莊子將死
Zhuangzi on the Point of Death
莊子將死，弟子欲厚葬之。莊子曰："吾以天地為棺槨，以日月為連璧，星辰為珠璣，萬物為齎送。吾葬具豈不備邪？何以加此！"弟子曰："吾恐烏鳶之食夫子也。"莊子曰："在上為烏鳶食，在下為螻蟻食，奪彼與此，何其偏也。"
Zhuangzi was about to die. His disciples wished to give him a lavish funeral. Zhuangzi said: 'I will have heaven and earth for my coffin and burial vault, the sun and moon for my pair of jade discs, the stars for my pearls, and all of creation for my funeral procession. Are my funeral preparations not already complete? What could you add to them?' His disciples said: 'We are afraid the crows and kites will eat you, Master.' Zhuangzi said: 'Above ground, the crows and kites eat me. Below ground, the ants and crickets eat me. You would rob the one to give to the other — why such favoritism?'
Notes
This is the final story about Zhuangzi himself in the text, and one of its most celebrated passages. Facing death, he refuses any distinction between 'noble' burial and 'ignoble' exposure, treating the universe itself as his funeral chamber. His humor in the face of death — turning his disciples' concern into a logical joke about fairness to insects — is quintessentially Zhuangist.