Disabled Figures and Great Virtues─Disabled Figures in ZhuangZi

• Main Author: 李菊英
• Other Authors: 林久絡
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/mpgau4

碩士 === 佛光大學 === 哲學系 === 97 === This thesis examines the work of ZhuangZi and discusses the possible philosophical connotations conveyed by those crippled and ugly figures in the text. It also demonstrates the relationship between being physically defective and possessing great virtues. Chapter I “Introduction” includes motivation and methodology. Most previous research on the disabled and ugly figures in ZhuangZi regarded them as a means of writing strategy. Those characters are created to stimulate our thinking about the Body. But are there other possible interpretations? This thesis will reanalyze ZhuangZi with reference to the previous research. The focus will be on the chapter in ZhuangZi “Signs of Complete Integrity”, which portrays several crippled and ugly figures. It may provide some insight into ZhuangZi’s philosophy. Chapter II in this thesis is “Questions and Analyses about Physical Defectiveness”. There are seven stories about the disabled and ugly figures in ZhuangZi. Six out of the twelve disabled characters were described in great detail in “Signs of Complete Integrity”. These disabled characters possess greater virtues than those physically sound people. They regard their disability as part of nature and they are not bothered by their ugly appearance. They live in accordance with the natural cycle till the end of their lives. It seems that these characters represent a new concept about the Body that our minds should not be shackled by our outer form or earthly values. It subtly reveals that ZhuangZi advocates a society guided by nature, rather than a society guided by humanity as generally assumed. It raises the question that if the physically defective people are more likely to develop great virtues than the physically sound people, should we “cripple” our ideology that worships physical perfection? What is ZhuangZi’s true opinion about the Body? Chapter III is the “Implications Conveyed by the Disabled Figures”. According to the analyses of the text and the insight of previous scholars, there are three hypotheses about ZhuangZi’s intention to create these physically defective characters. First, it is just a writing strategy to provoke people’s thinking about the Body. Second, it is to persuade people that our minds can be free only when we overlook the physical hindrance. Third, it is to argue that those who with physical disability are more likely to develop great virtues. The author believes that the third hypothesis is most probable. According to ZhuangZi, “cripple” should not be a state, but an actual act. We should cripple the ideology that favors physically sound people. Only after we forsake such ideology can we resort to nature, develop unsophisticated virtues, and achieve genuine freedom. We should note that ZhuangZi does not encourage us to deliberately harm our body, but to eradicate our wrongful prejudice about the Body. Chapter IV is the “Philosophical Connotations of the Disabled Figures”. This chapter addresses how ZhuangZi builds up his philosophy of the Body. He first questions the general attitudes toward the Body. Then he disintegrates the conceptualization resulted from these attitudes. Finally he proposes a superior perspective on the Body. Therefore ZhuangZi’s philosophical connotations are that our thinking, as well our body, can be diversified. We should discard our prejudice about the physical soundness and develop virtues in accordance with the nature. In Chapter V “Conclusion”, the author tries to imitate the writing style unrestrained rhetoric in ZhuangZi and create a fable for the character Zhili Shu. The purpose is to further demonstrate how ZhuangZi conveys his philosophy by the crippled and ugly figures, and to conclude this thesis.