The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

I Love Burton Watson's Translation........2007-09-08

I have read many different translations of Chuang Tzu. I find many of them either too awkward, wordy, biased or incomprehensible. Admittedly, it is not possible to learn Taoist philosophy without a teacher's explanation. Unfortunately, books do not always answer questions. However, given that limitation, this translation is the clearest I have ever encountered.

A gem for the enthusiast's collection........2001-05-28

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF CHUANG TZU. Translated by Burton Watson. 397 pp. New York and London: Columbia University Press, 1968 and reprinted.

Anyone who may be coming to Chuang Tzu for the first time is in for a treat. Although Chuang Tzu is sometimes described as the most brilliant of all Chinese philosophers, what we find in him isn't what we normally understand by 'Philosophy' and isn't technical at all.

His appeal is not so much to the intellect as to the imagination, and he chose as a vehicle for his philosophical insights, not tedious and lengthy abstract treatises, but brief and witty anecdotes and dialogues and tales. His humor, sophistication, literary genius, and philosophical insights found their perfect expression in his brilliant fragments, and once having read them you never forget them.

Not much is known about Chuang Tzu, other than that he seems to have lived around the time of King Hui of Liang (370-319 B.C.). The received text of his book, which is sometimes referred to as 'the Chuang Tzu' (CT), is made up of thirty-three Chapters. Most scholars seem to feel that the CT is a composite text, and that only the first seven - the Inner Chapters - plus a few bits from the others are Chuang Tzu's own work, the remainder being by his followers.

Among the better known of his translators, all of them excellent, are Arthur Waley, Lin Yutang, A. C. Graham, and Burton Watson, though only the latter two translated the complete text. An abridged version of Watson's complete translation was later made available for those who only want to read the Inner Chapters.

The present book, 'The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu,' was first published in 1968. After an interesting 28-page Introduction, which includes bibliographical information, Burton Watson's very fine translations follow, all of which have been set out as prose and lightly annotated. The book is rounded out with an Index.

Watson has always struck me as an eminently civilized scholar and as a brilliant translator. His many translations from Ancient Chinese Literature are of uniformly high quality, and are well worth collecting as they are books one often returns to. Enthusiasts will certainly want to add the present gem to their collection.

Excellent!.......2000-08-01

Excellent work! I have read on numerous occasions and from numerous sources that Burton Watson's Chuang Tzu is the best one out there and this book is no disappointment! The text is clear and holds well to the original, he includes helpful footnotes at the bottom of the page instead of at the end in a huge appendix. The footnotes themselves are even extraordinary, they include notes on why he translated as he did for those who can read chinese, and can be very helpful with some of the more esoteric passages. His footnotes can even be humerous, making you feel a little better about being totally lost in some of the latter chapters! A wonderful book that I recommend to everyone!

Burton Watson's version: authentic, clear, simple.......1998-07-12

The language used by Burton Watson presents Chuang Tzu's teachings in clear, concise language that preserves the simplicity and complexity of this master. Without adding anything, prose and poetry merge - inspiration! I have not yet read another translation which compels me to memorize passages - passages which have changed my life.

The book is clear relative to other books I read.......1997-06-04

The book is relatively clear. The translater does some times misunderstand the author's intent. Some things could be translated better, to accommodate humor that I believe the author intended

Way of Chuang Tzu (New Directions Paperbook)

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Thomas Merton's Best: The Way of Chuang Tzu
A Small Gem
Like a fine wine ...
Deforming the dao
The way of Chuang Tzu

Way of Chuang Tzu (New Directions Paperbook)
Thomas Merton
Manufacturer: New Directions Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0811201031

Book Description

Working from existing translations, Thomas Merton composed a series of personal versions from his favorites among the classic sayings of Chuang Tzu, the most spiritual of the Chinese philosophers. Chuang Tzu, who wrote in the fourth and third centuries B.C., is the chief authentic historical spokesman for Taoism and its founder Lao Tzu (a legendary character known largely through Chuang Tzu's writings). Indeed it was because of Chuang Tzu and the other Taoist sages that Indian Buddhism was transformed, in China, into the unique vehicle we now call by its Japanese name — Zen. The Chinese sage abounds in wit, paradox, satire, and shattering insight into the true ground of being. Father Merton, no stranger to Asian thought, brings a vivid, modern idiom to the timeless wisdom of Tao. Illustrated with early Chinese drawings.

Customer Reviews:

Thomas Merton's Best: The Way of Chuang Tzu.......2007-07-19

I am a recently retired teacher who for thirty-five years have begun every class (Theology, Sexuality, Physics, Chemistry, Math and in summers Arts and Crafts to kids 4-12 years old) with a sounding of small brass cymbals (Tibetan), a minute of silent breathing followed by a short reading from the Tao Te Ching, Emily Dickinson, a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, or the Way of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Merton.
I meet former students now pushing into their fifties who baldly admit that those moments have stayed with them all these years and they have included meditation as one of the most important activities in their lives.
Thomas Merton's Introductory Notes say it far better than I ever could and should be read .
I can only wholeheartedly recommend that you buy this book and keep it at your desk or bedside for a quick straightening out of your mind concerning what is really important in life.

