The second story in the fourth chapter of Zhuangzi's inner chapter, "The World", tells that Ye Gongzi Gao was about to send an envoy to Qi as an envoy of Chu, and he asked Confucius for advice before leaving. As before, it is all pretended to be Confucius. In fact! It's all what Zhuangzi wants to express.

In the second story, Zhuangzi mainly talks about "life" and "righteousness" under the guise of Confucius. And then! By extension, the limitations of language communication.

Language is an important communication tool between people, but it can't fulfill its responsibilities, so? How can we express ourselves correctly?

So! The second story is just as important!

When we move around society and get along with others, how can we express our right will?

But? When we have expressed our will correctly, will we be able to achieve our goals? It didn't! Even if you express your wishes and others understand, they may not be able to fulfill your wishes.

Therefore! This leads to a more important societal problem: language communication has its own limitations, but it is not enough. Even if you succeed in expressing your will, you will not be able to achieve your goal, which is the root of the social problem.

It means to tell us: social problems are not solved by verbal communication, but! It depends on the sincerity of the other party to solve the problem. If the other party is not sincere, what's the use of you expressing your intentions clearly?

This is the root of the social problem.

At that time, the social environment was the **** of monarchy, the king had the final say, the power had the final say, and others could not do anything. In front of the monarchy, all your actions are invalid. No! It is the king's power that makes you valid and effective, and invalidates you invalid.

Therefore! There is the theory of "life" and "righteousness".

There are two great precepts in the world: first, life; First, righteousness. The love of the son, the life is also incomprehensible in the heart; The minister's affairs are kings, righteousness is also, there is no suitability and not a king, and there is no escape between heaven and earth. It is called the Great Commandment.

The meaning of this passage is:

There are two things in the world that cannot be avoided: one is life! The second is righteousness! As a child, filial piety to parents and elders, this is fate! This is a responsibility that we cannot avoid as human beings. Why? Do you want to honor your parents and elders? We can't explain it clearly, but! Our hearts just feel like we should do it. That's fate!

To serve the king of the kingdom as a courtier and to obey the king is righteousness! This is true wherever you go. There is a king above, a courtier below, and a people below. So, this is an inescapable reality, and this is righteousness.

Under the whole world, it is not the king's land!

There is that kind of helplessness in the face of the general environment.

Next, he specifically interpreted "life" and "righteousness".

It is a husband who serves his relatives, and he is safe and filial piety regardless of the place; The husband and the monarch will be at peace without choosing anything, and the loyalty will be prosperous; Those who do their own thing, grief and happiness are not easy to give to the front, knowing that they are helpless and peaceful, and virtue is also. Those who are ministers and sons are inherently unavoidable. Forget your body when you act like you, why don't you have time to live happily and die evilly! Master, he can do it!

The meaning of this passage:

So! A person who honors his parents and elders can make them feel comfortable no matter what the circumstances, and this is the best way to honor them. Those who serve the monarch and obey the monarch can reassure and satisfy the monarch no matter what they do, which is the best service and loyalty.

A person who pursues a clear conscience will not affect his emotions regardless of sorrow and joy. Knowing that what they encounter is helpless, they can accept the reality and deal with it calmly. This is the highest level of one's cultivation.

As a courtier, as a son of man, you will encounter unavoidable things. When we are faced with it, we have to forget about ourselves, do our best, and try to do our best. Such! Where do we have time to think about personal problems? No matter how good life is, we will not have time to take care of it. No matter how terrible death is, we don't have the heart to think about it. You do what I say, and that's it.

In the second story, we can not only see Zhuangzi's interpretation of fate and righteousness, but also learn many skills in dealing with the world. The latter part of the second story is to teach us the skills of speaking and dealing with the world, which is very realistic, applicable to any dynasty, and has reference value.