不遇而相知:“庄孟不遇”问题试解

Probing into the Connection between Zhuangzi and Mencius

"庄孟不遇"是思想史的难题之一。根据现有的文献,我们很难找到二人相遇的直接线索。但是,二人之间存在的人脉关系足以为他们的"相遇"提供条件。学者所营造的"庄学儒源"说缩小了庄、孟思想上的联系。在人性论、认识论和功夫论等问题上的相似观点,我们可以确定庄、孟在思想上的"相遇"。"不遇而相知"也许是化解"庄孟不遇"问题的一把钥匙。

It is one of the puzzles in the ideological history that why Zhuangzi and Mencius never met each other because literature did not provide any clue of their encounter although they had the chance since they have some common friends.According to some scholars,Zhuangzi＇s theory has certain connections with Confucius＇ for they share similar ideas in terms of human nature,epistemology and self-cultivation,which help us arrive at a conclusion that they are soul mates though they had never met each other.Maybe this is the key to solve that puzzle.