In this blog post, we will explore the true meaning of the ‘superhuman’ through Zhuangzi’s philosophy and shed light on a conception of the superhuman that differs from the superhero, who is a symbol of power and ability.
People sometimes dream of becoming superhuman. Phrases like “superhuman strength” and “superhuman abilities” excite people’s imaginations. That is why popular culture frequently features such themes. Hollywood productions like Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman are classic examples. These heroes wield immense power to save the world, vanquish evil, and bring hope to people. However, these superhumans exist only in fiction; in reality, it is difficult for us to possess such power. So, what does the true superhuman we can aspire to be actually look like?
A true superhuman is not someone who performs dazzling, extraordinary feats, but rather someone who can calmly overcome life’s hardships and cover resentment with love. A true superhuman is someone who possesses the inner strength to rise above the difficulties and suffering encountered in daily life, accepting them with composure and overcoming them. Thus, the philosophy of the superhuman gives us the strength to navigate this difficult world with a smile. This image of the superhuman can be revealed even in the small moments of daily life. The ability to restrain anger during a conflict with a friend, the strength to rise again after failure, and the heart to understand and embrace others’ mistakes—these are the very virtues of the superhuman.
The *Zhuangzi* reveals this philosophy of the superhuman to us. It shifts our gaze, which is often fixated on petty, immediate gains, toward a broader and deeper horizon. It transforms our hearts, filled with resentment and hatred, into ones brimming with bold courage and joy. The superhuman described by Zhuangzi is someone who lives a life true to their inner self, un swayed by the world’s gaze or judgment. The superhuman he pursues reflects the human ideal of transcending the constraints and limitations of reality to attain true freedom and peace.
However, this boldness and detachment in the *Zhuangzi* are on a completely different level from frivolous declarations or empty boasts lacking deep experience. Between the lines of this book, we can sense a gaze that is almost agonizingly tragic—a moist gaze gazing upon a cruel world. We can sense a gaze filled with suffering directed at a cruel and ruthless reality that is beyond the power of any individual to change. The Zhuangzi is a great text because it rises from this abyss to offer detachment and hope. Zhuangzi’s philosophy provides deep insights into the various problems we face in our lives. It guides us toward maintaining an unshakable mind even amidst pain, sorrow, and uncertainty.
Zhuangzi’s philosophy is thoroughly non-speculative. If we view the term “empiricism” not from the narrow perspective of scientific methodology—such as direct perception, experimentation, or the collection of data—but rather as a fundamental attitude toward thought, then Zhuangzi is a thoroughgoing empiricist. Here, “experience” does not refer to external perception of reality, but rather to the most honest gaze upon life itself. Zhuangzi seeks to look directly at the essence of life, accept it, and find freedom within it. His thought is neither theoretical nor abstract. Rather, he seeks to discover truth within the concrete problems of life.
With his thrilling prose and striking imagery, Zhuangzi seeks to escape the stifling reality and the petty world of human beings. Zhuangzi’s philosophy is a philosophy of transformation. It is a philosophy of becoming a different being. The system of life imposed upon him, the dividing lines that separate things, the system of signs, the positions and statuses conferred by institutions, the values demanded by reality…
There exists an unbridgeable gap in perception between Zhuangzi and those who accept these frameworks as a given—or those who, while knowing they are not, lack the courage to set out in search of a different life. This gap is also the difference between those who settle for reality and those who pursue freedom.
Human society is composed of positions and names. The system of positions and names constitutes “rank” (位). Most people accept this system of rank and struggle to survive within it. But Zhuangzi rejects this rank. It is a life of “no rank” (無位). However, this life of no rank does not mean displaying some outstanding ability or achieving something dazzling and monumental. On the contrary, a life of wu-wei is one that seeks to roam freely, liberated from the conflicts, competition, envy, jealousy, the exhausting stares of others, and the fleeting joys and sorrows that status imposes. Yet, conversely, such a life of roaming brings with it all manner of arduous sufferings and the exhausting stares of others. A life of wu-wei is one that endures such suffering and stares—or rather, one that can cast off even the very act of enduring them. The Zhuangzi-style superhuman is not the superhuman conceived by a life of status, but rather the superhuman conceived by a life of wu-wei. This signifies the true freedom of those who break free from the expectations of others and social standards to walk their own unique path.
