The gains from the Theory of Equality of Things — Zhuangzi (6) Internal Chapter The Theory of Equality of Things (4)

In the last part, Zhuangzi tells two stories: Wang Liang asked the scene and Zhuang Zhou dreamed of a butterfly. Wang Liang Wen Jing and Zhuang Zhou Mengdie embody two aspects, one is the connection between form and phase, and the other is transformation. Through Wang Liang Wen Jing, it is more reflected that there is no clear correlation between shape and phase, while Zhuang Zhou Meng Die This further illustrates the unity of things and me. Zhuang Zhou's Dream of Butterflies is Zhuang Zi's most important poetic philosophical theory, which is to equalize all things. The so-called equality of things means that all things in the world are essentially the same. It does not matter whether they are high or low, nor does it matter whether they are born, old, sick or dead, whether they are rich or poor. Men are the same as women, humans are the same as animals, living things are the same as dead things. The existence of all objects is only a formal given. Zhuangzi dreamed that he turned into a butterfly, which may seem like a joke to people who don't understand. However, to the whole world, whether it is Zhuangzi or a butterfly, they are actually the same life form without any difference.

Now that I have finished reading "Equality of Things", what content does "Equality of Things" contain?

1. It is the same. "Nothing is other than that, and nothing is other than what it is. If you don't see it from the other side, you will know it if you know it. Therefore, it is said that the other comes from what it is, and what it is is also due to that." Zhuangzi believes that there are opposites in everything. If you can't see it from the other side, then you can't see it from the other side. You can see clearly if you look at it face to face. Therefore, it is said that this comes from this, and this comes from that. Furthermore, it means that "this is also that, and that is also". This is that, and that is this. The existence of the two depends on the existence of the other. No matter which one is missing, neither will exist. "That is, it is said that Fang Sheng is born." "That is not to be matched by its counterpart, so it is called the Dao Pivot. The pivot is first found in its ring to respond to infinity." Since they are not in opposition to each other, they are called "Dao Pivot" - The key point of Tao is to circulate endlessly around the center of "Tao".

2. Right and wrong. The existence of "yes" and "no" is predicated on the existence of "that is". Since "that is" each exists with the existence of the other, then "right and wrong" also exist with the existence of the other. "Because it is because it is not, because it is not because it is." Because there is "yes", there is " "No"; on the contrary, because there is "no", there is the existence of "yes"; without "yes", there is no "no"; without "no", there is no "yes". The two are interdependent and opposite. unified. "Cause is caused by wrong, cause is not caused by being." Since "right and wrong" are mutual premises and cause and effect, there is no need to distinguish the two so clearly.

3. Equality for all. Zhuangzi said: "If it is not that, there is no self, and if it is not myself, there is nothing." Without it, there would be no me, and without me, there would be nothing to embody it. In order to explain this truth, Zhuangzi used several metaphors in succession, "Therefore, the combination of Zhu and Ying, Li and Xi Shi, Wei and Wei are weird, and the Tao is connected into one." Interpretation of all things in the world From the perspective of "Tao", they are all the same. "Only those who are knowledgeable know that everything is one." Only those who are knowledgeable can understand the truth that "all paths are one." Zhuangzi then came to the conclusion that "Heaven and earth are coexisting with me, and all things are one with me." From the perspective of the concept of "Tao", heaven, earth and humans are equal and coexisting. All things are the same as me, and there is no essential difference.

4. Live and die together. "When you live, you die, when you die, you live, when you are a guest, you are not allowed, and when you are not allowed, you are allowed." Death and life are based on each other. From the perspective of "Tao", death is life, and life is die. "Fluorene is intangible and changeable. Death and? Life and? Heaven and earth are in harmony?" Zhuangzi regarded death and life as natural as heaven and earth. He was not happy with "life" and did not feel disgusted with "death". Treat life and death equally.

Judging from Zhuangzi’s Equality of Things, he must be an eloquent. The author used seven fables and a large number of rhetorical sentences to explain his proposition of "the unity of nature and man" in a simple and easy-to-understand way. After reading it, it is heart-warming, thought-provoking, and inspiring.