The Poetic Interpretation of Zhuangzi

• Main Authors: Luo Kuei-Ying, 羅桂瑩
• Other Authors: Chen Jen-Kuen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/05546717160815213206

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 哲學系碩士班 === 97 === As a profound classic comprising philosophy, literature, and art, Zhuangzi is actually abundant in poetic characteristics and thoughts even though it does not fall into the category of poetry; through the posture of poetic philosophy, it endows philosophy, art, and the freedom of life with the same glory. Nevertheless, it is a real pity that so far, the academia has not probed so deeply and comprehensively into the poetic literature of Zhuangzi as they has done to its philosophical system. Also, the academia’s appraisal of Zhuangzi is far from correspondent with its actual contribution to Chinese literature and philosophy. So, what poetic characteristics do Zhuangzi exactly have? And from which sense should it be comprehended? What critical reflection can it provide to contemporary poetic philosophy as well as literary creation and development? These aspects are relatively less-expounded and thus worth scrutinizing. Therefore, this paper aims to treat the text of Zhuangzi as the axis, the fusion of thoughts and poems as the clue; via various poetic angles which are different from one another but interiorly associated, this paper is divided into five chapters for discussion. Chapter One is initiated by the definition and orientation of the topic with further discussion on the rationality and significance of Zhuangzi in view of “poetry”.In Chapter Two, the poetic characteristics of Zhuangzi are focalized; the subject that the actuality and imagination of Zhuangzi equal to poems and songs is also discussed. Furthermore, this chapter brings to light the transformation of philosophical contemplation by Zhuangzi’s language from “expression through thinking” to “expression through poetry”, which not only helps rise above the linguistic plight of “the unspeakable” but also paves a way for the following arguments about poetic philosophy. In Chapter Three, the poetic thoughts implicated in Zhuangzi are investigated to clarify some significant domains in Chinese poetry and the spiritual movement constructed along with such domains. They are the source of the development of Chinese poetry spirit and an important form of Chinese aesthetics.In Chapter Four, the extension and the contemporary situation of the poetic theory and the explanatory scope of Zhuangzi are scrutinized. The poetic characteristics of Zhuangzi lead people to return to their spiritual homeland, and the linguistic thinking of it provides a crystal clear basis for contemporary philosophical language to be converted to poetic expression. Moreover, this chapter expounds the reflection that the poetic thinking of Zhuangzi provide to contemporary literary creation, which serves as a resource “transformed” into modern literary criticism, becoming the shared topic of the arenas of oriental and western literary criticism.In Chapter Five, the aforementioned is summed up and concluded. In addition to going back to the topic mentioned in the beginning of this paper as well as the search for solution and the foresight of this paper, the spiritual essence, the intrinsic value along with historical orientation of the poetic thinking in Zhuangzi are elaborated and clarified.