Abstract

Editor’s: This article gives a dialectical reading of Zheng Banqiao’s calligraphy-saying Nande hutu to come to a deep understanding of its multi-layered meaning. The author sets out with defining the notions of “muddledness” and “smartness” as two different ways of living. He further emphasizes the practical dimension of the philosophy of life underlying Nande hutu and goes deeper into several concrete domains of application in daily life by referring to historical figures and events. The dialectics of the saying is also illustrated in the two components that Nande hutu is composed of, that is, an active and a passive component. According to the author, although Nande hutu is about “letting go for once and taking a step back,” the active component represents its true meaning: Zheng Banqiao’s “being muddled” advocates active self-restraint in order to benefit others and maintain social harmony, and it reflects a spirit of cooperativeness and activ...