, I will be more than glad to discuss it. your perspective on Zhuangzi is very interesting.
so if you see a twisted and messy tree.. there is a kami living in it? 🤔neat
🙏💙☯️
Does Zhuangzi discuss the fact that subjects (trees, people or otherwise) may have an inherent desire to be useful?
No. I am Chinese, i read this book many times and have never find such things.
@@ineverlickyoghurtlid3903 Thank you!
far from being useless, the tree continues to increasingly provide what is needed more than what is desired, oxygen
What a wonderful video!! 🤩🤩😍Thank you for sharing this. It is very interesting you focus on the concept of "scattered or diffused". However, I disagree to label Zhuangzi's view as relativism. I think it might be appropriate to label his view as perspectivism because, according to Zhuangzi, whether a tree or anything in that matter, depends on which perspective one is taking!! As you shown quite clearly in this video, whether one is useful to one's family or friends is from the points of view of the family or friends. Being useful to others might be harmful to oneself. A meaningful life is a balance act between being useful to one's family, friends, loved one, or society at large, and being healthy for oneself. I have made a video on perspectivism of Zhuangzi's view in a video. Here is the link for your reference: ua-cam.com/video/rBPJVbCFpmM/v-deo.html