Abstract: Daoist thought constitutes a significant source of Hermann Hesse’s philosophical vision. In Steppenwolf, Hesse adopts Lao-Zhuang philosophy as the inner ideological structure and narrative logic to contemplate the spiritual world of intellectuals, striving to reconstruct meaning for modern individuals afflicted by value nihilism and thereby contributing a meaningful exploration toward addressing the crisis of modernity of the West. In his pursuit of individual spiritual freedom, the protagonist Harry Haller attempts to establish his own “Dao” to affirm subjective value. But, due to the profound conflict between ideal and reality and due to his intense yearning for life, he inevitably falls into self-division. To transcend this predicament, he engages in continuous introspection and a quest for eternal values, transforming the anxiety of death into a driving force for creation, thus achieving redemption. This reflects Hesse’s attempt to employ Daoist dialectical thinking to realize self-transcendence. Tang poet Li Bai (701-762), whom Hesse deeply admired and who shares a profound connection with Daoism, constructs in his poetry a self-image and a pathway of spiritual breakthrough that form a cross-cultural parallel with Hesse’s portrayal of Harry Haller.

Key words: Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf, Daoist Thought, Lao-Zhuang philosophy, Li Bai (701-762)