This book examines the popular, yet puzzling, Chinese saying Nande hutu ¿¿¿¿ to uncover how the ancient Chinese wisdom of not knowing is constructed, interpreted, practiced and valued in contemporary society. Originating in the calligraphy of Qing-dynasty scholar Zheng Banqiao, Nande hutu translates literally as: ¿hard to attain muddle-headedness¿. Mieke Matthyssen traces the historical development of this saying and related philosophies to reveal a culturally conditioned, multi-layered inclination to different forms of not knowing. In contemporary society, she argues, this inclination forms part of a living art: in some respects, a passive, evasive strategy for self- preservation; in other respects, a strategy for coping with intrapersonal,