Self-Transcendence and Its Discontents: Criticisms and Defences of the Zhuangzi in Wei-Jin Thought and Their Modern Significance
Religions April 16, 2025 Benjamin Coles
Although the Zhuangzi is mentioned in late Warring States and Han Dynasty texts, it was in the post-Han Wei-Jin period that it first exerted a significant influence on intellectual life, becoming a central target for both praise and criticism, much of which focused on its transcendent attitude toward Confucian social values and secular interests. This paper examines these discussions, focusing...