Research On Chuang-tzu’s Philosophy Of Reclusion

Chuang Tzu lived in the transition period of the feudal landlord society.In the aggressive wars of the rulers,the people fell victims to their scramble.Chuang Tzu felt helpless and anxious about it.Gaining an insight into the historical background,he ruthlessly unveiled the mendacious virtue and morality of the ruling class.Bearing sufferings himself,he still kept up his independent philosophical thoughts,refused to hanker after fame and wealth,freed himself from the bondage of materials and chose “physical,mental seclusion” to protect his own life in a bid to reach the unfettered realm.The present paper studies Chuang Tzu’s philosophy of seclusion chiefly from three aspects,that is the reasons for Chuang Tzu to choose seclusion,the ways to seek seclusion and the end of his seclusion.Primarily,Chapter 1 mainly narrates the background of Chuang Tzu’s philosophy of seclusion.On the one hand,his philosophy sourced from that of Lao Tzu,founder of Taoism and was different from that of Confuciansim.The mode of “physical,mental seclusion” proposed by Chuang Tzu,different from the “physical seclusion”,is unprecedented.On the other hand,the social background where Chuang Tzu lived and his personal reasons all account for the formation of his philosophy,which are researched and discussed in the paper.Secondly,Chapter 2 is aimed at expounding the main implications of Chuang Tzu’s philosophy of seclusion.Based on “doctrine” and inheriting Lao Tzu’s philosophy of “doctrine”,Chuang Tzu established his own philosophy.His philosophy of seclusion includes “physical seclusion”,“mental seclusion” and “moral seclusion”.The mode of “mental seclusion” can help one better “experience” and “understand” doctrines.What’s more,Chuang Tzu’s philosophy of seclusion also contains the natural philosophical thoughts.Finally,Chapter 3 researches the end and objective of Chuang Tzu’s philosophy of seclusion,studies the fundamental purpose of his philosophy from the perspective of the survival of “the useless” and “the untalented” and seeks the end of Chuang Tzu’s philosophy of seclusion from the free state of “infinite mind excursion” and the detached state of “selflessness andno-dependence”.The paramount purposes of Chuang Tzu’s philosophy of seclusion are to seek body-protection in the turbulent days,liberate the mind,seek absolute freedom and hold oneself aloof from the world.