This essay investigates some fundamental questions in Zhuangzi’s political philosophy and explores its significance to the opening of a feminist political space. According to Zhuangzi, a good society must be able to keep Dao in the world so that the nature of all beings and humans can be well kept. What does keeping the Dao in the world mean? How is the world with Dao being kept in it? What is the good way to govern a state according to the Zhuangzi? I try to answer these questions. The first part investigates the alienation of humans through ideologies and the ritual and music system that can be dated back to the Yellow Emperor’s era in the Zhuangzi. I also explore the alienation caused by words and language. I argue that Zhuangzi’s critique of alienation is one of patriarchal oppression. The second part investigates the original nature in the Zhuangzi. I elaborate on how it can be returned to and the consequences in the political sphere when the human mind is distorted and irritated. The third part examines what constitutes good governance for Zhuangzi. It is done through non-action and letting the world be (zaiyou 在宥). Their meaning will be investigated. 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. With this illustration I also intend to correct some common misunderstandings of Zhuangzi’s political philosophy. Due to its advocacy for equality and freedom of all beings, in the last part I examine the significance of Zhuangzi’s political philosophy to the opening of a feminist political space.
