The Zhuangzi, was a very famous Chinese philosopher who narrated various anecdotes and stories. These stories are a fundamental part of the philosophical teachings of Daoism. His thoughts are highly diverse, but very disorganized at the same time. Every story or statement of Zhuangzi, even though brief and rambled, has a philosophical viewpoint. He creates a fantasy world, with imaginary characters, and uses it as a ground to talk about issues surrounding life and death, without fear. Throughout his stories, Zhuangzi maintains the truth that the validity of any claim, is context or perspective oriented. He attacks the belief that there are any firm facts in the world and emphasizes on having individual flexibility to adjust one’s self in relation
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He strongly believes in the idea of following the Dao, that is “the way of the world”. The story of the cook Ding, whose knife is sharp even after nineteen years, shows us what a well-adjusted person should be like. Without involving himself in unnecessary analysis, he is at ease, maintaining a perfect rhythm in all situations and does not panic in adverse situations (Zhuangzi, 46). Zhuangzi claims that by understanding the Dao one can avoid being affected by sorrows and joys, and other constant changes in the world (Zhuangzi, 47). People can be preserved by natural changes in things, like the cook who used his knife by his effortless skills. Zhuangzi talks about the fear of death and not death itself being the problem. Thus, he encourages people to accept that transformation is the key principle in the world and death is only a part of this transformation leading to new beginnings. This idea also shows his belief in the idea that a person has no fixed identity. The story of Peng, who is most visible in the sky, is free and undisturbed, only because of his transformation from the most hidden fish, Kun (Zhuangzi, 23 and 25). By this statement, he also means that even though man dies, his essence as part of the world remains forever (Zhuangzi, …show more content…
He uses the examples of Lady Li and a dreamer to highlight this point. Both these people wept at their fate until they were tired of doing so (Zhuangzi, 43). Zhuangzi says that instead of behaving this way they could have chosen the easier path of being indifferent to such changes in their lives. Another story where Chien Wu tells Lien Shu about Chieh Yu’s speech being insane and hard to believe also shows that going beyond minute details is a good way to live. Lien Shu supports Chien Yu saying that Chien Yu is following the right path but not indulging himself in mere affairs of the world and is able to embrace all the ten thousand things at once (Zhuangzi, 27). Zhuangzi clearly has a lot of views and thoughts regarding death and other aspects of life. However, he is not offering any vivid conclusion about the right way to live, or about death. He is sharing his thoughts by making up stories with fictional characters and is trying to convey his viewpoints through these
He strongly believes in the idea of following the Dao, that is “the way of the world”. The story of the cook Ding, whose knife is sharp even after nineteen years, shows us what a well-adjusted person should be like. Without involving himself in unnecessary analysis, he is at ease, maintaining a perfect rhythm in all situations and does not panic in adverse situations (Zhuangzi, 46). Zhuangzi claims that by understanding the Dao one can avoid being affected by sorrows and joys, and other constant changes in the world (Zhuangzi, 47). People can be preserved by natural changes in things, like the cook who used his knife by his effortless skills. Zhuangzi talks about the fear of death and not death itself being the problem. Thus, he encourages people to accept that transformation is the key principle in the world and death is only a part of this transformation leading to new beginnings. This idea also shows his belief in the idea that a person has no fixed identity. The story of Peng, who is most visible in the sky, is free and undisturbed, only because of his transformation from the most hidden fish, Kun (Zhuangzi, 23 and 25). By this statement, he also means that even though man dies, his essence as part of the world remains forever (Zhuangzi, …show more content…
He uses the examples of Lady Li and a dreamer to highlight this point. Both these people wept at their fate until they were tired of doing so (Zhuangzi, 43). Zhuangzi says that instead of behaving this way they could have chosen the easier path of being indifferent to such changes in their lives. Another story where Chien Wu tells Lien Shu about Chieh Yu’s speech being insane and hard to believe also shows that going beyond minute details is a good way to live. Lien Shu supports Chien Yu saying that Chien Yu is following the right path but not indulging himself in mere affairs of the world and is able to embrace all the ten thousand things at once (Zhuangzi, 27). Zhuangzi clearly has a lot of views and thoughts regarding death and other aspects of life. However, he is not offering any vivid conclusion about the right way to live, or about death. He is sharing his thoughts by making up stories with fictional characters and is trying to convey his viewpoints through these