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Taoism of Chuang Tzu. Berger Intro to Asian Religions. The Figure of Chuang Tzu 莊子. Legendary, reclusive sage (370-300 BCE) Rejected political Taoism of Lao Tzu in favor of practices of wise recluses, craftspeople—populace in general Legend of his rejection of political advisory position
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Taoism of Chuang Tzu Berger Intro to Asian Religions
The Figure of Chuang Tzu 莊子 • Legendary, reclusive sage (370-300 BCE) • Rejected political Taoism of Lao Tzu in favor of practices of wise recluses, craftspeople—populace in general • Legend of his rejection of political advisory position • Book becomes known as the “Classic Book of Genuine Southern Culture” (南華眞經 nan hwa chen ch’ing) for its embrace of “mysticism” over rational politics • Chuang Tzu author of book’s first seven chapters
“Sorting Which Evens Things Out” (齊物論 Chi Wu Lun) • Identity lies in shifting desires, not in the centrality of the heart (p. 453) • Life as a series of shifting perspectives( pp. 455, 460) • Recognizing the plurality of life-standards and not imposing one’s standards on others (pp. 458, 459, 460) • Against partiality in judging the “completeness” of one’s life (p. 456): the story of the old farmer and the horse • The importance of finding one’s “spontaneous knack” (自然 tzu ran) in life: the stories of cook Ting and the wheelwright
for Next Class • Sourcebook 555-562
