The Open Interpretation of Life in Zhuangzi’s Philosophy—Based on “The Equality of Things” and “The Master of Nurturing Life”

庄子哲学产生于战国时代，混乱与纷争并存的时代使庄子将目光聚焦到生命的问题上，庄子将生命遭受痛苦和灾难的根源归于时代和人与人之间的纷争。此外，老子、杨朱等人的思想对庄子也产生了一定的影响，使追寻自然与开放、消解纷争矛盾成为庄子诠释生命的基调。《齐物论》作为庄子思想中极为重要的篇章，论述了人之在世的生命的不同状态，在《齐物论》结构下，《养生主》篇进一步探讨生命的修养问题。从“我”到“吾”的展开，是庄子将生命从闭塞的自我向世界开放的过程，唯有如此，生命才能达到“游刃有余”的状态。Zhuangzi’s philosophy emerged during the Warring States period, an era marked by chaos and conflict, which led Zhuangzi to focus his attention on the issue of life. He attributed the suffering and calamities of life to the turmoil of the times and the strife between individuals. Additionally, the ideas of Laozi, Yang Zhu, and others influenced Zhuangzi, shaping his philosophy to emphasize the pursuit of nature and openness, as well as the resolution of conflicts, which became the core theme of his interpretation of life. “The Equality of Things,” a pivotal chapter in Zhuangzi’s thought, discusses the various states of human existence. Within the framework of “The Equality of Things,” the chapter “The Master of Nurturing Life” further explores the cultivation of life. The progression from the narrow “self” to the expansive “authentic self” represents Zhuangzi’s process of opening life from a confined individuality to the broader world. Only through this openness can life achieve a state of “effortless mastery”.