A Small Gem.......2006-12-09

In his Note to the Reader, Thomas Merton writes, "I believe a certain type of reader will enjoy my intuitive approach to a thinker who is subtle, funny, provocative, and not easy to get at." I have read every English translation of Chuang's Tzu's works, and Merton's is my clear favorite. Like Merton, I do not read Chinese but rely on a hard-to-define sensibility to determine if a translation is "true" to the original: does it capture its "spirit?" My feeling about this book is that Merton, in a spooky but wonderful way, is channeling Chuang Tzu. I love this book.

This 160-page book consists of the above mentioned Note to the Reader, a brief (c. 17 pp.) introduction to Chuang Tzu, and about 60 "readings" from his works. Each reading can be a source of meditation on a particular aspect of living. One reads this book as slowly, selectively, and leisurely as one would read a book of poetry. And, like a book of poems, it adds value to the experience for one person to read aloud to another, as the listener may close his or her eyes and allow the spirit behind the words to permeate, refreshen, and revitalize his or her soul.

Here is an example, from one of the briefer "readings," called Means and Ends (p. 154)

"The gatekeeper in the capital city of Sung became such an expert mourner after his father's death, and so emaciated himself with fasts and austerities, that he was promoted to high rank that he might serve as a model of ritual observance.
As a result of this, his imitators so deprived themselves that half of them died. The others were not promoted.
The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish, and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.
The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits. When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.
The purpose of words is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.
Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to."

Like a fine wine ..........2006-10-04

Like a fine wine, this collection is best consumed slowly. As it is clearly stated in the foreward, this is not a faithful reproduction of Chuang Tzu but a collection of personal and spiritual interpretations of his work. Readers that expected otherwise might consider reading the description of the book before purchasing it. It would seem embarassing to write a negative review of a product that goes in complete contradiction of the product's clear description and intentions.

Thomas Merton was a Trappist Monk who took a particular interest in Buddhism and Asian spirituality. Because Merton tragically died at a young age, we will never see a final product of this work. In "The Way of Chuang Tzu", Merton selects writings of Chuang Tzu which reflect a Christian mentality. Obviously, Chuang Tzu was not a Christian. However, this does not disqualify his writings to a Christian audience in any way. If the reader can go into this book with an open mind, he/she is likely to enjoy it. Those who are closed minded to this type of work which may seemingly blur the line between faiths according to their view may be outraged. I would strongly encourage open-mindedness.

Deforming the dao.......2006-09-19

There are a plethora of translations of Chinese classics out there, but please know that many of these "translations" are just "re-imaginings" of the original, i.e. the authors usually do not know Classical Chinese (let alone modern Chinese!).

Merton is one such "translater". This is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as one is aware that this does not strictly reflect the original text (although it may resemble it). What we have here is a picking over of existing translations of the Chuang-tzu and a recombination of them. This is often done with some artistic licence.

Merton is better than most in that he is somewhat sensitive to the original material. Things get vastly worse with translations of the Daodejing (for example, Ursula le Guins monstrous butchering). If you want a more accurate account of the Chuang-tzu then I recommend A.C. Grahams' expert translation which is a relatively successful facsimile of the Chinese original (given the difficulty of rendering Chinese into English anyway).

The way of Chuang Tzu .......2006-08-20

If you have an interest in learning the deeper meanings of Tao then this is a book you must add to your collection. A seldom translated philosophy of poetic renderings are clearly detailed in the transliterations of Thomas Merton...the spirit of Tao is clearly revealed.

Wandering on the Way: Early Taoist Tales and Parables of Chuang Tzu

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Is it still a title if I do it this way?
Best Translation of Chuang Tzu in English
the Chuang tzu
The Best Available Translation Of This Toaist Classic
Superb translation but with a lack of notes

Wandering on the Way: Early Taoist Tales and Parables of Chuang Tzu
Victor H. Mair
Manufacturer: University of Hawaii Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 082482038X

Customer Reviews:

Is it still a title if I do it this way?.......2007-03-02

This is a fun, complete, egotistical translation of Chuang Tzu. Fun, because it is full of zaniness and funny names and joy. Complete, because it contains all of Chuang Tzu and not just the easily amusing bits. Egotistical, because the author is a scholar and foolishly uses the PC "she/her" even when "he/him" would be better; deletes random bits he doesn't approve of and then lumps them together at the back; goes on about what he can't know anything about in the front matter and puts more of these bits in the beginning of each chapter. Should you buy this book? Oh, sure. Buy one. Should you be like the translator and flap your opinions around? Oh, sure. Everything makes a noise. Should you be like the author and make people wiser and happier for two thousand years? Oh, oops -- got to go -- I've said too much.

