Abstract: Chuang-tzu believes that people’s life is faced with both the physical and mental dilemmas, namely the perceived mental and physical difficulties and unrest as a result of the enhanced people’s self-consciousness. To get rid of physical dilemma, Chuang-tzu adopted the approaches of humanization and materialization, life-valuing and life-enjoying, futility of utility, the doctrines of the mean and reclusion, self-emptying and enjoying life. In response to his mental dilemma, Chuang-tzu employed the tactics of preserving the original nature, mental-relieving, freeing mind by dint of circumstances, returning to nature, etc. These approaches and tactics embody people-oriented and nature-oriented philosophical wisdom, which is of great value for building a people-oriented harmonious society.

Key words: physical dilemma, mental dilemma, freedom of life, contemporary value