The Book of Chuang Tzu
by Chuang Tzu
The Zhuangzi (historically romanized Chuang Tzŭ) is an ancient Chinese text that is one of the two foundational texts of Taoism, alongside the Tao Te Ching. It was written during the late Warring States period (476–221 BC) and is named for its traditional author, Chuang Tzu/Zhuang Zhou, who is customarily known as "Zhuangzi" ("Master Zhuang").
The Zhuangzi consists of stories and maxims that exemplify the nature of the ideal Taoist sage. It recounts many anecdotes, allegories, parables, and fables, often expressed with irreverence or humour. Recurring themes include embracing spontaneity and achieving freedom from the human world and its conventions. The text aims to illustrate the arbitrariness and ultimate falsity of dichotomies normally embraced by human societies, such as those between good and bad, large and small, life and death, or human and nature. In contrast with the focus on good morals and personal duty expressed by many Chinese philosophers of the period, Chuang Tzu promoted carefree wandering and following nature, through which one would ultimately become one with the "Way" (Tao).
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Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
THE BOOK OF CHUANG TZU
1 Wandering Where You Will
2 Working Everything Out Evenly
3 The Nurturing of Life
4 Out and About in the World
5 Signs of Real Virtue
6 The Great and Original Teacher
7 Dealing with Emperors and Kings
8 Webbed Toes
9 Horses’ Hooves
10 Broken Suitcases
11 Leaving the World Open
12 Heaven and Earth
13 Heaven’s Tao
14 Does Heaven Move?
15 Rigid and Arrogant
16 The Deceived and Ignorant Ones
17 Season of Autumn Floods
18 Perfect Happiness
19 Grasping the Purpose of Life
20 The Huge Tree
21 Tien Tzu Fang
22 The Shores of the Dark Waters
23 Keng Sang Chu
24 Hsu Wu Kuei
25 Travelling to Chu
26 Affected from Outside
27 Supposed Words
28 Abdication
29 Robber Chih
30 The Lover of Swords
31 The Old Fisherman
32 Lieh Yu Kou
33 Governing the World
Index
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Paperback Edition
352 pages. Printed card cover.
ISBN: 9780140455373
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About the Author
One of the great founders of Taoism, Chuang Tzu lived in the fourth century BC and is among the most enjoyable and intriguing personalities in the whole of Chinese philosophy. Almost nothing is concretely known of Chuang Tzu’s life. Most of what is known comes from the Zhuangzi itself, which was subject to changes in later centuries. Most historians place his birth around 369 BC in a place called Meng (蒙) in the historical state of Song, near present-day Shangqiu, Henan. His death is variously placed at 301, 295, or 286 BC.
