How does "wind" represent Zhuangzi's philosophical thought? What is the role of "wind" in Zhuangzi? What is the relationship between the wind and the roc(鵬Peng)? This thesis attempts to take "wind" as the key, trying to explore the core concept "Tao" in Zhuangzi.
Zhuangzi is famous as his craft observation of "wind". "Wind" is not only a natural phenomenon, but also a key to some codes of metaphysical thoughts. This word "Wind" bypasses "birds", and relates to "Tao". By combing the meaning of the word "wind" in Zhuangzi, exploring the contextual framework of the word meaning of "wind", and digging out the prototype meaning of "wind", this thesis tries to fully and systematically reveal the philosophy of "wind" in Zhuangzi.
As birds fly, they are firstly regarded as natural objects without any symbolic meaning. In ancient time, however, bird flying/flying bird might be regarded as symbols of mysterious worlds. Birds themselves could be given some specific meaning in the thinking of the early peoples. Zhuangzi treats birds/flying with poetic thinking, creative interpretation, and tries to reveal certain aspects of his "Tao".
In his beginning chapter, Zhuangzi displayed an indissoluble bond between the wind and the roc — in the free transformation from the big fish (Kung 鯤) in the ocean to the big bird roc(Peng 鵬) in the heaven. It is the “wind” that give reliable power for these both “mythological animals”. Furthermore, it is the sea breeze in June that holds the big bird, making it accessible from the North Sea to the South Sea. In Zhuangzi, "wind" are mentioned for 50 times, and "bird" for 35 times. If the relationship between the wind and birds can be more organized, the way to "Tao" of Zhuangzi might be more clear.
This thesis tries to unlock the metaphors of the wind and birds in Zhuangzi. By combing the relationships, images, and metaphors established by the wind and birds, the codes of Tao in Zhuangzi might be resurrecting in the context of modern thought.