Zhuangzi on Kingfisher’s Quiet Perch

Minh-Hoang Nguyen

27-09-2025

Created by Wix AI

Zhuangzi pauses at the edge of Bird Village to watch Kingfisher peacefully land on a thin branch above the pond. Without a twitch, he settles in as if he owns the place while the village birds are busy engaging vehemently in dawn gossip.

Perching turns into meditation the moment Kingfisher relaxes into the branch, yet stays ready for any sneaky fish. He inhales the morning like it’s his favourite tea, exhales whatever worries he never bothers to pick up, and lets thoughts float off like wayward feathers. Watching him, Zhuang admits, “I might be a revered thinker, but Kingfisher lives the Dao more than I know about it.”

Dao bubbles through all beings like spring water—no scholar’s robes required. Kingfisher hasn’t cracked open a single scroll, yet he’s already fluent in it. His balanced, unhurried hush says more about life’s truths than a mountain of dusty books.

The Bird Village discovers Dao by copying Kingfisher’s simple vibe:

Find your own comfy branch, whether it’s a garden wall or a kitchen stool.

Breathe like you’re flapping your wings, but not for a flight.

Let go of the effort; trust insight to wander in like an uninvited bird at your nest.

For a bit of extra fun, notice how the snail grumbles about pace, the crane brags about soaring, and the bamboo flaunts its bendy moves. All have something to teach, but none match Kingfisher’s effortless cool.

So Zhuang meets Kingfisher: perch, breathe, stare into the flow—and watch the Dao flow his mind and veins. There he is, meditating to become part of the Dao. Kingfisher and the Dao appear to become a whole, the integrity at the sublime realm. Masterful art of meditation.

But here’s the real scoop Sparrow let slip to Zhuangzi: Kingfisher isn’t always deep in thought—he frequently dozes off in that solemn pose. His “meditation” is often just a power nap in disguise.

How does Sparrow know this secret? Fish tell him so, many times...

References

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

[2] Zhuang Zhou. (1964). Zhuangzi.

[3] Laozi. (1868). Tao Te Ching.