Transformation and Transcendence in the Zhuangzi

Transformation and Transcendence in the Zhuangzi

Zhuang Zhou or Zhuangzi was a prominent Chinese philosopher. Considered a genius and true intellectual, Zhuangzi according to the Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian hailed from a place called Meng and lived during the times of King Hui of Liang (370-319 B.C.E) and King Xuan of Oi (319-301), during the Warring States era. His style of writing emanates a feel and perception of philosophical depth as he analyzes the world and the issues surrounding it. Zhuangzi employs various motifs when expressing his thoughts and ideas including poems, stories, paradoxes and juxtapositions with comparisons of animals and flora as well as fictional interactions between individuals. His works and teachings are covered within thirty-three chapters of text, which bear his name; however only the first seven referred to as the inner chapters is believed to have been directly written by him. The other remaining chapters although influenced by his teachings are works written by other individuals. They are referred to as the fifteen outer chapters and eleven miscellaneous chapters. The inner chapters provide direct insight into the mind of Zhuangzi, his thoughts and ideas and the way in which he viewed the world.

Zhuangzi’s teachings and philosophies incorporate a plethora of different topics.and issues. In chapter two Zhuangzi shows interests in issues pertaining to knowledge, the nature and limitations of language, the difference between dreams and reality and the paradox of life and death. Zhuangzi refers to knowledge as being unlimited as opposed to something such as life, which is limited. He believes that knowing one’s limits is important, striving to achieve or grasp something, which is unlimited, is an impediment and would only lead to an individual’s downfall. As it relates to nature, Zhuangzi believed by constantly confining and shackling ourselves to what is considered the