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Discourse on Education for Life(生命敎育)

This study aims to consider the meaning and the principles of the Education for Life(生命敎育) throughout Chuang Tzu's thought. Life, the life means ‘Xing-Ming(性命)’, one's own natural share given by Tao(道) to Chuang Tzu. Each being has its own purpose in itself but also the power that makes the being grow and change by itself. It's like that a small dandelion seed can strike root and bloom if there is only a handful of soil and sunlight. Human being also has such natural power to realize his own Xing-Ming given by Tao. Therefore the final goal of the Education for the Life should be on the empowerment in order to recover one's original Xing-Ming. This does not mean that the education should control or preside over its objectives. The most serious problem of education is educator's limited knowledge and understanding arisen from his ego. The sense of self, which is caused from the dichotomy between Self(我) and Anything but Self(外物), arises all kinds of desires and emotions. The limited knowledge and understanding based on one's sense of self is called Ceng-Xin(成心) by Chuang Tzu. Because of this Ceng-Xin, educators judge students inferior or superior and intend to lead them to the way that he thinks right. Therefore the educator, such as parents or teachers, should remove the view based on himself. Chuang Tzu told us the methods to eliminate Ceng-Xin. They are Xin-Zhai(心齋) and Zhuo-Wang(坐忘). Only after that, educators can see children's Zhi-Ran(自然) in the view of Tao. We can unearth some principles of the Education for Life throughout Chuang Tzu's thought; educate c following their natural character and disposition, do not judge children in the view of educator himself and respect every children's individuality, wait until children are willing to take teachings, attach importance to the communication between educators and children but also between children and the nature where Tao dwells, convert from the education centering on instruction and learning to the education centering on cultivation of mind for self-reflective investigation and awakening and so on. Chuang Tzu's thought shows us the direction the Education for Life should move on. Education exists for life. Education ought to empower children's will to live their own life.