Play in the Zhuangzi

Abstract

This paper aims to study the notion of play in the Zhuangzi and proposes that by studying the notion of play in the Zhuangzi through multiple lenses and meanings of play such as play as action, play as interaction, and play as activity would help understand the notion of freedom in the Zhuangzi more clearly. Especially, freedom to navigate one’s life to achieve certain goals; not limited to freedom in thoughts and feelings achieved through spiritual transformation. This paper argues that play can widen possibilities in life. Therefore, "a true person" who has mastered play does not need to live his life as a reclusive hermit who avoids society in the hope of avoiding the dangers incurred by society, inevitably trading off possibilities in life. However, a true person can also live his life as a "social hermit", who lives safely and freely among the plurality and competing values of society until the end of his life.