The Comparative Study Of Life Aesthetics Between Chuang Tzu And Nietzsche

Both of Chuang Tzu and Nietzsche's theories take the care of individual life as the starting point and the publicity of the beauty of life as the purpose. The two theories share the logic surpassing time and space while echoing each other at a distance.Seeing from the existence of the individual life, both the two theories recognize the situation that contemporary individual existence facing the loss of the beauty of life. It is not only an account for the difficulties of contemporary human existence, but also a critique of social culture that underestimating the meaning and beauty of individual life. This critique bases on the reality and the deep worry and anxiety of human future formed on the reality. The two men show great differences in ideology because of the reflections on the reality, while the ultimate concern of human destiny causes their thoughts a lot in common, which lays the foundation for these two cultural giants to make a dialogue transcending time and space.When viewing the plight of survival, they don't feel frustrated for the inevitable disasters, for example death, disease or physical defects. On the contrary, they chose to save lives in misery with beauty. They believe the most effective way is to help people feel beauty freely and appreciate the true spirit of the universe, therefore to realize the improvement of people. True spirit of the universe, to Chuang Tzu, is the "Tao", while to Nietzsche, is "The Will to Power". As to the best way of feeling the spirit of the universe, they both approve great art.What is the ultimate spirit of the universe? How can this spirit be appreciated, and used to enhance and transcend life? By analyzing and comparing "Tao" and "The Will to Power", we may find the two hold similar understanding in the spirit of the universe. It indicates that ancient people are similar in talking about the spirit and the origin of the universe. The grasp of this phenomenon will help us to understand the value of life and to observe the living state of individuals in a higher level. So we can find a more effective and fundamental way to improve the quality of our lives.For the ideal state of the beauty of life, both depict a beautiful picture for life, in such a world, full of broad and profound flowing spirit of the universe, all things are full of life force. Chuang Tzu's "wandering" make people feel the harmonious joy and natural beauty among mountains, rivers, insects, fishes, birds and beasts; Nietzsche's "intoxication" help people enjoy the beauty of strength that can break out all restraints, forget themselves and create new lives. Both "wandering" and "intoxication" is the ideal existence that people realize and incorporate each individual life into the essence of human spirit and the universe. Although Chuang Tzu and Nietzsche use different names and descriptions, they share a common tendency, namely, to praise the energetic, free and creative beauty of life and affirm the human existence in the world.This paper turns a potential dialogue between Chuang Tzu and Nietzsche, the two thought giants, into a practical one. The aim is to draw the power of life and the survival wisdom through such a dialogue to improve and enhance our present quality of life and nourish our hearts.