Study On The View Of Chuang-tzu's Happiness

Chuang-tzu's view of happiness is based on ontology and his world view. He puts "Tao" into effect at the level of human life to achieve a kind of perfect and free life nature. "Tao" in Chuang-tzu' thought system is objectively real and inclusive. Chuang-tzu'"Te" is united with Tao and follows its own nature:to obey the fate and the current situation, not to hold on to human's body.Chuang-tzu's happiness can also be called Le which is different from Confucian's happiness where people are contented with spiritual life and feel calm in poverty. While Chuang-tzu's " Le" shows with "Xiao Yao"(freedom).Its essence lies in the realization of individual life without any interference of material world. It includes two aspects:"Tian Le", the happiness of Heaven, fit for some special group of people at high level; And "Ren Le", the happiness of human, the most practical pursuit of common people. "Ren Le" follows "Tian Le", while "Tian Le" is the highest stature of Chuang-tzu's happiness.The most prominent characteristic of Chuang-tzu's ideal personality is tranquility and freedom. Beginning with rational consciousness, one will forget himself, to reach the spiritual stature of "Xiao Yao" finally. The ideal living environment in Chuang-tzu's thought is a world of "Zhi De"(perfect virtue),in which Confucian's moral principles have been broken down, but following nature with everything sharing equal rights, and human nature is developed fully and freely.In Chuang-tzu's thought, the approach to the happiness is through cultivating one's spirit, which includes "Yang Xin" (cultivating one's heart) and "You Xin" (Letting a go of one's heart). "Yang Xin" is a functional practice while "You Xin" is how to approach freedom. "Ying Ning" is the highest stature of "You Xin". The procedures are beginning with "Cheng Xin" (to make the unrest heart calm down), then to "Ling-tai Xin" (tranquil heart) through which everything is reflected by its own nature and one can achieve a perfect and ultimate happy life through observing the world by "Ling-tai Xin".In comparison of Confucian's thought, Chuang-tzu's view of happiness shows the quality of naturalism, which cares to the nature of individual life. Different understanding of happiness results in their different approach to happiness. However, they both reach the goal of a perfect and happy life in their own way, even they have their own focus on the happy life, which makes it possible for the complementation between Confucian and Taoism. Just in this kind of complementary pattern, Chuang-tzu's happiness brings its after world a profound, prime and lasting influence.