On the Characters in Zhuangzi
Date Issued
2005
Date
2005
Author(s)
Gao, Jun-He
DOI
zh-TW
Abstract
An extremely remarkable feature of Zhuangzi莊子 is its specific way of discussing philosophical issues through a depiction of the mode of its characters, their ways of life, and the interaction between them. This thesis delineates the whole spectrum of the interrelated characters – they represent and symbolize ideas – in order to identify diversified modes of thought and assorted ways of thinking. As a medium of expressing thought, character is of great import in Zhuangzi. According to the implication of the three modes of discourse mentioned in the chapter “Yuyan” 寓言, I divide the characters in Zhuangzi into two main categories: “characters of heavy words” (zhong yan ren wu重言人物) and “characters of entrusted words” (yu yan ren wu寓言人物). With this classification of characters, I intend to examine the role of characters in Zhuangzi’s expression of thought.
This thesis comprises five chapters. The first chapter is devoted to explaining the subject, method, and motivation of this study, and contending that the characters play a principle role in the text of Zhuangzi through demonstrating the so-called “three modes of discourse” (san yan三言). The second chapter is an illustration of the three modes of discourse, namely the “entrusted words”, the “heavy words”, and the “goblet words” (zhi yan卮言). To solve the problem of the limitations of language, Zhuangzi establishes these three modes of discourse. They suggest sorting characters into two main categories: “characters of heavy words” and “characters of entrusted words”. Presumable problems and solutions in the process of classifying characters will be expounded in this chapter. In view of three kinds of characters, namely pre-Qin masters (xian qin zhu zi先秦諸子), Zhou Dynasty feudal lords (chun qiu qun xiong春秋群雄) and literati-officialdom (shi dai fu士大夫), legendary Chinese emperors (yuan gu di wang遠古帝王), mentioned in Zhuangzi, I seek to discuss following topics in the third chapter: through the “characters of heavy words”, how Zhuangzi shows the author’s criticism or absorption of the ideas from pre-Qin masters; the author’s attitude towards the relationship between a ruler and his officers; the deconstruction and reconstruction of the traditional image of a ruler; the ideal world depicted in Zhuangzi. With the above examination one can catch sight of the deepest motive underlying Zhuangzi’s philosophy – finding the way wherein a man can settle himself in the mutability of fate and the destiny of death. In the fourth chapter, with regard to “bodily deformed characters” (xing can zhi ren形殘之人), “nonhuman characters” (fei ren zhi ren非人之人) and “practicers of Dao” (xiu dao zhi ren修道之人), and through an interpretation of the “characters of entrusted words”, I scrutinize the matter of Dao道: the way Dao has been discussed, the metaphors of Dao, and the key to the attainment of Dao. In the final chapter, I will present a concise review of the classification of characters, where I will explain the role and significance of the “characters of heavy words” and the “characters of entrusted words” respectively.
Subjects
人物系譜
三言
重言人物
寓言人物
先秦諸子
春秋群雄
士大夫
遠古帝王
形殘之人
非人之人
擬人化之人
修道之人
道
德
形
性
命
classification of characters
three modes of discourse (san yan三言)
characters of heavy words (zhong yan ren wu重言人物)
characters of entrusted words (yu yan ren wu寓言人物)
pre-Qin masters (xian qin zhu zi先秦諸子)
Zhou Dynasty feudal lords (chun qiu qun xiong春秋群雄)
literati and officialdom (shi dai fu士大夫)
legendary Chinese emperors (yuan gu di wang遠古帝王)
bodily deformed characters (xing can zhi ren形殘之人)
nonhuman characters (fei ren zhi ren非人之人)
personified characters (ni ren hua zhi ren擬人化之人)
practicers of Dao (xiu dao zhi ren修道之人)
Dao道
potency (de德)
form (xing形)
nature (xing性)
fate (ming命)
Type
thesis
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