Zhuangzi [Chuang Tzu] happened upon a dearh's-head that had bleached but had kept its shape. He touched it with his riding crop and said, "Were you perhaps full of ambition, a man whose grandiose design brought him to this pass? A governor who threw his country ito ruin and was decapitated by axe? A wretch who bestowed upon his people a heritage of shame? A beggar who died from hunger and cold? Or have you come to this pass in the natural course of life?"

When he had finished, he took the skull with him and put it under his pillow when he went to sleep. That night he dreamed that the skull came to him and said, "You are clever with your language, sir but it is all from the times and confusions of the living. There is nothing like that in death. Would you care to hear about death?"

"Please." said Zhuangzi.

The skull went on, "In death there is no overlord and no underling. The happenings of the times are unknown. Our modest existence comes from the existence of heaven and earth. The happiness of a prince the people is nothing compared to our happiness."

But Zhuangzi did not believe him and said, "If I could persuade the master of destiny to let your body be born again and give you back your flesh and bone so that you could return to your parents, to wife and child, to friends adn intimates- wouldn't you be willing?"

Thereupon the skull opened its eyes wide, furrowed his brow, and said, "Why should I discard my royal happiness and sink into the toil of the human lot!"

Buber, M. (1991). Chinese Tales: Zhuangzi: Sayings and Parables and Chinese Ghost and Love Stories. New Jersey: Humanities Press International.

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