Unit 3, Lecture 3: Zhuangzi and Daoist Philosophy

Zhuangzi (4th Century B.C.) : doesn't teach us something, but does something to use to realize we don’t know as much as we think we do Daoist Parable Good/Bad: Poor horse disappeared -> owner no care good/bad -> horse came back with more horses -> owner “who can say what is good and bad? -> horse threw kid -> owner no care -> disabled kid no go war -> owner no care - Humans have attachments to what we think is good/bad, flexible with changes Zhuangzi dreamt of butterfly -> if zhuangzi dreaming of butterfly or butterfly as Zhuangzi - Question all distinctions of universe that has meaning that separate us from Dao Frog in Well: we are frog in well (world where we perceive) as masters -> turtle (Zhuangzi) tells something completely wild (infinite water) -> frog can’t process it, amazed, surprised Ziran: “naturalness”, “spontaneity” (zi = by itself, ran = so, thus) thus it so by itself - World of nature is exactly as it should be (harmonious flow) Humans uniquely can move away from natural flow -> artificial distinctions (future) but Zhuangzi says no, causes own infliction Confucianism Daoism Dao as the moral order of the cosmos Dao as the mysterious source of the cosmos Self-cultivation through li (rituals) trained spontentoity Self-cultivation through wuwei (nonaction) trained spontaneity Goal: to become junzi Goal: to become a sage/immortal Ideal: social harmony Ideal: harmony with nature The Three Teachings: San Jiao, can combine all 3 Confucius: focus on this life external practices, governing social interactions Daoism: focus on this life internal practices, prolonging lifespan - Prolonging Lifespan: removing blockage of qi to flow and balance in oneself - Qi: energy, vital energy, breath o Everything in life is filled with qi (non-living, heaven) subtle vs. Gross so restore balance in qi for constant energy in body -> leak qi leads to poor physical life and early death o Ex. Acupuncture old Chinese medicine for energy flow Buddhism: focus on future lives (rebirth, liberation) Internal Alchemy: mediation and circulation of qi -> extend one’s life and even become immortal at highest level External Alchemy: creating a pill or exclicr (physical substance) that when consumed would make one immortal - Chinese emperors obsessed with this to make these but died The Daoist Pantheon: The Eight Immortals​ - by alchemy could reach immortality in their physical body to move through all realms and can disguisse themselves on earth as begger -> how treat could give you secrets to immortality