齐物论 第十四章

Zhuangzi

庄子

Once, Zhou had a dream that he became a butterfly - an unfettered butterfly that really could fly, and he felt so much joy and freedom! He had forgotten that he was Zhou. When he jolted awake in a daze, he remembered who he was. But he became uncertain whether Zhou had a dream about being a butterfly or a butterfly had a dream about being Zhou. Zhou and the butterfly are definitely not one and the same. So, which is the real one?

This is how things transform.

昔者庄周梦为胡蝶,栩栩然胡蝶也,自喻适志与!不知周也。俄然觉,则蘧蘧然周也。不知周之梦为胡蝶与,胡蝶之梦为周与?周与胡蝶,则必有分矣。此之谓物化。

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How to Produce Excellence - Mengzi (4th Century BCE)

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A Warning Against Trusting In Strength - Dao De Jing (Ma Wang Dui Version, 3rd Century BCE)