HSUHK | CCCO

TRA1225 Living In a Daoist Way: the Wisdom of Unattached Engagement in the Zhuangzi (道家處世之道：《莊子》入世而不執的智慧)

Department
School of Translation and Foreign Languages
Semester
AY2023/24 Sem 1, AY2023/24 Sem 2, AY2024/25 Sem 1, AY2024/25 Sem 2
Method
Lecture 2 hours + Tutorial 1 hour
Cluster
1 (Humanities)

Prerequisite

GEN1000 Perspectives on General Education / Subject to Instructor’s Discretion

Exclusion

Nil

Module Description

This module invites students to explore a Daoist understanding of “good life” by critically examining essential writings and selected translations of the Zhuangzi. Through discussion of jokes, myths, stories, metaphors, and paradoxical expressions in the Zhuangzi, the module aims at showing Zhuangzi’s wisdom of unattached engagement with the world, which is a Daoist way to live playfully and skillfully. It also familiarizes students with the key concepts, philosophical expressions, and texts in the Zhuangzi. In this module, students are encouraged to develop a good understanding of Zhuangzi’s philosophy and apply Daoist wisdom to everyday challenges.

Module Intended Learning Outcomes (MILO)

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

a. develop a good understanding of Zhuangzi’s philosophy
b. analyse and evaluate philosophical concepts and expressions in Zhuangzi
c. critically examine Zhuangzi (Sayings of Zhuangzi) with reflective textual analysis methods
d. apply Daoist wisdom to personal challenges and inter-personal tasks
e. engage in the discussion of Chinese ancient wisdom and culture

Module Content

1. Introduction to Zhuangzi
    1.1 Zhuangzi as a Daoist
    1.2 The Zhuangzi (Sayings of Zhuangzi) as Literature and as Philosophy
    1.3 A brief introduction to Chinese philosophy

2. Philosophical problems in the Zhunagzi
    2.1 The main philosophical concerns in Zhuangzi philosophy: a Daoist understanding
          of good life
    2.2 The literary approach to analyze the Zhuangzi
    2.3 The translation issues of the Zhuangzi

3. Learning Zhuangzi’s values and doctrines through Stories
    3.1 The function of narrative and translation issues of narrative in the Zhuangzi
    3.2 Narrative empathy
    3.3 Stories in Zhuangzi that show Zhuangzi’s values and philosophical wisdom

4. Changing perspectives in the Zhuangzi’s Myth
    4.1 Is the Zhuangzi’s myth merely a superstition?
    4.2 Translating the meanings of the Zhuangzi’s myth: Transformation, Transcendence
          and Indestructibility

5. Disengaging oneself from the world through Humor
    5.1 How can readers suspend practical concerns by being humorous?
    5.2 The nature and function of humor
    5.3 Translating humorous stories in the Zhuangzi

6. Opening up the possibilities of things by using Metaphor
    6.1 An introduction to the translation of metaphors in the Zhuangzi
    6.2 The nature of metaphor
    6.3 Metaphors in the Zhuangzi

7. Detaching from the limitation of concepts by using Zhiyan（卮言）
    7.1 An Introduction to the translation of Zhiyan in the Zhuangzi
    7.2 Dilemmatic question
    7.3 Paradoxical expression
    7.4 Double denial

Assessment Methods

Participation (10%)
Exercises/Assignments (40%)
Quizzes/Tests (20%)
Presentation and critical review of readings (30%)

Texts & References

  1. Graham, A. C. Disputers of the Tao. La Salle: Open Court, 1989.
  2. Chuang-Tzu: The Seven Inner Chapters and Other Writings from the Book Chuang-tzu. London: George Allen and Unwin Publishers Ltd., 1981.
  3. Hansen, Chad. A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. Page 273-292.
  4. Mair, Victor H., trans. Wandering on the Way: Early Taoist Tales and Parables of Chuang Tzu. New York: Bantam Books, 1994.
  5. Watson, Burton, trans. The Complete Works of Zhuangzi. New York: Columbia University Press, 2013.
  6. Ziporyn, Brook. Zhuangzi: The Essential Writings with Selections from Traditional Commentaries. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2009.
  7. 王博：《莊子哲學》，北京：北京大學出版社，2004。
  8. 牟宗三：《才性與玄理》，台北：學生書局，1993。
  9. 唐君毅：《中國哲學原論——原道篇》(卷一)，台北：學生書局，1986。
  10. 陳鼓應：《老莊新論》修訂版，台北：五南圖書，2007。頁303-323。
  11. ______：《莊子今註今譯》，香港：中華書局，2001。
  12. 郭慶藩：《莊子集釋》，北京:中華書局，1961。
  13. 勞思光：《新編中國哲學史》(第一冊)，台北：三民書局，2002。頁246-270。
  14. 劉笑敢：《莊子哲學及其演變》，北京：中國社會科學出版社，1988。