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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
WANG Bin-shi
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2025.03.005
Yunnan Open University, Kunming, China
This paper examines the Taoist influences in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, refuting the long-held belief that Thoreau lacked exposure to Taoist thought due to limited translations. Recent research indicates that Thoreau may have encountered Taoist ideas through 19th-century European sinological networks. The study reveals striking parallels between Thoreau’s philosophy and Taoist principles, including a shared emphasis on nature mysticism, simplicity, and a critique of materialism. Both Thoreau and Taoists advocate for harmonious coexistence with nature and reject anthropocentrism. The paper also explores similarities in their writing techniques, particularly the use of water as a metaphor for humility and adaptability.
Taoism, Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, March 2025, Vol. 15, No. 3, 148-151
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