Zhuangzi and the Dao the Period Between

Zhuangzi and the Dao

The period between 480 and 221 BCE was technically a part of the Zhou Dynasty. But in reality, the disintegrating power of the dynasty's kings had led to a period of relative governmental disarray for China. According to DeBary & Bloom (1999), the impotence of the Zhou throne had caused China to descend into an array of conflicting feudal states. It is thus that the period became known as the Warring States period. The relative instability of this time would prompt a host of philosophical responses, included among them the highly spiritual teachings of Zhuangzi. As DeBary & Bloom note, Zhuangzi is often lumped together in historical interpretations with Laozi, owing largely to their shared advocacy of the Dao (or The Way). (p. 1) However, the two figures are quite distinct in their espoused ideologies, with Laozi offering solutions for achieving conquest in the material realm and Laozi recommending ways of transcending this realm.

How does Zhuangzi suggest that one live one's life? How might his recommendation have been influenced by the chaotic and warlike times in which he lived?

Because China had descended into what the primary text describes as an era of shifting alliances and conflicts, we can observe that Zhuangzi lived in a time without the benefit of civil order, legal standards or a steady ruling force. As such, the thinker likely experienced some level of discontent at the way men had chosen to live their lives amid this lawlessness. Perhaps even more to the point, he seems concerned that men without steady rule are likely to lose direction and a sense of right or wrong. This is why he recommends a life lived in deference to the spiritual. By releasing one's self of mortal perception and instead giving over to the guidance of The Way, Zhuangzi suggests, one can simply be shown the path of rightness.

By giving over to the transcendent, Zhuangzi says, we can live a satisfying and good life. As the primary text quotes, "your life has a limit but knowledge has none. If you use what is limited to pursue what has no limit, you will be in danger. If you understand this and still strive for knowledge, you will be in danger for certain! If you do good, stay away from fame. If you do evil, stay away from punishments. Follow the middle; go by what is constant, and you can stay in one piece, keep yourself alive, look after your parents, and live out your years." (DeBary & Bloom, p. 1) In this recommendation, we can see that Zhuangzi believed in a life lived at once in the pedestrian and spiritual worlds.

How is the concept of "the Way" (Dao) relevant to understanding the story of Cook Ding?

With the parable of Cook Ding, we can begin to see that Daoism is not simply a way of connecting to the transcendent, but also a way of channeling the transcendent into how we go about our worldly business. Specifically, in the story of Cook Ding, we are made to appreciate the grace and beauty in both loving and excelling in one's life's work. As Cook Ding butchers an ox, he describes with no small degree of pride that his experience and precision are the product of deference to The Way.

And just as the Dao calls for one to live with both deference and presence, Cook Ding pursues his profession this way. He describes how he balances between allowing his hand to be guided when it feels appropriate and attending to certain aspects of his task with concentrated precision with this feels appropriate. Cook Ding is at once humble in his recognition of the spiritual contributions to his work and filled with confidence at his craft. This is the balance that Zhuangzi and the collected Daoist philosophies call for each of us to achieve.

How does Zhuangzi's approach to life contrast to that of Confucius and Mencius? To that of Han Fei and Lord Shang?

Perhaps the most striking difference between the teachings of Zhuangzi and Confucius is that the former placed so great an emphasis on individuality. For Zhuangzi, achieving personal freedom through The Way was the primary objective, whereas Confucius offered solutions for living within a society. For Confucius, this meant adherence in the interests of serving civil order where Zhuagnzi seemed largely more concerned with overcoming a lack of civil order.