Zhuangzi Chapter 09 Outer Chapters. Horses' Hooves 马蹄

This excerpt from Chuang Tzu's Zhuangzi uses the analogy of horse training to critique societal governance. Bo Le's harsh methods, which kill many horses, symbolize how rigid societal structures and imposed moral systems—like benevolence and righteousness—destroy natural human harmony and simplicity. The text contrasts Bo Le's approach with a state of "supreme virtue," where individuals live freely, expressing their innate goodness without artificial constraints. It argues that interfering with this natural state, imposing rules and structures, is the ultimate flaw of those who govern. The analogy extends to potters and carpenters, highlighting the destruction of natural integrity through artificial shaping.