Tortoise Path: The Great Wisdom of Understanding Life

Author: Long Zimin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features:
A set of self-preservation principles for cultivating patience and resilience
A philosophy of navigating life with ease and flexibility
A strategy for achieving success through dedication and contribution
A competitive approach of winning through strength and gradual progress
A set of health secrets for self-cultivation and longevity
Discarding irrational prejudices, The Way of the Turtle elucidates the highest philosophy of survival in nature. After 200 million years, the tortoise has long become fossilized, while the turtle remains steadfast, spreading across the world. The turtle lacks the mighty physique and sharp claws of a lion, nor the agility and speed of a cheetah. Yet, this seemingly clumsy creature is one of the most resilient, earning the title of "Millennium Spirit Turtle."
The turtle's traits—self-preservation, pragmatism, modesty, silence, self-restraint, tranquility, dedication, loyalty, and resilience—are the qualities of successful individuals. The Way of the Turtle is the great wisdom of "reaching for the world while preserving oneself." It is the path of self-preservation, yet also the path to prosperity. It is the true essence of life's wisdom: advance to become officials or generals, and retreat to cultivate patience and protect oneself; when prosperous, contribute to the world, and when in hardship, practice self-improvement.
In our memories, the turtle lacks the lion's mighty body and sharp claws, the cheetah's keen senses and speed, or the wolf's untamed spirit. The turtle does not roar across the seas or howl in the mountains like a dragon or tiger, nor does it soar like an eagle or traverse the deserts like a camel. Even it does not bark in deep alleys or scuttle in waters like a crab. Perhaps its only advantage is the saying, "A turtle can live for ten thousand years."
"Living for ten thousand years" is not simple. The turtle is truly a longevity symbol in nature. From this, we can see that the turtle lacks the form of a strong creature but possesses its essence, representing the highest survival wisdom in nature. To be honest, the author did not know much more about turtles than the average person. During the writing of this book, the author repeatedly discovered the many virtues of the turtle, which were entirely different from the traditional perception of turtles.
By lineage, the turtle is the eldest son of the dragon; by status, it is the only realistic creature among the four sacred beings; by contribution, it sacrifices its massive feet to support the sky; by talent, it is the "ambassador" of the prime minister; by dedication, it willingly becomes a "footstool" for ordinary people; by desire, it is indifferent to fame and fortune, seeking nothing; by diligence, it can carry stone monuments for hundreds of years like one day; by contribution, it is a treasure trove, beloved by all; by intelligence, it can return home from thousands of miles away; by longevity, it is the longest-living animal on Earth; by ability, it thrives both on land and in water, adapting to various environments; by social skills, it has no natural enemies in the animal kingdom; by courage, it refuses to shrink in the face of danger, even at the cost of its head; by demeanor, it exudes the calm majesty of a ruler.
Listing them in this manner, the turtle has countless virtues. Even the ancient requirements for a "sage" were not much different. Through this interpretation of the turtle, its characteristics gradually emerge: self-preservation, pragmatism, modesty, silence, self-restraint, tranquility, dedication, loyalty, and resilience. If a person possesses these qualities, they are undoubtedly excellent. No wonder Sima Qian praised the turtle in Records of the Grand Historian as "the treasure of the world!"
Unfortunately, while people enjoy turtle meat and turtle soup, they fail to recognize these outstanding qualities. The author, being overly curious, uses the turtle to reflect on human affairs. From ancient and modern fables, myths, and legends about turtles, as well as their physical traits, we can see that the turtle's attitude toward life, philosophy of dealing with the world, and survival wisdom are even more worth learning from and emulating.
The turtle can adapt to any environment, living in plains, deserts, rivers, plateaus, and hills. It faces danger with ease—when it retreats, even the fiercest lions and tigers are helpless. It is persistent, as shown in the legendary race between the turtle and the hare, where it achieved eternal fame with one victory. It is loyal, carrying stone monuments as its duty, diligently fulfilling its role for hundreds of years. It is flexible, having no natural enemies and being the enemy of none, able to advance or retreat as needed. It endures solitude, surviving for decades to centuries in places like under beds, in walls, under stone monuments, or at the corners of walls. It has no desires, needing little food, even going without water and food for years, and can live anywhere. It is grateful, able to travel thousands of miles to return to its benefactor's home. It also has the dignity of courage, refusing to yield in critical moments.
Twenty-five million years ago, the turtle lived alongside dinosaurs on Earth. Today, dinosaurs are fossils, while the turtle remains steadfast. Over billions of years, despite its slow pace, the turtle has walked through time and will continue to do so. The turtle's secret is to walk its own path—the Way of the Turtle.
Finally, the author hopes that readers, with the turtle's blessings, will emulate its actions, cultivate its virtues, achieve its goals, and, most importantly, live as long as the turtle!