SERIES: Conversations between Chuang Tzu and Hui Tzu

Wit and wisdom: Inside Chuang Tzu's interactions with Hui Tzu.

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This series originated from an exchange between Peck Gee Chua and me. Peck Gee writes about the cultural roots of tea, spirituality, and the timeless elegance of Kyoto (in beautiful photo essays).

Her publication, “72 Seasons of Tea,” is my go-to online space for discovering tea practices, exploring the Zen life, and appreciating Kyoto’s serene temples when I feel the urge to slow down and be mindful in daily life.

In one of our conversations, Peck Gee asked me about my favorite stories from Chuang Tzu’s writings. I said that I particularly like the dialogues between Hui Tzu and Chuang Tzu. Their conversations reveal the philosophical and spiritual depth, as well as the unique perspectives and vibrant personalities, of two philosophers and close friends.

Inspired by this discussion, I revisited Chuang Tzu’s writings and reorganized the interactions between these two brilliant minds.

The eight articles in this series don’t encompass the entire breadth of their philosophies but offer some insightful glimpses into the profound worlds of Chuang Tzu and Hui Tzu—representing Taoism 道家 and the School of Names 名家, an intellectual tradition engaged with language and speech analysis, logic, and rhetoric.

Whether it is about the essence of true friendship, meaningful intellectual debates, or how to navigate life’s constant changes, you’ll find enlightening and amusing insights.

These dialogues also illuminate powerful truths about authentic living, spiritual freedom, managing loss and uncertainty, and developing deeper layers of self-awareness in the journey of self-discovery.

In essence, this series is a spiritual dispatch — a source of clarity, inspiration, and solace for life’s unexpected moments.

Click here to begin your journey into Chuang Tzu and Hui Tzu’s illuminating conversations.