The Explanation And Acceptance Of Zhuangzi In Song Dynasty

Zhuang Zi(369-286BC),His given name being Zhou, was born in Meng yi, state song. He was one representative of the important thinkers and Taoism school in warning states(475-221BC).His thought involves many vital issues concerned by intellectuals at that time. The center of his thought is to seek his own way in troubled times and search for a pure and fresh life out of the decayed and combine the ideal with natural Taoism. He had much influences in many field . There have been studies about Zhuang zi in history and scholars worked for the explanations, but the exposition and acceptance of Zhuang zi is still somewhat blank nowadays . Confucian school of idealist philosophy of the Song being a breakthrough, this article argues the exposition and acceptance from the point of different groups, and presents the main characters of Confucian idealist philosophy , and also studies some problems of regularity.Before Song Dynasty , the exposition and acceptance of Zhuang zi by scholars are all from a certain academic view. The study reflects a history of Chinese study. Previous Qin Dynasty and during Han Dynasty, there were few scholars focusing their eyes on zhuang zi. .In Wei and Jin Dynasty, metaphysics became popular. From this point, Guo Xiang gave notes to zhuang zi , which was based on the notes by Xiang Xiu, and started the exposition .His expositions of "being alone" and "sufficient nature making satisfaction" had a great influence on later studies. During Tang Dynasty, Taoism became popular among people. From the point of Taoism, Cheng Xuan-ying made great achievements from his notes, but he imposed Taoism of metaphysics on zhuang zi. From Tang Dynasty, there appeared a variety of tendencies of expositions and acceptances of zhuang zi. Writers and critics appreciated the book much and were influenced by it.Song Dynasty is the period when academic of Han transferred to that of Song. The academics of Song adopted philosophy of Taoism such as Zhuang Zi's. and set up its own thought of spirited nature. This complete thought became the principle instruction during the later period of Chinese feudal society. The tendency of diversification was more obvious.The rulers of Song Dynasty strengthened their ruling by promoting Taoism and set up the officials and positions of Taoism. The book zhuang zi was paid a lot of attention, and treated as Taoism subject with the scholar of court academician.Politicians led by Wang An-shi interpreted the book of zhuang zi and made it the theoretical base for their political reform. He deducted that Zhuang Zi mastered abided by and revered Confucianism. His method is a breakthrough in Zhuang Zi research field. His son Wang Pang and his student Lv Hui-qing both contributed much to the exposition of Zhuang zi.Scholars of Confucian school of idealist philosophy, such as Zhou Dun-yi, Shao Yong, Zhang Zai Cheng Hao Cheng Yi Zhu Xi Lu Jiu-yuan, all took useful factors from Zhuang Zi and completed their thought of ontology. This made Confucianism have the formal base. Lin Xi-yi in south Song Dynasty wrote Zhuang zi kou yi which had agreat influence in the history of exposition and acceptance of zhuang zi.The reasons of philosophy and interests of religion in the book of zhuang zi equipped Taoism scholars' God theory with mental weapons, The thought of supernatural human being and perfect human being was extended by Taoism. This affected the development of Taoism, but promoted the development of Nei Dan Jiao. Chen Jing-yuan, a scholar of Taoism , thought of the mean, the base as feature of Confucianism in Song Dynasty.Writers such as SU Shi, Xin Qi-ji , lu You were clearly influenced by Zhuang Zi. They took in much from Zhuang Zi and enriched their thoughts and production. The nature in YanYu' Cang lang shi Ma and natural aesthetics of Liu Ke-zhuang's originated in Zhuang zi.Recluses regarded Zhuang Zi's freedom spirit as their reasonable principles to withdraw from society and live in solitude. They used his relativism to observe the ups and downs in real life and filled their h...