A Comparison Between "Freedom" In Chuang Tzu And "Freedom" In Thoreau's Walden

The thesis is intended to make a comparison between "Freedom" in Henry David Thoreau's Walden and "Freedom" in Chuang Tzu and to explore the similarity and diversity of their thoughts and cultural origins. First of all, on the basis of a detailed introduction to some important terms in Chuang Tzu, namely, "Zhen", "Cheng", "Wei" and "You", the thesis interprets completely the concept of "Freedom" in Chuang Tzu. Meanwhile, it elaborates on the connotation of "Freedom" in Thoreau's Walden by tracing back to the origin of Thoreau's thoughts, i.e. Ralph Waldo Emerson's transcendental doctrines. Next, the thesis compares Chuang Tzu's philosophical viewpoints of "Xujing" and "Wudai" with Thoreau's doubts about human civilization, his praise of the solitary living style and his dietary selection in Walden. Then the thesis explores the differences of two great thinkers' "Freedom" in terms of objects, targets and methods, and draws a comparison between "pickerel and perch" in Walden and "Kun and Peng" in Chuang Tzu. The thesis reveals that the process of transformation from fish to birds which is seemingly the same both in Chuang Tzu and in Walden is essentially different. Finally, by tracing back to the time of Chuang Tzu and Thoreau respectively, the thesis investigates the origins of these two "Freedoms" and their respective influences on their cultures. The thesis holds that the formation of Chuang Tzu's Freedom is not only affected by its social situation but also "Wuxi" culture of that time. And Chuang Tzu's Freedom produces a profound impact on literary and artistic creation in the long history of China. In the meantime, Thoreau's "Freedom", originating from Puritan ideology, German Idealism and Chinese Taoist philosophy, also produces a far-reaching effect on American society and culture.