| dc.description.abstract | This dissertation is an investigation of Daoism theory of self cultivation. I first make a comprehensive exploration of interpretations of the original texts of Laozi and Zhuangzi, so as to clarify some of the most important concepts of Daoism such as tao, hsing (human nature), hsin (heart/mind), zi-ran (Nature) and self cultivation. Then with Zhuangzi’s text as the main source, I give a construction of the method of self cultivation and the related jing-jie (state of mind) of Daoism.
There are numerous studies on Daoism theory of self cultivation, however, the common view takes Daoist self cultivation as a “regressive” process. I argue that the term “regressive” is misleading. Daoist special kind of self cultivation is in fact often makes the reader feel somewhat aloof and seems unable to find a way to start self cultivation.
It is true that Daoist self cultivation is very special but not “regressive”, far less an empty claim of the jing-jie of a supreme person. In this dissertation, I want to make the following claims that are quite different from previous results:
First, this dissertation establishes separately the theories of self cultivation of Daoism and Confucianism so that we could make a comparison to show the special method and pattern of Daoism. Secondly, through the text of Zhuangzi, it establishes the different levels of self cultivation and shows how it provides a step by step cultivation and related states of mind. It demonstrates the progressive aspect of Daoist method of self cultivation. Third, with closely in accordance with the round teaching of Daoism, that is keep away from the distortions of the worldly life without keeping away from the worldly life, in order to demonstrate the true teaching of Daoism. With such distinctions, my dissertation shall contribute a new horizon of investigations for many of those important and not yet settled issues of Daoism.
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