P’u is the Taoist principle that things are most powerful when they’re still unchanged from their simple, natural, original form. Since P’u literally means “uncut wood,” it is often translated in English as “the Uncarved Block.”
P’u (The Uncarved Block) Quotes in The Tao of Pooh
The The Tao of Pooh quotes below are all either spoken by P’u (The Uncarved Block) or refer to P’u (The Uncarved Block). For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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The Tao of Who?
Quotes
The essence of the principle of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed.
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Pooh can’t describe the Uncarved Block to us in words; he just is it. That’s the nature of the Uncarved Block.
“A perfect description. Thank you, Pooh.”
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P’u (The Uncarved Block) Term Timeline in The Tao of Pooh
The timeline below shows where the term P’u (The Uncarved Block) appears in The Tao of Pooh. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Tao of Who?
...(It’s actually Wu Tao-Tse and Li Po.) But there is an important Taoist principle called P’u, which means “the Uncarved Block.” Since principles like P’u are realities, not just ideas, Taoists...
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Pooh embodies P’u. At one point in the Winnie-the-Pooh books, for example, he can’t tell his left paw...
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Hoff repeats that Pooh is lovable because of his simplicity. Since Pooh embodies the Uncarved Block , Hoff asks him to explain it. Concerned, Pooh insists that “I didn’t do it.”...
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...house and wish Rabbit “a Very Happy Thursday.” Hoff concludes that the simple state of P’u lets people enjoy the simplicity of the world and take spontaneous actions that end up...
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Spelling Tuesday
...notes that scholars tend to blame their own problems on ignorance (which is really just P’u). For instance, the wind blows Owl’s house down while he was distracted trying to spell...
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Bisy Backson
...and explains that he’s been running around to visit Owl, Roo, and Tigger, looking for the Uncarved Block . Then he hurries off. Bisy Backsons are exhausting: they’re always doing something and going...
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...that all of Roo’s blocks are “carved and painted.” He decides that Eeyore must have the Uncarved Block and rushes off to find him.
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...the difference between a swamp and a bog, while Rabbit reports that Eeyore didn’t have the Uncarved Block , either. Rabbit asks what it is, and Pooh says it’s been him all along....
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Backword
...Pooh. But Pooh still doesn’t know what Hoff is talking about. Hoff reminds Pooh about P’u (the Uncarved Block), Wu Wei (the Pooh Way), and so on. Pooh comes up with...
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