A Study On "Introjecting Confucianism Into Zhuang’s Idea" In The Book Of Master Zhuang

This thesis takes the Confucian figures and Confucianism in The Book of Master Zhuang(hereafter referred to as Zhuang Zi) as the research subject, with the focus on the quotes of Confucianism used in this book and the significance of such quotes in constructing the ideological system of the book. The thesis first gives the background of the occurrence of the ideas in Zhuang Zi, including the characteristics of that time, which refers to frequent warfares and corrupted rules and regulations, and the diverse thinking pattern featured by all schools of thoughts thriving. In the second part, the question about the edition of Zhuang Zi is clarified. Meanwhile, the widely discussed relation between Zhuang Zi and Confucianism is analyzed, and Cui Dahua’s opinion that "Confucianism provides ideological background" is favored by the author of the thesis, thus concluding that "Confucianism is introjected in this book". In the next part, the Confucian figures and speeches thereof are illustrated and image settings of these figures as well as Zhuang Zi’s attitudes to and evaluation of these speeches are discerned before summarizing Confucianism quoted in Zhuang ZiThe main part of this thesis further divides "introjecting Confucianism in Zhuang Zi" into three aspects, Among these,"leading Confucianism into Zhuang’s idea" emphasizes absorbing and extending Confucian ideas. Zhuang zi’s view of destiny, attitude of life, and some political thoughts are such extension."Borrowing Confucianism to show Zhuang’s idea" refers to the phenomenon of borrowing Confucian figures to make points of Taoist theory. The famous "mind-heart" and "sitting to forget" are proposed in this way. While "breaking Confucianism for establishing Zhuang’s idea" mainly emphasizes the criticism and innovation of the basic Confucian category, including redefinition of Confucian benevolence and reed and abandon Confucian view towards life and death as well as personal. In the end, the significance of "introjecting Confucianism into Zhuang’s idea" in constructing the ideas in Zhuang zi is illustrated.