The Dream of Zhuang Zhou: Entangled Agencies in Multispecies Virtual

Abstract

This paper presents The Dream of Zhuang Zhou, a multispecies virtual reality (VR) experience that operationalizes Zhuangzi’s concept of “transformative embodiment” through the lens of the “Butterfly Dream” parable. Leveraging 3D Gaussian Splatting technologies and classical Chinese landscape aesthetics, the project reconstructs an immersive environment from the perspectives of four species: human, fish, butterfly, and bird, each with distinct sensory and cognitive mappings. This perceptual metamorphosis exposes the coconstructed nature of reality—not only through human-machine entanglement, but also by embodying Zhuangzi’s proposition: all existence emerges through dynamic transformation. The project thus reframes VR as a medium for philosophical experimentation, bridging technological reconstruction with Zhuangzi’s philosophy to challenge anthropocentric ontologies and foster multispecies empathy.