외발 소수자 ‘兀者’의 함의 고찰 — ＜양생주＞와 ＜덕충부＞를 중심으로

Abstract

There are many disabled people in Zhuangzi. Among them, Youshi of Yangshengzhu, Wang Tai of Dechongfu, Shen Tujia and Shushan The Toeless are an acquired disabled people. Youshi was expressed as one foot and the other three people was expressed as Wuzhe(兀者). In Shuowen, the word Wu(兀) means “high and flat above”. However, Kangxi dictionary added the meaning “cutting feet”. However, in the original sense of Wu(兀), Wuzhe(兀者) was not just a punished person, but also highly educated, could have been the one who received the “Criminal Punishment Of Cutting Off The Feet”. Those who have been punished and cut their foot are likely to have been involved in matters of national interest. It also shows that, in reverse terms, they were in positions that could affect national interests. It is not clear why the people in Zhuangzi were cut their foot, but Zhuang Zi’s descriptions suggest that they were in some position and were well-educated. Therefore, the three Wuzhe(兀者) characters in Dechongfu should not be regarded as “the person with their feet cut off”, but rather as a double meaning, adding to the meaning of “Proud Loneliness”. Just like “Sun Bin(孫臏)”. Zhuang Zi showed “life(生)” through Youshi, and “virtue(德)” through Wuzhe(兀者). This can be said to be not only a role model for the disabled to grow and nurture their remaining lives, but also a token or an example if they are full of their inner virtues.