Taoist Tales from the Tang: Excerpts from the Wunengzi

This article presents six stories from a 9th century work of Taoist philosophy, the Wunengzi (無能子). In the context of Chinese medicine, the Taoists were perhaps most famous for their pioneering work in practices such as qigong and taiji, in breathing exercises and meditation, and for their investigations into diet and medicinal herbs. Underpinning all this, however, was a philosophy of nature that emphasises spontaneity and ‘non-action’. They advocated simplicity, had a liking for remote places, and criticised social convention and Confucian norms, nowhere more so than in the Wunengzi. Their ideas were frequently presented in the form of stories, often with a humorous twist, of which this work affords many examples. Much of the language which the Taoists employed to describe nature is also shared with Chinese medicine, upon which their philosophy has exercised an enduring influence.