Zhuang Zhou
1
9.9
- proper noun
- /ʒwɑŋ dʒoʊ/
- The writings of Zhuang Zhou have influenced generations of philosophers and poets.
Examples
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Many stories attributed to Zhuang Zhou explore the nature of reality and illusion.
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The teachings of Zhuang Zhou emphasize harmony with nature.
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Zhuang Zhou is often regarded as one of the most important figures in classical Chinese philosophy.
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Zhuang Zhou is often regarded as a key figure in Taoism.
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Zhuang Zhou is often regarded as one of the most important figures in classical Chinese philosophy.
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Many stories attributed to Zhuang Zhou explore the nature of reality and illusion.
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The writings of Zhuang Zhou have influenced generations of philosophers and poets.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Zhuang + Zhou
This is a proper name composed of two syllabic name elements rather than a compositional phrase; the constituents have no independent lexical meanings provided and do not indicate the referent's role. A B1 learner who knows the parts as words would not be able to infer that Zhuang Zhou is a (Taoist) philosopher without external encyclopedic or cultural knowledge, so the meaning is non-compositional and arbitrary.
Etymology
Zhuang Zhou is the name of a Chinese thinker from about the 4th century BCE who is often called Zhuangzi. One famous story says he dreamed he was a butterfly and then could not tell if he was a man dreaming he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was a man. That clear image explains why his writings are a main part of 'Taoist' ideas about change and what is real.