Daoist humanism and its reception in Vietnam: Reinterpreting Zhuangzi’s philosophy of life

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Published: Ιουν 7, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/dia.45791
Keywords:
Dao humanism Zhuangzi Reception Vietnam
Vo Van Dung
Associate Professor, University of Khan Hoa, Vietnam
Abstract

This article aims to provide a systematic analysis of the conceptual core of Daoist humanism in the philosophy of Zhuangzi. Based on an integrative approach combining humanistic theory, Daoist philosophy, and cultural reception theory, the study reconstructs key concepts such as Dao, wuwei, and ziran as a unified intellectual framework. It further elucidates Zhuangzi’s conception of the human being, freedom, and the relationship between humans and nature. The paper argues that Daoist humanism does not position humans as a dominant center over existence; rather, it emphasizes harmony, flexibility, and the capacity for self-liberation within the totality of being. When introduced into Vietnam, this body of thought was not adopted in its original form but underwent processes of selective adaptation, reinterpretation, and integration with Confucianism, Buddhism, and indigenous traditions within the model of “three teachings in harmony.” The study contributes to clarifying the active and creative role of Vietnamese culture in appropriating and transforming exogenous ideological systems, while also highlighting the theoretical and contemporary significance of Daoist humanism in current philosophical discourses.

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