神观念源自文明早期的神话，是人类原始思维的产物。《庄子》中的神观念有三种含义，分别是人格化鬼神、道之妙用和个体精神。这三重含义随历史发展依次出现，对应人与神、人与道、人与己这三重关系。

其中，作为人格化鬼神的神观念承自上古三代的祭祀文化、礼乐文化，在《庄子》中鬼神观念趋于理性化和精神性，显示出人类地位的上升。作为道之妙用的神观念出现于《易传》，表示“道生万物”过程中体现出的神妙功用。《庄子》继承神观念的道之妙用含义，用以体现宇宙的生命性、精神性。作为个体精神的神观念是《庄子》中“神”的主要含义，也是《庄子》对神观念的独特理解。个体精神是个体生命的内在主宰，由宇宙本原“道”生成，能通过修养回归“神人”的境界。“神人”是整个宇宙的内在主宰，表示个体生命的本原状态。

从外在于人的人格化鬼神，到将鬼神与人类并列的道之妙用，再到主宰个体生命乃至整个宇宙的个体精神，神观念的含义演进体现传统中国人对宇宙本原不断理性化、内在化的认识过程。尤其是个体精神含义的出现，奠定传统中国哲学独特的超越路径。

The concept of "Shen(神)" originates from the myth of early civilization and is the product of primitive human thinking. There are three meanings of the concept of "Shen" in Chuang-Tzu (《庄子》), which are personified ghost and god,the wonderful use of Dao(道) and individual spirit. These three meanings appear in turn with the development of history, corresponding to the relationship between man and God, man and Dao, and man and himself.

Among them, the concept of "Shen", as personified ghost and god, inherits from the sacrificial culture, ritual and music culture of three generations in ancient times. In Chuang-Tzu, the concept of ghosts and gods tends to be rational and spiritual, showing the rise of human status. The concept of "Shen" appeared in Yi Zhuan (《易传》) as the wonderful use of Dao, indicating the magical function reflected in the process of Dao giving birth to all things. Chuang-Tzu inherits the wonderful meaning of the Dao of the concept of "Shen" and embodies the life and spirit of the universe. The concept of "Shen" as individual spirit is the main meaning of "Shen" in Chuang-Tzu, and it is also the unique understanding of the concept of "Shen" in Chuang-Tzu. Individual spirit is the inner master of individual life, which is generated by the universal origin "Dao" and can return to the realm of "Shen Ren( 神人 )" through cultivation. Shen Ren" is the inner master of the whole universe, indicating the original state of individual life.

The evolution of the concept of "Shen" embodies the traditional Chinese people's continuous rationalization and internalization of the origin of the universe.In particular, the appearance of individual spirit lays a unique transcendental path for traditional Chinese philosophy.