The Interpretation of Zhuangzi and Qu Yuan by Qian Chengzhi and His Expatriate Identity Recognition

While interpreting Zhuangzi and Qu Yuan, Qian Chengzhi also reshaped their images from the perspective of exiles, thereby expressing his own principle of moderate conduct in the world. Under Qian’s interpretation, Zhuangzi and Qu Yuan respectively symbolize the two types of exiles in the transition from the Ming to the Qing dynasty – for the former, Qian agrees with his prudent self-preservation but rejects his blind avoidance of the world; for the latter, he endorses his persistent pursuit of progress but opposes his futile suicide for the country. Qian’s judgment standard is his exile identity recognition formed by the integration of various factors such as his belief in the survival of the country depending on his own survival, his complicated and complex life experience, etc. Thus, Qian’s proposal of integrating Zhuangzi and Qu Yuan is not only of academic significance, but its more important intention is to provide a new way out for exiles in the transition period between the two dynasties by using the life choices of Zhuangzi and Qu Yuan.