Best Translation of Chuang Tzu in English.......2006-10-28

This is an amazing book. Mair explains his methods in his introduction; he claims that Chuang Tzu is a literary writer first and a philosopher second. As such, Mair aims to capture the inimitable style of Master Chuang, whom he claims created new ways of expressing oneself in Chinese. The resulting text is a fabulously refreshing collection of parables, which seems to contain the essence of philosophical Taoism. Chuang Tzu has much to teach us about the utility of uselessness, the interchangeable nature of the large and small, and my favourite teaching, the futility of 'guarding against thieves.' Chuang Tzu explains in chapter 10 'Ransacking Coffers' that people who go to great lengths to guard against thieves are just preparing things for the 'great robber.' This seems to have something to say about the nature of capitalism, especially in this era of corporate takeovers and the like. Chuang Tzu is an antidote for modern life.

Mair includes the complete text of Chuang Tzu, not limiting himself to the 'Inner Chapters' (which are regarded as being actually written by Chuang Tzu). He includes the 'Outer' and 'Miscellaneous Chapters', many of which Mair claims are the equal or superior of the Inner Chapters. Each chapter is prefaced by a note giving context to the authorship of the chapter. For instance, Mair regards some of the chapters as being written by Confucianists who have somehow wormed their way into Chuang Tzu over the centuries.

This book compares favourably to other translations of Chuang Tzu I have read. My first exposure to Chuang came in Burton Watson's translation of the Inner Chapters, and while I have not read this book for many years, it was Watson who convinced me of the necessity to study this quasi-historical figure. 'The Essential Chuang Tzu' (Hammill & Seaton) was disappointing in comparison to this book. Thomas Merton's 'The Way of Chuang Tzu' is a nice little book, but not of the same calibre of this volume. In short, Mair's volume seems to me to be the definitive translation.

Chuang Tzu can change your life--quite literally--if you are willing and able to pursue a life of carefree wandering. It's a book not to be missed.

the Chuang tzu.......2003-05-17

One trusts this is probably the best English translation there is of the Chuang Tzu. The Chuang tzu has a unique place in the world of spiritual writings; it breathes the air of freedom like nothing else. Not knowing ancient Chinese, however, the only thing I can say is that I am very happy with this translation.

The Best Available Translation Of This Toaist Classic.......2002-03-13

Though Burton Watson's translation comes a close second, this version is the absolute best English translation I have found. Mair includes the "rhyming prose" the poetry and lots of the zaniness that somehow gets passed over in other translations. For those wishing to have more notes Mair generously refers them to his writings in the Sino-Platonic Papers. Mair is second to none in his understanding of archaic Chinese and takes us back to the truly revolutionary collection of writings that Chuang Tzu really is.

Superb translation but with a lack of notes.......2001-08-04

It's a fresh and scholarly translation, but also potentially controversial, since a few sections of the text have been deleted (even from the Inner Chapters). The deletions are not noted in the main text (the general reader will be unaware of them) or clearly explained. They can be found in the "Deleted Passages" appendix at the end of the book. Some translations are unconventional, like "look after your parents" (Watson) in the beginnig of chapter 3, is translated by Victor Mair as "Nourish your inmost viscera"; it would be interesting to know why. I would look forward to another edition with notes.

Average customer rating:

Th e best book of eastern phiolospy I have read...
A. C. Graham
Wonderful book
Brilliantly written
There are better translations available

Chuang Tzu: The Inner Chapters
David Hinton
Manufacturer: Counterpoint
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1887178791

Customer Reviews:

Th e best book of eastern phiolospy I have read..........2006-10-09

I REALLY enjoy this book. It is interesting and full of wisdom and leaves this simple reader with a lot to chew on. I especially enjoyed the tale of the butcher in "To care for this life". I have not read any other translations of The Inner Chapters, but I certainly will. I have compared other of David Hinton's translations with different translators, and find that his writing is touching and poetic, and for me, "hits home" the most. He seems to put great care and respect into his work, and I tend to enjoy his translations the most. I am gobbling up all his work I can get my hands on. Highly recommend his Wilderness Poems of Ancient China and translations of Tao Chien. I hope you buy this book.

A. C. Graham.......2005-01-13

This translation, I have to say, cannot hold a candle to A. C. Graham's. Graham reorganized the whole text, and explains how and why very methodically in his 35-page introduction. He tried to put the Inner Chapters into what could be (he believes) more faithful to the initial text. His translations read beautifully, much better than Hinton's often clunky ones. Also, when Zhuangzi switches from prose to poetry, or vice versa, it is noted in Graham's translation, often by putting the translation into a poem. In Hinton's, you'll find no such doings. Also, call me a snob, but I like my philosophy books to be translated by philosophers.

