The Mystical Guava Tree

NMH

19-10-2025

Created by ChatGPT

An old gardener near Bird Village reveres Laozi and loves Zhuangzi. He chooses to cultivate the Dao through gardening. Eventually, he discovers a mystical guava tree, said to bear fruit so fragrant that its scent reaches the summit of Mount Hua. If the tree ever bears fruit, he plans to offer it to the celestial sages.

Unfortunately, three years have passed, yet the tree has not even blossomed.

One day, seeing the gardener disheartened, Kingfisher asks what troubles him. After hearing the story, Kingfisher replies: “Since you love and revere Zhuangzi, surely he would not deny you a few honest words.”

Later, Kingfisher arranges a meeting between the old man and Zhuangzi. The gardener explains everything once again.

Zhuangzi asks: “Then tell me, how do you tend this mystical guava tree?”

The old man describes his routine in detail: watering once or twice a day when the soil is dry, trimming yellow or pest-eaten leaves, pruning uneven branches so none steal sunlight from the others, catching insects day or night, and enriching the soil with fish, crab, and snail remains to make it fertile, and so on.

Zhuangzi says: “From what you’ve said, I can tell you care for the tree deeply. It will live well.”

Kingfisher joyfully interjects: “So it will bear mystical guava fruit, then?”

Zhuangzi laughs: “Your beak is quick—good for catching fish, not for catching meaning! I never said it would bear fruit. The tree thrives but does not fruit because it goes against the Dao.”

The old man is astonished: “How could my loving care be against the Dao?”

Zhuangzi replies: “Even ordinary guavas must endure drought to know the value of water. If one drinks before thirsting, is that in accord with the Dao? Suppose you water it well in the morning, and the heavens send heavy rain by evening—then how do you tell what is enough and what is excess?”

The old man ponders, finding wisdom in those words, and asks again: “But pruning branches and removing pests—are those also against the Dao?”

Zhuangzi answers: “You prune to please your own eyes—did you ever ask the tree what it wanted? The worms may harm, yet through their bites the guava remembers the season to flower and fruit—to continue its lineage. Is that truth of the Dao still strange to one who has gardened for decades?”

In awe, the old man poses his final question: “And enriching the soil—how is that contrary to the Dao?”

Zhuangzi smiles: “Not contrary, not at all. Yet the stench you add also invites rats to feast and gnaw. Isn’t that the consequence of meddling?”

Both the gardener and Kingfisher marvel at the insight. The old man realizes he only needs to care a little less for his wish to come true.

Kingfisher seizes the moment to ask: “Why, then, when someone once asked you how to kill termites, you just sang a song and climbed a tree instead of answering—but today you help this gardener?”

Zhuangzi lowers his voice and says: “I prefer organic guavas.”

References

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

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

[3] Nguyen MH. (2025). Kingfisherish Wandering. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FVLLLXNW/