Zhuangzi, Chapter 2 Section 13 - Penumbra said to Shadow

Zhuangzi tells the story of the penumbra and the shadow and implies that all things are like the shadow, waiting for something before it moves. 

The following is the text of Chapter 2 Section 13 from the book "Zhuangzi, Basic Writings" translated by Burton Watson (1925-2017), with some minor changes.

Chapter 2, Section 13

Penumbra said to Shadow, “A little while ago you were walking, and now you’re standing still; a little while ago you were sitting, and now you’re standing up. Why this lack of independent action?”

Shadow said, “Do I have to wait for something before I can be like this? Does what I wait for also have to wait for something before it can be like this? Am I waiting for the scales of a snake or the wings of a cicada?  How do I know why it is so?  How do I know why it isn’t so?”[1][2]

Notes

1. That is, to ordinary humans, the shadow appears to depend on something else for its movement, just as the snake depends on its scales (according to Chinese belief) and the cicada on its wings. But do such causal views of action really have any meaning?
2. Like the concept of the butterfly effect, a minor change somewhere could cause a sequence of events down the line.  So a body's movement could in fact depend on the scales of a snake or the wings of a cicada.  Cause and effects can be circular.  The shadow depends on the body to move, but the body depends on the sun to survive.  If there is no shadow, then there is no sun, if there is no sun, the body cannot survive.  So the body depends on the shadow and the shadow depends on the body.  

See Also

"Zhuangzi, Basic Writings" translated by Burton Watson 

Please find the Chinese text and English translation by James Legge below:

https://ctext.org/zhuangzi/adjustment-of-controversies