This literary study will define the importance of spiritual enlightenment and the teacher/student relationship in the philosophy of Zhuangzi and the Buddhist spiritualism/evanescence of The Tale of the Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. In Zhuangzi’s Taoist philosophy, the meaning of existence was relative to the person perceiving the ever-changing point of view of the observer, as defined in the dialogue between Hui Tzu and Chuang Tzu. This form of enlightenment provided a way to understand the relativism of natural phenomenon through the literary medium of a story/narrative, which is always changing due to multiple perspectives in life between teacher and student. In a similar way, Murasaki’s novel describes the evanescence of Genji’s life that
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Zhuangzi’s unique form of Taoist writings convey a Chinese philosophical perspective, which relies on parables to teach the student this form of enlightenment principle through perception and relativistic views of natural phenomenon. For example, Zhuangzi presents a story of Hui Tzu and Chuang Tzu in a discussion that they have about a fish swimming in the water. In the discussion between the two men, Chuang Tzu assumes that he knows what the fish are thinking, as they swim in the water: “See how the minnows come out and dart around where they please! That’s what fish really enjoy!” In response to this assumption about what a fish may feel or not feel, Hui Tzu intervenes and denounces this onion: “You are not a fish---how do you know what fish enjoy!” This philosophical perspective defines the Taoist perception of relativism, since Hui Tzu is enlightened enough to know that Chuang Tzu is not a fish, and therefore, he cannot know what the fish is thinking. This form of storytelling method of writing is part of the way in which Zhuangzi conveys the ideology of Taoism and enlightenment between a teacher and student. This is a major part of the evanescence of enlightenment that is part of Chinese culture, and the extension of a storied narrative to educate the reader on spiritual principles in this medium of
Zhuangzi’s unique form of Taoist writings convey a Chinese philosophical perspective, which relies on parables to teach the student this form of enlightenment principle through perception and relativistic views of natural phenomenon. For example, Zhuangzi presents a story of Hui Tzu and Chuang Tzu in a discussion that they have about a fish swimming in the water. In the discussion between the two men, Chuang Tzu assumes that he knows what the fish are thinking, as they swim in the water: “See how the minnows come out and dart around where they please! That’s what fish really enjoy!” In response to this assumption about what a fish may feel or not feel, Hui Tzu intervenes and denounces this onion: “You are not a fish---how do you know what fish enjoy!” This philosophical perspective defines the Taoist perception of relativism, since Hui Tzu is enlightened enough to know that Chuang Tzu is not a fish, and therefore, he cannot know what the fish is thinking. This form of storytelling method of writing is part of the way in which Zhuangzi conveys the ideology of Taoism and enlightenment between a teacher and student. This is a major part of the evanescence of enlightenment that is part of Chinese culture, and the extension of a storied narrative to educate the reader on spiritual principles in this medium of