Selected Readings from the Zhuangzi

Author: Tan Banghe
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: This book is a must-read for primary and secondary school students and is a designated reading list by the Ministry of Education. Zhuangzi is one of the main philosophical and literary works from China's pre-Qin period, holding an extremely important position in various aspects of Chinese literary history, philosophical history, aesthetic history, and intellectual history. The Taoist school of Laozi and Zhuangzi stands in opposition to other schools such as Confucianism and Mohism, particularly in its sharp critique of Confucian thought. Like other works from the Three Dynasties period, Zhuangzi also contains both essence and dross. Today, when we study ancient works like Zhuangzi, we should adhere to the principle of critical inheritance, using the past for the present. We should absorb its essence while discarding its dross. Here, only a brief overview of the philosophical thoughts and literary achievements of Zhuangzi will be provided.