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Human and Natural : The Function of the Myri-ad Things (Wanwu萬物) in the Zhuangzi 莊子
ID Lacertosa, Massimiliano (Author)

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Abstract
This paper analyses the function of the myriad things (wanwu 萬物) in the Zhuangzi 莊子, arguing that the text’s conception of the “myriad things’ transformation (wanwu zhi hua 萬物之化)” destabilises anthropocentrism and reconfigures the human-nature relationship. Through close analysis of key passages, I elucidate the ways in which the Zhuangzi’s non-hierarchical framing of wanwu subverts materialist paradigms that priv­ilege human agency over the nonhuman world. Central to my thesis is the paradox that the absence of environmental preoccupations in the text enables its radical decentring of anthropocentrism. This aligns with decolonial critiques of the nature/culture binary, shifting ethical responsibility away from preservationist approaches towards refusal of self-harm through unobstructive action (wuwei 無為). Such attunement prevents injury both to the self and the relational continuum of wanwu, fostering adaptation to constant transformation. Consequently, the Zhuangzi offers a pluralistic framework for rethinking human-world relations beyond anthropocentric paradigms. It grounds ethics in partici­patory responsiveness to wanwu’s irreducible plurality, positioning adaptability—rather than domination—as the cornerstone of coexistence.

Language:English
Keywords:anthropocentrism, nature, Chinese philosophy, Daoism, decolonisation
Work type:Article
Typology:1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:FF - Faculty of Arts
Publication status:Published
Publication version:Version of Record
Publication date:09.01.2026
Number of pages:Str. 331-348
Numbering:Vol. 14, no. 1
PID:20.500.12556/RUL-178347 This link opens in a new window
ISSN:2232-5131
eISSN:2350-4226
DOI:https://doi.org/10.4312/as.2026.14.1.331-348 This link opens in a new window
Publication date in RUL:23.01.2026
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Downloads:125
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Record is a part of a journal

Title:Asian studies
Publisher:Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
ISSN:2232-5131
COBISS.SI-ID:265206272 This link opens in a new window

Licences

License:CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
Link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Description:This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

Language:Slovenian
Title:Človeško in naravno : funkcija desettisočih stvari (wanwu萬物) v Zhuangziju莊子
Abstract:
V tem članku avtor analizira funkcijo desettisočih stvari(wanwu萬物) v Zhuangziju莊子 in zagovarja tezo, da pojem »preobrazbe neštetih stvari« (wanwu zhi hua 萬物之化) v tem besedilu spodkopava antropocentrizem ter ponuja drugačno razmerje med človekom in naravo. Z natančno analizo ključnih odlomkov pokaže, kako nehierarhič-na zasnova wanwu v Zhuangziju negira materialistične paradigme, ki dajejo prednost človeškemu delovanju pred nečloveškim svetom. Osrednje izhodišče razprave je navi-dezno protislovje, ki se v Zhuangziju kaže v tem, da prav odsotnost okoljevarstvenih skr-bi omogoča radikalno razsrediščenje antropocentrizma. To se sklada s postkolonialnimi kritikami binarne opozicije narava/kultura, saj preusmerja etično odgovornost od ohran-janja k zavrnitvi samopoškodovanja prek nedelovanja (wuwei無為). Takšna uglašenost preprečuje poškodbo človeškega sebstva kot relacijskega kontinuuma wanwu in hkrati spodbuja fleksibilno prilagajanje nenehnim preobrazbam. V tem okviru Zhuangzi ponuja pluralistični okvir za ponovni razmislek o odnosih med človekom in svetom onkraj antro-pocentričnih paradigem. Tovrstno etiko utemeljuje v takšnem odzivanju na nerešljivo mnogoterost wanwu, ki temelji na zavesti dejstva, da smo vsi njegov del. Poudarja tudi, da je treba namesto prevlade kot temelj sobivanja postaviti prilagodljivost.

Keywords:antropocentrizem, narava, kitajska filozofija, daoizem, dekolonizacija

Projects

Funder:Other - Other funder or multiple funders
Funding programme:RGC Fellowship Scheme
Project number:PDFS2324-4H02

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