Untamable Dragons and Dubious Calculations: A Reading of Xiaoyaoyou 1–3

Abstract

The paper explores the metaphysical and cosmological implications of the Xiaoyaoyou chapter of the Zhuangzi. Beginning with an exploration of the Kun–Peng fable’s epistemological aspects, the study transitions to emphasize its connection to fundamental metaphysical forces, such as yinyang 陰陽, qi 氣, and wuxing 五行. The dragonesque features of Kun and Peng are seen as analogies for cosmic and metaphysical change, forming the basis for an alternative, non-epistemological interpretation. Accordingly, the expression “anxious calculations” (shushu 數數) is interpreted as both a critique of the scholar-officials’ (shi 士) reliance on “numbers and methods” (shushu 數術) to tame dragons and control the cosmos and a commendation of the masters’ (zi 子) ability to transcend them. Drawing from the archaeological record, the term shushu is linked to astrological frameworks and cosmological systems prevalent during the Warring States period. Ultimately, the paper concludes that the skepticism depicted in the Xiaoyaoyou is specifically directed at shushu knowledge, the scholarly and state-sanctioned understanding of the cosmos’ metaphysical foundations. The study suggests that, as explained in this chapter, these enigmatic foundations, much like dragons, defy complete comprehension, remaining beyond precise calculation and domestication.