Journal of East China Normal University(Educationa ›› 2011, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (1): 68-74.

• 教育史 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

On how to deal with the body in moral education ——Taoist Zhuangzi’s viewpoint

Weizhi Tan   

  1. Curriculum Research Center of Basic Education, Shandong Normal University, Ministry of Education of China, Ji’nan, 250014
  • Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2011-03-28 Published:2011-03-28
  • Contact: Weizhi Tan

Abstract: Many theorists are usually in favor of either imprisoning, restraining and disciplining or put a limitless value on the body in the Middle Ages, in modern and post-modern times. Compared with their thoughts, Zhuangzi’s viewpoint on how to deal with the body provides more implications for moral education. Zhuangzi believes that the body is unitary but still is dominated by the spirit. That is, virtues endow the body with unique importance. Therefore, the way of dealing with the body is critical in helping people acquire virtues. From the perspective of heaven, Zhuangzi reduces the body to the universe, making the body have the same source with everything, which links the body with morality to resolve the problems in moral education.

Key words: body, deal with, moral education, Taoist school