An Analysis of Zhuang Zhou's Interpretation and Reuse of Ancient Emperors
In the trend of"Tuogu",confucianists and mohists put their social ideals on the deities,but Zhuang Zhou appeared as a thorough opponent.He deliberately fabricated many ancient emperors,used the"false and absurd words"to ridiculed three emperors and five sovereigns and other emperors,and created fables at well.The world was troubled and cannot be spoken with serious languages,thus Zhuang Zhou criticized the Confucian and the Mohism in a"funny and humoristic"way of speaking.Such idealistic changes actually stemmed from the changes of the times,the previous emperors system constructed by the Confucian and the Mohism did not bring much practical significance to the reshaping of the social order.The former value system was discussed again.Zhuang Zhou pushed the skepticism to the extreme,that is,the complete negation of the emperors system constructed by the Confucian and the Mohism.