Figures of Taoism: Zhu Taozhui 朱桃椎

A scholar and hermit of the Tang Dynasty, he was from Chengdu, Yizhou (now part of Sichuan Province).

In the first year of Wude (618 AD), he secluded himself in Bainümao Village, Shuxian County, and later moved to Dapan Stone Mountain in Baima Stream, Dongping Mountain. Dou Gui, the prefectural chief, presented him with clothes, a deer-hide cap, and suede boots, urging him to return to his hometown, but all were rejected. He then built a thatched hut in the mountains: in summer, he went naked; in winter, he covered himself with tree bark and leaves, refusing all gifts. He often placed straw sandals he wove on the path to exchange for rice and tea. Villagers, understanding his intention, left rice or tea when taking the sandals, and Zhu Taozhui silently collected them, never interacting with others. Even when Gao Shilian, the prefectural chief, visited with proper etiquette, he ignored him, glaring and walking away.

He was a typical example of living by Zhuangzi’s philosophy of life, pursuing the so-called "perfect man" existence—unfettered, detached from the world, and returning to one’s natural essence. He advocated the philosophical view of "not taking worldly affairs as glory" and "finding joy in seclusion," seeking the ease of isolation and the realm of non-action. He wrote, "Wandering mountains and rivers, dissipating worries to delight the spirit; hiding and lying among thatched huts, my thoughts reach beyond the clouds. To escape the world’s busyness in non-action is also the highest state of dealing with things" (Ode to Thatched Huts).

Pursuing "nature" and determined to return to it, he believed that human nature was incompatible with social life, thus despising social organizations and material civilization. He stated, "Cutting wild brambles to make a staff, rolling bamboo leaves to make a hat; not valuing fame, nor treasuring pearls and jade. Whistling before the wind, sleeping soundly under the moon; the courtyard has but three paths, the qin has but one string. Unrestrained on ponds and terraces, wandering between cliffs and valleys" (ibid.).

He regarded detachment from society and people as the greatest joy, indulging in landscapes and solitary freedom. He also wrote, "Free and unfettered, with no attachments; my will finds joy in itself. Pillowing the bright moon to play the qin, facing the clear wind to slowly sip wine. Gazing at the green pines on the ridge, listening to the white cranes between clouds. Taking mountains and rivers as my heart, finding delight in the qin and books. In the valley, birds sing more loudly, their melodies harmonizing perfectly. Their feathers rival brocade in color, their songs as melodious as music. The qin strings shift between slow and fast, gathering at my thatched hut. Sometimes pairs of swallows come, often followed by wandering bees. Ice melts, and the green water flows anew; grass grows, and the steps grow damp again. My wish is not to associate with the world, nor to establish fame and merit" (ibid.). He concluded that "all worldly affairs are ultimately futile" (ibid.).

Xue Ji, the Crown Prince’s Tutor during Emperor Ruizong’s reign, summarized Zhu Taozhui’s life: "The gentleman knows contentment, lingering in seclusion. His prices are fixed, his meals once a day. Building a hut as his home, rolling leaves for a crown. His skill in crafting wheels rivals that of Qi Bian, sharing the same joy" (Eulogy for the Hermit Zhu, in Complete Prose of the Tang Dynasty, Vol. 275). The reference to "skill in crafting wheels" suggests that besides weaving straw sandals, Zhu Taozhui excelled at making wooden wheels, his craftsmanship comparable to "Qi Bian" (Lun Bian of Qi), a master wheelwright mentioned in Zhuangzi·Heavenly Dao.

His biography is recorded in New Book of Tang, Vol. 196, and his story also appears in Xue Ji’s Eulogy for the Hermit Zhu. His work Ode to Thatched Huts is included in Complete Prose of the Tang Dynasty, Vol. 162.