Rethinking Animal Imagery in the Zhuangzi

Abstract

Abstract Chapter 9 traces depictions of marginalized groups in the Zhuangzi with an eye toward potential associations of animality. It shows that although the text consistently dismantles prevalent ideas about distant lands, humble professions, and mutilated ex-convicts, it exhibits a negligent, inconsistent, and sometimes establishmentarian attitude toward women. This chapter argues that one of the factors contributing to this disparity is that the primary audience of the text is mainly men from lower-level elite background (shi 士), which, in the end, limits the extent of its subversive vision. Moreover, if we grant that there was possibly a soothing dimension to sanguine tales about distant lands (where a shi might be exiled) and about people finding fulfilment in menial jobs or despite having mutilated bodies (which are situations that a shi might fear), then perhaps there was simply less of an interest in offering uplifting reimaginations of women’s lives.