The Thought of Zhuangi’s Da Zhong Shi and his Dao’s Philosophy of Life

• Main Authors: Lai, Meifeng, 賴美鳳
• Other Authors: Cai,Guhuo
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/5k7b82

碩士 === 東海大學 === 哲學系 === 100 === This paper focuses on the value of significance of Dao thinking in “The Dà zōng shī” and the Dao’s philosophy of life. At the center of discussion is the zhen ren , for whom the meaning of Dao is cognized and realized in his realm of life. It is said that “true knowledge comes after the zhen ren,” because true knowledge is the philosophical realm in which man becomes naturally united with exteriority. It is only through “elevation of the spirit” and “oblivion to exteriority” that true knowledge and the realization of Dao may be attained. There are seven spiritual realms in the search for Dao, “the exterior universe, exterior things, exterior life,” forgetting the “naming” of everything in the universe, forgetting the “purpose” of everything in the universe, and forgetting the “self” whether in life or death are all means with which to attain Dao. What follows are enlightenments of “clarity, true self, timelessness, and to rise above life and death,” all of which lead to the union of the man with Dao, and elevates man to the realm in which he may experience and live as Dao. This is precisely the philosophy of life advocated by the zhen ren. For the zhen ren , the perfect character of man would be he who unites with nature both as the zhen ren and a Zhi ren virtuous person. As a zhen ren who attains freedom through “true knowledge” and as a virtuous person who attains freedom by being “selfless,” this character would attain spiritual freedom and the carefree happiness that is possible only in the realm of absolute truth. In terms of explicating Dao, it is important to keep in mind that for the zhen ren , the relationship between “Dao” and everything in the universe is not just the question of “the spirit of Dao” that exists in all subjects. It is moreover the individuality of character and freedom of spirit, the core value of the zhen ren ’s philosophy, and a striving towards understanding the meaning of life. “Dao” has no beginning and no end, it is the origin of life, from which everything in the universe is given birth to. Therefore, a life of Dao is the life of everything in the universe, a life that has no beginning and no end, ergo all life in the universe has no beginning and no end as well. The zhen ren’s philosophy of life is to overcome individual life with the Dao of life, to return life to the everlasting flow of the universe. The purpose of a zhen ren is therefore “to have one life with the heavens and the earth, to be one with everything in the universe.” As for the cognition of Dao, Dao is omnipresent, it is embodied in the human subject, and therefore every subject is a representation of Dao. With regard to the interpretation of Dao, Dao is complete, therefore it is said that “Dao pervades all,” and that “the heavens and the earth are one and all.” Dao is unspeakable, it can only be illustrated through “spontaneous representations,” “fables,” and “teachings of the wise.” Dao manifests itself by instilling Chi, or life, into all objects of the universe, the origin and demise of life are carried forth by Chi. The fluctuations of Chi explains the changes and shifts in human life and death, as well as in the ever-changing world. It teaches man to accept fate and the rise and fall of life and death. It is only through manifestations of changes in the natural world that the existence of Dao may be discovered, and it is only in the ever-changing natural world that the eternity, invariableness , uniqueness and universality of Dao may be seen. Dao not only gives life to the universe, it also propels movement and change. Lastly, in terms of a philosophy of life and death, the element of Chi, the driving force behind life and death, exists in various forms within the natural world. As long as the spirit of all is as of one, that life and death has no difference in ultimate meaning, there will be eternal joy in the representations of both life and death and our attitude towards a philosophy of life. It is only then that the man may become the Zhen ren ,the Zhi ren, that overcomes the differences in life and death. Keywords: Dao, knowing, fate ,zhen ren , xin zhai , zuo wang