On Zhuangzi’s “Youqing” and “Wuqing”

• Main Authors: Huang Hong Da, 黃鴻達
• Other Authors: Wu, Zhi-xue
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/00515971536481483419

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 哲學系碩士班 === 99 === The thoughts of Lao-tzu and Zhuangzi were the basic Taoism theories among various pre-Chin philosophers. They had shown an open and free mind toward nature, especially Zhuangzi. However, what was Zhuangzi’s concept of “Youqing?” From the result of the debate between Zhuangzi and Hui-shih, he concluded that “Man” was “Wuqing”. “Wuqing” by Zhungzi’s definition was not indifferent to the world. He meant that “Man” when dealing with problems related to secular issues, likes or dislikes, does not imperil his own mind or body. For there were several different categories of “Youqing” from many scholars before me, my thesis mainly focuses on Mr. Fuguan Hsu’s “True feelings and Youqing.” The thesis contains several parts of Zhuangzi ‘s perspectives of “Youqing”. The first part starts from Zhuangzi’s conecpt of “Youqing” and then compares “Youqing” and “Wuqing”. The second part is to define “Self” and “Nature” from the point of view of “Youqing”. The third part is to distinguish “Youqing” from “Wuqing” with Zhuangzi’s notion of “Spirit”. Furthermore, the thesis explicates the relations of “True feelings and Youqing.” And then criticizes the meaning of “Youqing” from his view of “use and uselessness.” In Zhuangzi’s idea, one does not confine himself to the knowledge he knows. He makes use of it. So, useless is actually useful when it comes to secular issues especially the etiquette which Confucianism promoted. Zhuangzi was not against the etiquette ceremony. However, he thought that one should carry out the act of etiquette when he thoroughly understood it and not because he was taught to or following the code. The thesis will introduce issues regarding etiquette from the meanings of nature that Zhuangzi advocated. To Zhuangzi, useful and useless are not absolutely dichotomous. So one should know how “Youqing” had emerged when confronted by etiquette and understand the meaning of it. In this section, issues regarding “Youqing” and “Etiquette” were discussed. I also focused on how Zhuangzi dealt with etiquette from his Youqing and not being restricted by matters of the world. On the other hand, I tried to find out how Zhuangzi detached himself from the restrictions of etiquette and becoming a keeper of free spirit. Finally, my conclusion of the thesis.