The #1 Pretty Boy of the Immortal PathCh7 - The Shangling Dreamscape

Translator's Note

This part references (but does not quote) the teachings of Laozi (you may also see it written as Lao Tzu or Lao-Tze). He was an ancient Chinese philosopher and founder of the philosophical Daoism (there is a difference between the philosophical and religious Daoism—our story mostly deals with religious Daoism with cultivators attempting to turn into Daoist immortals). Perhaps some of you are already somewhat familiar with him and his teachings. He’s credited with writing the Tao Te Ching (道德經 – dào dé jīng), which has also been translated as The Classic of the Way and Virtue. 1v0egp

To boil down his philosophy into a sentence or two, Laozi’s main point is that there exists an underlying natural order to the universe, but that order is formless and cannot be comprehended, conceptualized, or captured in words. The way that we know it exists, says Laozi, is through its manifestations in our world, including its manifestation through quality of our own aliveness. We experience the Dao (also transliterated as the Tao and translated as the Way) through our own life experiences.

It’s a very difficult concept to grasp and I’m sure I’ve made numerous errors, so please forgive me if you spot them. If we have any scholars of ancient Chinese philosophy reading this (lol), please speak up in the comments. Here, the second test is just the chosen two with opposite viewpoints discussing and debating a quotation from one of the classics, possibly the Tao Te Ching itself.

Translator's Note

So again, here they are talking about how one must first understand the Way (understand the Dao). By understanding the Way, you can become wise and merge with the unplanned rhythms of the universe, thereby achieving “perfection”

Translator's Note

Philosophy, Daoism and Confucianism.

Translator's Note

“To provide for; to keep (a mistress)” (包養 – bāo yǎng). In other words, they think Lin Shu is hug, hug, huggin’ that golden thigh for all he’s worth.

Translator's Note

Can mean “depend on,” but can also mean “to have an intimate relationship with [someone]” (傍 – bàng)

Translator's Note

Carry as in embrace (they used the word for ‘hug’), but I liked the double meaning of having a stronger person metaphorically carrying a weaker person through difficult tasks.