Tzu-Ch’un is Ch’un-Tzu Reversed

     In “Tu Tzu-Ch’un” there is an obvious connection between the material world, the spiritual life, and the roles mortality and immortality play in the human existence.

     The story of Tzu-Ch’un is somewhat difficult to decipher because it seems as though there are two separate stories within the boundaries of a single story. However, through a close reading of the text one can figure out the connection between the two seemingly different stories.

     As a young man Tzu-Ch’un is very reckless and doesn’t understand the true blessing that is life. Tzu-Ch’un has no worries whatsoever and as a result he becomes only concerned with himself, and the temporary material processions he acquires. Even when his family disowns Tzu-Ch’un he still doesn’t understand how good he really has it. Tzu-Ch’un now has to live on the streets possessing no survival skills and no personal spiritual guidance. Eventually Tzu-Ch’un finds an old man who gives him money on three occasions. Just as before when Tzu-Ch’un lived with his family he managed to squander all his money away on pointless material items. This is where the idea of mortality and immortality come into play. Tzu-Ch’un hasn’t come to terms with his own mortality. He has no spirituality to help him guide himself into the future. It is not until the third occasion when the old man gives him money he reconciles with his materialistic nature. On the third occasion Tzu-Ch’un builds an orphanage. Although the orphanage won’t last forever it is a way for Tzu-Ch’un to create some kind of spirituality in his life and a way to achieve some chunk of immortality.

     The second part of the story is where things get a bit confusing. Tzu-Ch’un walks to the top of a hill to meet an old Taoist priest who is presumably the old man who gave him all the money.  Tzu-Ch’un is told to take some pills and to only observe and not talk. What happens after is a strange mix between a quest for spiritual enlightenment and a bad acid trip. The connection between this part of the story and the first part of the story is unclear, but Tzu-Ch’un is faced with the prospect of becoming an immortal. During his "trip", Tzu-Ch’un sees many strange things and it is not until the end of the trip that he actually becomes an active participant in his trip. Tzu-Ch’un screams the word “No!” and it is at that moment the Taoist priest returns him to the earthly world. The priest proceeds to tell him that he is very disappointed in what Tzu-Ch’un did and he is not suited to be an immortal. The priest's reasoning behind his decision is because Tzu-Ch’un can’t let go of love. The "trip" in an odd sort of way to show Tzu-Ch’un that he is more than the materialistic person he appears to be. Ultimately, if one wants to be an immortal, love can’t be apart of your vocabulary because hundreds of people you know and care about are going to die as the years pass. This "trip" showed Tzu-Ch’un the way to a more spiritual life.

     This story is very strange. I’m not exactly sure what the lessons are to be learned, but there is definitely a connection between one’s physical, mental, and spiritual lives that human beings should try and interconnect.