Zhuangzi’s Political Philosophy Opening a Feminist Political Space

Abstract

This essay examines Zhuangzi’s political philosophy from a feminist perspective, addressing fundamental questions in Zhuangzi’s political thought and exploring its significance to the opening of a feminist political space. The first part investigates the alienation of humans in the Zhuangzi. I argue that Zhuangzi’s critique of alienation is one of patriarchal oppression. The second part examines what constitutes good governance for Zhuangzi, i.e., non-action and letting the world be (zaiyou 在宥). I use the example of the Mosuo matriarchal society to illustrate Zhuangzi’s ideal society free of oppression and dominance, wherein equality and freedom of the social members are realized through communitarian work. Due to its advocacy for equality and freedom of all beings, in the Conclusion I examine the significance of Zhuangzi’s political philosophy to the opening of a feminist political space.