/kʊk dɪŋz bleɪd/Reference to Zhuangzi (Daoist/Confucian parable).
Definition
The metaphor for the highest state of AI mastery, where the distinction between "user" and "tool" dissolves.
The novice "hacks" at the problem (trying random prompts). The master "cuts" (using proven techniques). But
the sage uses no force at all; the blade finds the empty spaces between the joints. This is "Wu Wei"
(effortless action) achieved through "Li" (ritual practice).
The Hacking vs. The Cutting
Most AI users are hackers, blunting their blades against the hard bones of the model's limitations. The
seasoned steward moves through the model's latent space like water, finding the path of least resistance
to the insight.
Field Notes & Ephemera
Field Note: Nineteen years, and the blade is as sharp as new. Because he never forces
it.