Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation

The significance of forgetting in the Zhuangzi and its methodological significance for living a good life in particular has long been recognized by Zhuangzian scholars. However, with regard to what is really meant by forgetting, scholars are still far from reaching some clear consensus. Thus, with t...

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Published in:Religions
Main Author: Bai, Ziqiang
Format: Articles
Published: 2025
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Online Access:View article (DOI: 10.3390/rel16081037)
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Bai, Ziqiang
author_sort Bai, Ziqiang
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description The significance of forgetting in the Zhuangzi and its methodological significance for living a good life in particular has long been recognized by Zhuangzian scholars. However, with regard to what is really meant by forgetting, scholars are still far from reaching some clear consensus. Thus, with the aim of clarifying what is meant by forgetting in the Zhuangzi, I propose a wholistic understanding of forgetting in terms of the Zhuangzian conception of human self-cultivation. On the one hand, it involves an analysis of how forgetting is used negatively in the Zhuangzi to characterize and explain human fallenness. On the other hand, it also entails a careful analysis of all positive uses of forgetting in the text to mean our elimination of chengxin, orientation to the Dao, and fitness with all things in harmony.
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spelling Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation
The significance of forgetting in the Zhuangzi and its methodological significance for living a good life in particular has long been recognized by Zhuangzian scholars. However, with regard to what is really meant by forgetting, scholars are still far from reaching some clear consensus. Thus, with the aim of clarifying what is meant by forgetting in the Zhuangzi, I propose a wholistic understanding of forgetting in terms of the Zhuangzian conception of human self-cultivation. On the one hand, it involves an analysis of how forgetting is used negatively in the Zhuangzi to characterize and explain human fallenness. On the other hand, it also entails a careful analysis of all positive uses of forgetting in the text to mean our elimination of chengxin, orientation to the Dao, and fitness with all things in harmony.
Religions
Articles
2025
Zhuangzi
forgetting
human fallenness
self-cultivation
Bai, Ziqiang
spellingShingle Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation
Bai, Ziqiang
Zhuangzi
forgetting
human fallenness
self-cultivation
title Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation
title_autocomplete Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation
title_full Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation
title_fullStr Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation
title_full_unstemmed Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation
title_short Forgetting: Its Meaning in the Zhuangzi’s Philosophy of Self-Cultivation
title_sort forgetting: its meaning in the zhuangzi’s philosophy of self-cultivation
topic Zhuangzi
forgetting
human fallenness
self-cultivation
topic_autocomplete Zhuangzi
forgetting
human fallenness
self-cultivation
topic_facet Zhuangzi
forgetting
human fallenness
self-cultivation