The Wonder of Uselessness

NMH

8-10-2025

Created by ChatGPT

Kingfisher diligently catches fish. Zhuangzi leisurely watches the clouds. The two friends couldn’t be more different. One day, this difference was bound to become a question.

Today, Kingfisher asks Zhuang: “Master Zhuang once told Hui Shi about that big useless gourd. So in the end, did Hui Shi ever sit in the gourd and float across the river?”

Zhuangzi, solemn as if about to laugh, replies: “Of course not. If Hui Shi did that, why would I still drink with him? Wouldn’t that be like mixing youwei (action) with wuwei (non-action) and then calling it wuwei?”

Kingfisher asks again: “Oh? So the uselessness must remain untouched to be truly wondrous?”

Now Zhuangzi really laughs: “You spiky creature—are you uncomfortable unless you go against the Dao? This habit of always distinguishing—hasn’t it nearly starved you many times already? In the end, what matters more: being full, or distinguishing fish?”

Kingfisher doesn’t give up: “Then you contradict yourself, Master Zhuang. Everyone knows about your butterfly dream—weren’t you the one struggling to tell dream from reality?!”

Zhuangzi remains calm: “It doesn’t matter, for I wasn’t looking for an answer. I asked only so I could dream again—so I could keep playing.”

Kingfisher admires him, but presses on: “But isn’t that wish delusional then? Does that mean you must keep dreaming forever?”

Zhuangzi whispers, serious this time: “No need to dream. I truly met a pair of friends—a carp and a butterfly. The carp was diligent, always foraging. The butterfly spent its days fluttering about. The carp scolded the butterfly for being idle, just as you imply about me. Then one day, the carp was swimming downstream and hit a rock barrier. It tried again and again but couldn’t leap over. Just as it was about to give up, the ‘useless,’ wandering butterfly landed lightly on the spot that showed the carp where to leap. With that playful touch, the carp crossed the obstacle and continued downstream.”

Kingfisher looks doubtful: “Master Zhuang, you’re making things up again to amuse yourself.”

Zhuangzi says: “Check Newsflare if you don’t believe me.” [3]

After watching, Kingfisher nods: “Ah, marvelous. Through its idle wandering, the butterfly helped the carp go on feeding. Wuwei gives birth to youwei.”

Zhuangzi shakes his head: “Not quite. The carp now loves wandering too. Crossing the rock and swimming on—that’s play.”

References

 [1] Vuong QH. (2024). Wild Wise Weird. https://books.google.com/books?id=N10jEQAAQBAJ 

[2] Zhuang Z. (2022). Zhuangzi. Columbia University Press. https://cup.columbia.edu/book/zhuangzi/9780231123877/

[3] Newsflare (2025, September 27).Butterfly 'guides' carp to leap over stone barrier blocking its path. https://www.newsflare.com/video/793138/butterfly-guides-carp-to-leap-over-stone-barrier-blocking-its-path