Panel 26: Ancient China Today: Everyday Daoism and Digital History

Chair: Alexander Hsu, University of Notre Dame

Panelists

Adrian Zheng, University of Notre Dame, “Use of ‘Uselessness’: Zhuangzi’s Challenge to Modern Success Metrics”

This paper discusses the Daoist philosophy of Zhuangzi by focusing on his notion of ‘uselessness’ and its contrast with modern success metrics. The paper first examines the parables of the useless tree and Cook Ding. Zhuangzi’s teachings advocate for a life aligned with personal values rather than societal expectations of utility and productivity. This study discusses the relevance of Zhuangzi’s ideas in contemporary society by looking at personal success, standards of beauty, and the value of non-action (“wu-wei”). By analyzing scholarly interpretations of these ideas from Eric Schiwitzgebel and Peng Feng, this paper concludes how ‘uselessness’ can lead to a more authentic lifestyle free from the conventional pressure of achieving visible success. This paper ultimately argues that Zhuangzi’s ancient wisdom has significant implications for modern life, advocating for embracing inner personal worth rather than external accomplishments.

Joseph Kirner, University of Notre Dame, “Daoist Spontaneity in Musicianship”

This paper evaluates how the principles of spontaneous action inform pursuits to cultivate musicianship, such as developing technical skills, fostering poise and confidence in performance, and embracing artistic creativity. As music is a practice that requires the development of technical skills, every musician must build a comprehensive understanding of the diverse elements of music, manifested by the interplay between yin and yang, that give each particular piece and performance a unique identity. Furthermore, musicians must learn to adapt to unexpected changes in performance dynamics arising out of the freely transforming nature of the world. Finally, musicians must be willing to delve into the unknown and fully realize their creative potential by embracing spontaneity within their cultivated understanding of technique and performance. This investigation suggests that spontaneity enables musicians to overcome uncertainty and inexperience by regulating the world’s cosmic balance, accepting the inevitability of change, and welcoming the discovery of the unknown.

Victoria Ryan, University of Notre Dame, “Ancient Chinese Primary Sources Examined through the Lenses of Social Networks, Geographical Mobility, and Criminal History”

Zhufu Yan and Shu-li Tzu: An Exploration of the Impact of Social Networks, Geographical Mobility, and Criminal History on Official Careers in Ancient China analyzes the lives of two prominent officials in three different lenses. It examines their relationships, travels, and criminal accusations in an attempt to explain the scope of their careers, as well as the creation of the empire as a whole. In terms of social networks, both historical actors relied heavily on their connections to propel their success. Zhufu Yan benefited from a direct connection with the emperor as a result of his ability to use historical references as a form of social capital, but his downfall was eventually brought about by the many enemies he formed. On the other hand, Shu-li Tzu’s family connections were responsible for his success, as he was the brother and uncle to the three kings he served. As part of the royal family, Shu-li Tzu was a native of the capital, but as a military official, he traveled thousands of miles to annex new territory, and this physical expansion played a crucial role in building the Qin empire. Zhufu Yan was from Qi, but he left his homeland in search of work and eventually arrived in the capital. The geographical mobility of both of these individuals represents a larger pattern of travel by skilled officials in empires that were otherwise restrictive of movement across boundaries. Because Shu-li Tzu was a relative of the kings he served, he did not face criminal accusations, despite his inability to carry out attacks on rival territories. However, Zhufu Yan was accused of several crimes, which led to his execution. The themes discussed in this paper relating to Zhufu Yan, Shu-li Tzu, and ancient China as a whole include the utility of establishing connections with authorities, the importance of proximity to the capital, the prevalence of official travel in building an empire, and the culture of surveillance and punishment.

Brisny Rodriguez Flores, University of Notre Dame, “Lü Buwei and Shu-li Tzu: Comparative Analysis of Official Careers from Qin State to Qin Dynasty”

Lü Buwei and Shu-li Tzu: Comparative Analysis of Official Careers from Qin State to Qin Dynasty looks at how the changing socio-political backdrop of the Qin State influenced the rise of the civil officials Lü Buwei and Shu-li Tzu. Shu-li Tzu and Lü Buwei both served the Qin State under different points in time, the former while the Qin State was growing (330 BCE-300 BCE) and the latter when the Qin State developed from state to dynasty (260 BCE-220 BCE). Shu-li Tzu, having lived during the Warring States period, had strong connections to the royal line and to other states. He was a respected general on the field who spread the reputation and influence of the Qin State during his campaigns. Lü Buwei was a powerful merchant in 267 BCE who found Zi Chu (the middle son of the heir to the Ch’in State) during one of his trips to the Zhao Capital. With his wealth, he helped Zi Chu become the heir to the Qin State, and later helped develop the Qin State into the Qin Dynasty. Both Shu-li Tzu and Lü Buwei had an extensive social network and background of geographical mobility in their efforts to support the kings or potential heirs in that time and were highly regarded within their social spheres. However, the strength of their network and the political climate they lived in varied and influenced the lives they led and how they ended. This paper analyzes how the changing socio-political climate during their times influenced the networks they developed and their need for internal movement, focusing on how the changes in law and geographical mobility impacted the latter half of their lives as civil officials.

These two papers overlap directly in their analyses of Shu-li Tzu. Both papers are also connected by three main themes: social networks, geographical mobility, and criminal history. Across the three historical figures, three time periods are covered: the Warring States era (Shu-li Tzu), the Qin Dynasty (Lü Buwei), and the Han Dynasty (Zhufu Yan). Putting these two papers into conversation offers an exploration of empire building and the changing culture and political environment of Ancient China through the careers of prominent officials.