Humor and Play in Zhuangzi

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the concept of play in Zhuangzi as a portrayal of human freedom which is Zhuangzi's philosophical goal. The article proposes that to understand the implications of freedom derived from wandering the world or playing with the world, humor in Zhuangzi could be interpreted as a strategy to liberate human being as well as a reflection of human freedom. For the first interpretation, humor as a strategy to freedom, the essential aspects of humor such as humor that played with human reasons and skeptic questions; lead to doubtfulness and irony. In other words, humor as a reflection of human freedom. The essential aspects are humor that reflected the human perspective transformation, the lightness experienced; be able to be happy and flow with the world, and the respecte for other lives.