Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi essay
It is known that both Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi were the representatives of the Daoism/Taoism school of thought. Both of these Chinese philosophers discussed the main principles of Daoism philosophy which revealed the proper path in life. However, Lao Zi lived in the 6-th c. B.C., while Zhuang Zi was the follower of Lao Zi’s philosophy and lived in c.369-c.286 B.C.
It is interesting to note that the Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zi developed the philosophical ideas of Lao Zi’s dialecticism further. Like the influential philosopher Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi sees nature as an integral whole in this world. More than Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi recognizes nature in the movement, and considers that the different phenomena which occur in the world are manifestations of nature.
However, the Chinese philosopher Zhuang Zi was a great humanist by his nature, and he praised both human ambition and imagination. For example, in his chapter Free and Easy Wondering, he compares a human being with great ambition to a famous bird Peng who managed to perform long-distance flights which some small insects could not even imagine.
Moreover, he agrees with Lao Zi that nature is amorphous and integral whole and all manifestations of nature are secondary and transient in this world. One of his main ideas based on relativism is his dream when he becomes a butterfly, and upon wakening from sleep, the great philosopher is not sure if he dreamed of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreamed of him.
Like Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi believes that humans should conform to the Dao/Tao but not to do things in their own way. However, Zhuang Zi recognizes the world of human sentiments and subjectivity more than Lao Zi. Zhuang Zi’s managed to describe everything in this world, including life and death, using his emphasis on self-transcendence.
Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi believe in all amorphous nature. However, Lao Zi believes in the dialectical nature of things in this world. It means that everything in this world has two sides, and the opposites can complement each other. Moreover, he states that that emptiness is not really emptiness, but the complement of some specific objects.
According to Zhuang Zi’s philosophical ideas, only the Way is absolute, while everything else in this world is relative. The outstanding Chinese philosopher created his ideal society where people live in harmony with nature, with animals and birds. Zhuang Zi denies the differences not only between life and death, and right and wrong, but also between illusion and reality in this world. His desire to return to prehistoric times and deep pessimism is similar to Lao Zi’s philosophy.
Lao Zi highlights the so-called concept of “action through inaction”. It means that humans should avoid some explicit intentions in their lives as well as strong will and proactive actions. Moreover, he Lao Zi believes that it is necessary to avoid violence in any situation. Lai Zi’s follower Zhuang Zi also adheres to such principles, but in many ideas he advanced his teacher. The meaning of Dao in Lao Zi remains worldly, while in Zhuang Zi it is transcendental. As Lao Zi discusses the difference between disgrace and glory, human weakness and strength, his follower Zhuang Zi identifies all of them. Lao Zi has the aim – to reform, but Zhuang Zi “travels beyond the mundane world”. Zhuang Zi’s concept of Tao is more developed and more clearly stated than Lai Zi’s concept.
