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Becoming a Character in the Play: The Image of Zhuangzi in East Asian Literary World
Presenter
Zhuang, Xiaozhu
武汉大学 - 硕士生
Abstract
This paper explores the rewriting and adaptation of three Zhuangzi fables—“Zhuang Zhou's Dream of the Butterfly,” “The Empty Skull,” and “The Faith of Tail Sheng”—in East Asian literature. From their origins as philosophical contemplations in pre-Qin times to later secular adaptations, these stories have evolved significantly. During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, “Zhuang Zhou's Dream of the Butterfly” was integrated into popular culture, becoming a subject for operas and novels. For instance, Shi Zhang's “The Butterfly Dream of Zhuang Zhou” depicted Zhuangzi as a celestial being undergoing trials on earth, while Feng Menglong's “Zhuang Zhou's Drum Beating and Becoming an Immortal” combined it with the story of “Zhuangzi's Wife's Death” to reflect the ethical values of the urban class. “The Empty Skull” was initially combined with lyrical styles from the Han to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and later became a tool for Taoist teachings in works like Wang Yingju's “Free and Easy Wandering.” In modern times, Lu Xun's “Reviving the Dead” introduced modernist thinking, breaking away from traditional adaptation patterns. “The Faith of Tail Sheng,” though rarely explored in ancient China, was reinterpreted by Natsume Soseki and Akutagawa Ryunosuke in late Qing Japan, incorporating modernist elements to explore existential themes. Contemporary Taiwanese poet Luo Fu's “Bury Me in the Snow” further connected it to modern emotions. Through the complex interplay between authors, texts, and readers, the literary image of “Zhuangzi” has gained new vitality, and the philosophical classic “Zhuangzi” continues to be endowed with new meanings and interpretations.
Biography
Short Version: Zhuang Xiaozhu, researcher, Wuhan University, research field: Chinese Literature of Ming-Qing Dynasty Long Version: Zhuang Xiaozhu. I was born in June 2000 in Fujian and currently reside in Taoyuan or Wuhan. In 2019, I was admitted to Xiamen University to study Chinese Language and Literature. During my undergraduate years, I achieved a GPA of 3.75 and an IELTS score of 6.5. After graduating, I pursued a master's degree in Classical Chinese Literature at Wuhan University, focusing on the Ming and Qing dynasties, under the supervision of Professor Yu Laiming. Additionally, I studied as an exchange student at National Central University. In terms of academic research, I have a wealth of experience. From July to August 2024, I participated in a graduate discipline practice at Wuhan University, conducting a two-month field investigation in Xinjian Boshou and wrote the academic paper "Oral Literature of the Chahar Western Migration Area," for which I received the title of Excellent Practice Achievement. In January 2025, I was involved in the field investigation and local chronicle compilation of Sanglang Village at the Guizhou Provincial Hand Memory Museum, authoring three chapters of the "Sanglang Village Chronicles." In March of the same year, I presented the conference paper "A Study on the Social Characteristics of Prostitute Groups in Late Qing Dynasty Shanghai" at the "History Origin" Forum of the History Department of National Taiwan University. Additionally, I delivered the conference paper "The Spirits and Memories Behind the Mass Graves - Focusing on Sungai Buloh, Kuala Lumpur" at the East Asian Anthropological Society and Seoul National University Conference. I also participated in the preparation and discussion of several academic conferences at the Taiwan Research Institute of Wuhan University, as well as the research work for the book chapter "Mythological Motifs in Narratives - Reconstructed Myths: The Narrative Reconstruction in Contemporary Taiwanese Art." Besides, I contributed to the revision of the book "Observation Report on China's Public Cultural Policy Research Experimental Base (2024)," the revision of related texts and epitaphs at the Shimenfeng Memorial Park in Wuhan, and the oral history collation of Professor Xie Aiping. Regarding internship experiences, from April to July 2023, I interned at Budweiser Asia-Pacific Management Company, handling the commercial compliance editing and organizing of company sales point data, as well as some data analysis. From September to November 2023, I participated in the interview and text collation of Professor Xie Aiping's oral history. From March to June 2024, I served as a teaching assistant for the course "Introduction to Classical Humanities and Social Sciences," responsible for teaching literary classics, conducting seminars, and grading exams. From March to August 2024, I worked as an assistant at the Wuhan University Student Employment Guidance and Service Center (International Organization Affairs), drafting correspondence and compiling handbooks. From August to November 2024, I interned at the United Nations University Malaysia Office, updating and revising the organizational structure diagram of the United Nations University system. In February and March 2019, I interned at Sanming Daily, cooperating with reporters to write news articles, plan topics, and conduct relevant interviews.
