Legend of Zhuangzi

Name of Chinese national intangible cultural heritage: Legend of Zhuangzi

Applicant: Dongming County, Shandong Province

Project No.: 1038

Project No.: I-94

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: Folk Literature

Region: Shandong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Dongming County, Shandong Province

Protected by: Dongming County Cultural Center, Shandong Province

Introduction to Zhuangzi legend:

Applicant: Dongming County, Shandong Province

Dongming, ancient Yue donghun, is located in the west of Heze City, Shandong Province. The legend of Zhuangzi, which is widely spread among Chinese people in China and the world, originated here and has a history of more than 2300 years. Chuang Tzu, whose name is Zhou and whose name is Zixiu, was recorded as a Mongolian in the Warring States period according to historical records. He is a famous thinker, philosopher and writer in Chinese history. He developed the theory of Lao Tzu and was one of the founders of Taoist school.

During the Warring States period, the story of Zhuangzi began to spread. He once worked as an official in the lacquer garden. He soon resigned and lived a poor life. Sometimes he made a living by playing straw sandals and fishing, but he despised fame and wealth. The king of Chu Wei hired him as his prime minister, but he refused. According to statistics, there are more than 120 folklore stories derived from Zhuangzi's experience and feelings of society, nature, life, morality and politics, among which 30 or 40 are often mentioned by the common people. The content involves Zhuangzi's origin, Zhuangzi's principled attitude towards politics, nature and life, and the origin of special objects related to Zhuangzi, such as "Burning incense out of the bowl" and "half pulling the lion's head before Zhuangzi's view" were published. In the eastern Ming Dynasty, there are still some relics, such as the Zhuangzi Temple stele rebuilt by Yang Risheng, the Qiyuan site, the Nanhuashan site, the dengyunqiao stele, the Zhuangzi temple, and the Zhuangzi tomb.

Chuang Tzu's legend not only contains Chuang Tzu's unique and profound views on the universe, nature, society, life, morality and other aspects, but also represents Chuang Tzu's attitude towards size, number, beauty and ugliness and every bit of life, which makes Chuang Tzu's world view, nature view and life view left to later generations in the form of folklore.

Zhuangzi legend is deeply rooted in the folk, especially the language features, involving the geographical location, folk customs, citing allusions to support all have local characteristics. Zhuangzi legend has become an important source of Zhuangzi culture research. His legendary stories of conforming to nature, maintaining authenticity, cherishing life, and being optimistic about things have a great sense of identity and affinity among Chinese at home and abroad, and are a splendid cultural treasure of the Chinese nation.