Get Covered in Mud [Lao-Zhuang Philosophy #QuoteNotebook42]

The quote I would like to introduce this time is as follows!

If taken literally, it might sound a bit rude, but once you know the background, it becomes clear that it is a universal quote applicable to life in general.

Meaning of the phrase

It is based on the words "I would rather drag my tail in the mud" by Zhuangzi, who is famous for Lao-Zhuang philosophy. It originates from a story where a king requested Zhuangzi, who was living a relaxed life in the countryside, to become a prime minister, but Zhuangzi refused.

It can be interpreted as, "It is better to live according to the values you consider rich than to obtain a high-ranking position and feel constrained."

Zhuangzi thought that it was richer for a turtle (himself) to live in the mud (a free life without worldly status) than to be heavily decorated and held up (becoming a prime minister, which is a chance for great success), so he declined the government position.

In turn, it is known as "a phrase that recommends knowing yourself and living in a style that allows you to utilize your own strengths, rather than forcing yourself to choose a position or way of life that does not suit your abilities or characteristics."

The person who said it

What kind of person?

Zhuangzi was a philosopher who is said to have been active during the Warring States period in China (around the 4th century BC). He is known as a representative figure of Taoism, alongside Laozi.

The "Zhuangzi" continues to provide deep insights to readers through not only philosophical arguments but also fables full of rich imagination and unique character portrayals.

Zhuangzi's personality

• Freedom and transcendence: Zhuangzi valued spiritual freedom and unity with nature, distancing himself from worldly values and social constraints.

• Wu-wei (Non-action): Inheriting Laozi's philosophy, he preached "Wu-wei," which means avoiding artificial actions and living in accordance with nature.

• Equality of all things: He advocated the idea of the "equality of all things," which states that there is no essential difference between all things, and that conflicts and distinctions are merely human subjective judgments.

• Fables and humor: His philosophy is expressed in a unique style that makes heavy use of fables and metaphors, and is also characterized by a humorous tone. The "Butterfly Dream" is very famous.

• Spirit of reclusion: It is said that he disliked becoming a bureaucrat and lived a free life among the common people. There is an anecdote that when he was encouraged to serve King Wei of Chu, he refused, saying, "It is better to play in the mud than to be treated like a sacrificial ox and be constrained."

Zhuangzi's philosophy

Zhuangzi's philosophy is considered to be a further development of Laozi's, but there are several differences between the two. While Laozi's discourse includes political undertones, Zhuangzi's stance is characterized by a thorough detachment from the secular world and a pursuit of individual spiritual freedom.

His main ideas are as follows:

• Emphasis on the Dao: He preached following the 'Dao' (Tao), which is the source of all things and the universal law.

• Practice of Wu-wei (Non-action): He believed that by surrendering to the flow of nature and avoiding artificial actions or judgments based on knowledge, one could attain peace of mind and freedom.

• Relativism: He believed that the value of things, as well as good and evil, are not absolute but change depending on the situation and perspective.

• Pursuit of spiritual freedom: He idealized being liberated from external constraints and attaining inner freedom of the mind.

• A state of mind transcending life and death: He aimed for a state of mind that views life and death as part of the natural cycle and accepts them without fear.

The book 'Zhuangzi'

Zhuangzi's philosophy is detailed in the book that bears his name, 'Zhuangzi'. 'Zhuangzi' consists of three parts: the Inner Chapters, the Outer Chapters, and the Miscellaneous Chapters, and generally, the seven Inner Chapters are considered to be the work of Zhuangzi himself.

Context of the quote

I introduced the idea that the phrase 'dragging one's tail in the mud' can be interpreted as meaning, 'Rather than forcing yourself to choose a status or way of life that does not suit your abilities or characteristics, it is better to know yourself and live in a style where you can make the most of your strengths.'

And, it is generally quoted using the expression 'get down and dirty'.

Uozumi from Slam Dunk

This is a word of encouragement from Uozumi to Akagi.

It is a famous scene that makes one realize: 'I may not be able to become like Kawata of the opposing team, Sannoh. But for the team to win, I can do things that only I can do! It is important not to be pessimistic about the gap between who I want to be and who I am now, but to give my all to what I can do.'

Dr. Peter Ueda of the Baki Dotei Channel

Dr. Peter, who appeared on the popular channel 'Baki-Do Channel [Gunpi]', which has over 1.8 million subscribers as of May 2025, used the phrase 'get down and dirty'.

Dr. Peter is a physician, medical scientist, and author born in Sweden in 1985, with a Swedish father and a Japanese mother. (His real name is Peter Ueda)

With experience working at McKinsey and as a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo, his career gives us a glimpse into his highly brilliant mind.

Dr. Peter said "Get down and dirty" in a promotional video for the book "The DT the Doctor Loved," which was supervised by Dr. Peter and Gunpy, and written by Tsubasa Taniguchi, a comedian and author.

※The "Get down and dirty" remark occurs around 14:40

It seems that Tsubasa Taniguchi, the writer in charge, initially intended to conclude the book with a general summary about "what happiness and friendship are," but after reading the draft, Dr. Peter gave him a single piece of advice: "Get down and dirty."

This was by no means a slight against Taniguchi's draft, but rather the optimal phrase chosen from Dr. Peter's extensive vocabulary to convey the concept of the book he was trying to create in the most direct way possible.

In fact, after receiving the "Get down and dirty" advice from Dr. Peter, Tsubasa Taniguchi reportedly rewrote almost the entire final chapter of his nearly finished draft under a very tight deadline. He says in the video that it wasn't so much that he rewrote it because Dr. Peter told him to, but rather that he gained an insight from Dr. Peter's words that allowed him to write more honestly, pouring everything out from the bottom of his heart.

Dr. Peter is a man of great knowledge, but he is also a huge fan of Japanese manga culture. This is just my imagination, but I suspect that when Dr. Peter used the phrase "Get down and dirty," he was conveying it with a double meaning: both Zhuangzi's "dragging one's tail in the mud" and Slam Dunk's "get down and dirty."

Indeed, the final chapter of the book "The DT the Doctor Loved" turned out to be a very rewarding read. Even just reading the final chapter left me with a strangely refreshing feeling, as if I had finished reading a whole novel.

Summary

This is the quote I introduced this time!

The term "doro-kusai" (muddy/earthy) means "unsophisticated or unrefined," but it also carries a somewhat positive connotation.

For example, when we talk about a "muddy way of life," it implies at least that "it's okay to be that way," or perhaps even "it's actually better that way."

It is wonderful to approach everything with ambition, but if you become obsessed with ambition, you tend to lose sight of yourself.

Regardless of your position or role, I hope we can all keep the spirit of "getting down and dirty."

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