試由「鼓盆而歌」談莊子的情感轉化機制

A Study on Zhuangzi's Emotional Transformation Method Through the Story“Drumming on a tub and Singing”

莊子面對妻子的死亡，從情感表現變化的角度來看，經歷了「慨然－止也－鼓盆而歌」三個階段。本文藉以討論的核心議題為：莊子究竟是如何從一開始的慨然神傷，到停止哭泣，終至鼓盆而歌？其中的情感轉化機制與動力為何？其「無情」說該如何理解？關於前兩個問題，本文初步認為，莊子情感變化的關鍵在「察其始」這一反省生命起源的思辨活動，「認知重估」的思維活動是推動情感轉化的重要動力。「認知重估」的發生如何可能呢？正是由於經歷了妻子死亡的重大生命事件所帶來的激烈情緒衝擊，才迫使莊子產生了「察其始」的認知活動之自覺要求；而且，也是在自然流露哀傷之情之後，在情感得到充分的釋放和滿足之後，認知重估的理性思考與情感的自我轉化才可能發生。扼言之，若不是「慨然」之情的推動，就沒有後續「察其始」的認知活動。理性認知與情感表達並非人天性之中對立相斥的兩極，實際上，他們交互影響、交相推動著生命的變化進程。關於第三個問題，「無情」不在、也無法否定人具有情感的事實，而在調節情感過度膨脹所造成的異化與負累，解除人們受縛於死生對立、苦樂相待的「倒懸」之苦，實現心靈的自由與至樂。

In the face of the death of his wife, Zhuangzi went through three stages of his emotional expressions. This article discusses about: how did Zhuangzi go from being grieving at the beginning, to stopping crying, and finally singing? What is the method and motivation of emotional transformation? How to understand his unsentimental (Wu-Qing) theory? Regarding the first two questions, this paper believes that the key to Zhuangzi's emotional transformation lies in the speculative activity of“investigating the beginning”about reflecting on the origin of life. The rational thinking activity of“cognitive reevaluation”is an important driving force for emotional transformation. How is it possible for a“cognitive revaluation”to occur? It is precisely because of the intense emotional impact brought by the significant event of his wife's death. This event forced Zhuangzi to develop a conscious demand for the cognitive activity of“investigating the beginning”. Moreover, it is only after the natural feeling of being grieving is expressed sufficiently that the rational thinking of cognitive reevaluation and the self-transformation of emotions can take place. In short, if it were not the feeling of“being grieving”as a cause, there would be no follow-up rational cognitive activity of“investigating the beginning”. Rational cognition and emotional expression are not opposites and repulsive poles of human nature, in fact, they interact and promote the process of life. As for the third question, unsentimental (Wu-Qing) theory does not and cannot deny the fact that people have emotions, but regulates the emotional alienation and the burdens of life. It helps us to untie the bundle of“hanging upside down”, and brings the freedom and happiness of mind.