"No Land" How "self"

The state of mind of intellectuals in the Wei and Jin dynasties always is closely related to wei-jin metaphysics and reclusion thought. In the process of the pursuit of self and self-discovery, Ji Kang in the time of Wei-jin dynasty evolution, was in the transitional stage of metaphysics development from the Old School to Chuang School. There were inner deep confusion when he had to select a choice between Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu. What his personality ideal was that he always could be in the status of stillness, prudence, flat and indifference, just like Lao Tzu. He hoped that he could know everything and become flexible to protect himself, then realize the natural spirit pursuit. But at last he absorbed the view of Chuang Tzu, with the fierce criticism attitude to face reality society. According to his nature, he would reach the realm of the equality of things and happy excursion. Tao Yuanming, affected by rationalism from Zhou-Yi and a sense of destiny from Chuang Tzu in the confluence course of Metaphysics and Buddhism, put Metaphysical outlook on life into practice.Ji Kang put forward the thought of "surpassing the feudal ethical code and living freely". Tao Yuanming’s famous line "never bow down to five dou of rice" means he would not yield to disloyal officials. Ji Kang as a rebel and Tao Yuanming with a bright and aloft personality, to a certain extent, has become the spiritual idol for the future generations. This phenomenon was related to the influence of their unique charm and the historical records about them at that time. The biographies of history shaped prominent but single image, which exists a certain distance to self-writing. Compared with the biographies of history, Ji Kang presented himself more real without reservation, and stated that "I am what I am", who is complex but simple. However, Tao Yuanming tried to mold him into what he thought he should be, showing us a paradoxical and stereo image. Sometimes he consciously told that "who I am" in the literature method, stressing his traits as a hermit, which displayed his intent to hand down a good reputation to a hundred generations.Ji Kang and Tao Yuanming had profound thoughts on the relationship between the individual and the crowd. They felt utterly alone when they face a series of challenges in the life course with the passing years, such as the accident of kinship and friendship, social turbulence. The loss of sense of security and the invasion of loneliness prompted them to look for faithful support. Ji Kang would rather go it alone with the Tao, appreciate profound connotation of the Tao implied into "qin". And Tao Yuanming hoped for original sense of security coming from peaceful traditional country life, also to transfer inner loneliness by writing. They excepted that get to destination of life in the natural world to make heart settle down. Finally, Ji Kang forgot to return toward evening, but Tao Yuanming returned to nature and carve out a new spiritual path.