Dialectical Interpretation of the So-Called “It's Difficult to Be Muddled” by Zheng Banqiao

Abstract

Editor’s Abstract: This article gives a dialectical reading of Zheng Banqiao’s calligraphy-saying Nande hutu (“It’s difficult to be muddled”) to come to a deep understanding of its multi-layered meaning. The author sets out with defining the notions of “muddledness” (hutu) and “smartness” (congming) 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 active enterprise.

Notes

Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮) (181–234) was a prime minister of the Shuhan (蜀汉) dynasty during the Three Kingdoms Period (220–265). He is famous for being a wise strategist with unsurpassed intelligence. Despite all his efforts, he did not manage to put his king (Liu Bei) or his son on the throne; nevertheless, he is generally acclaimed as the embodiment of wisdom, expressed in the popular saying “Zhuge was careful his entire life.” Until the present day, he is extremely popular and serves as the inspiration for many popular television serials, films, comics, and historical novels.

This is another famous calligraphy by Zheng Banqiao, which is often sold in pairs with Nande hutu as a typical antithetical couplet (dui lian). On the origin of this calligraphy, see further in the text.

This was a common practice in imperial China when one fell out of grace with the emperor.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lei Legeng

Lei Legeng is a professor in the Department of Politics and Law at Shaoyang University, Hunan.