I'm sure it's a fine book, but I really must strongly recommend the Graham translation over this.

Wonderful book.......2004-10-03

I haven't read any other translations so I cannot comment per the prior reviewers' disagreement over this. On the other hand, some folks prefer a very literal translation and others perfer to optimize the poetic nature or the philosophical meaning and accuracy. There may not be a right or wrong on this point. However, the quality of Chuang Tzu's work is not in question--it's magnificent. This translation appeared to preserve the poetic beauty of the original while retaining its philosophical/religious integrity--but then, I don't read Chinese. I suggest you read it and form your own opinion.

Brilliantly written.......2000-03-19

Chuang Tzu's literary themes and format of choice differ considerably from those of the more famous Lao Tzu; his prose anecdotes are more accessible than Lao Tzu's didactic verse, yet often deeper as well, and are worthy of examination even by those with no particular interest in Taoist philosophy.

How accurate is this work as translation? Not being familiar with the original Chinese, I can't say -- but the English phrasings are extraordinarily effective in their own right, far clearer and more beautiful than those in another, more popular version that I've seen.

There are better translations available.......1998-03-19

What I don't understand is why this translation is IN PRINT, while some really excellent translations of the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), such as those by A.C. Graham and Victor Mair, are OUT OF PRINT.

Average customer rating:

First Impression
The second classic of Taoism
Becoming a Chuang Tzu enthusiast.
Fine translation of a great work that is fun to read!
There are better translations out there.

Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings

Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0231105959

Book Description

-- Asian Affairs

The basic writings of Chuang Tzu have been savored by Chinese readers for over two thousand years. And Burton Watson's lucid and beautiful translation has been loved by generations of readers.

Chuang Tzu (369?-286? B.C.) was a leading philosopher representing the Taoist strain in Chinese thought. Using parable and anecdote, allegory and paradox, he set forth, in the book that bears his name, the early ideas of what was to become the Taoist school. Central to these is the belief that only by understanding Tao (the Way of Nature) and dwelling in its unity can man achieve true happiness and freedom, in both life and death.

Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings includes the seven "inner chapters," which form the heart of the book, three of the "outer chapters," and one of the "miscellaneous chapters." Watson also provides an introduction, placing the philosopher in relation to Chinese history and thought.

Witty and imaginative, enriched by brilliant imagery, and making sportive use of both mythological and historical personages (including even Confucius), this timeless classic is sure to appeal to anyone interested in Chinese religion and culture.

Customer Reviews:

First Impression.......2005-03-04

My impression upon first reading this work is that the material could be differently, and perhaps better, translated.

The second classic of Taoism.......2004-11-04

This is a very different book than the Lao Tzu. It's written in a much less poetic style, but I find Chuang Tzu more readable for that reason. The style is more conversational, and well rendered into contemporary English by Burton Watson.

These inner chapters contain only the core of a much longer work. Over the 2200 years since its writing, many accretions had crept into the work, including commentaries and addenda by other authors. Watson strips those away and leaves only the central and most vivid writings. Some of those may already be familiar to today's reader. For example, this book originates the man dreaming to be a butterfly dreaming to be a man. Chuang Tzu offers many more of these anecdotes, too long to be analogies but too short for fables. He also calls on the history and mythology of his time - not always distinct from each other - and creates mythology of his own, whether he meant to or not.

That mythology lived on in Chinese alchemy, when Chuang Tzu's magical sages were taken as literal beings. Chuang Tzu lived on, too, in Taoism's eventual alignment with Buddhism. His cryptic, non sequitur style of answer seems to foreshadow the koans of the distinctly Chinese and Japanese schools of Buddhism.

This is a wonderful complement to the Lao Tzu. If that book is the art of enlightenment, then this is more like the practical craft. I recommend it highly to any student of eastern classics.

I must add that Chuang Tzu is an older romanization of "Zhuangzi" - different renderings of one name. It is easy to become confused and think that the two were different writers. It is especially confusing since Watson published this same material many years later under the "Zhuangzi" spelling (ISBN 0231129599). While I have the highest respect Burton's scholarship, I think that this difference-without-a-difference should be made more explicit.

//wiredweird

Becoming a Chuang Tzu enthusiast........2001-05-25

Among the better known of his translators, all of them excellent, are Arthur Waley, Burton Watson, and A. C. Graham, though only the latter two translated the complete text. An abridged version of Watson's complete translation has now been made available for those who want to confine themselves mainly to the Inner Chapters.

Watson has always struck me as an eminently civilized scholar and as a brilliant translator. Unlike certain others, he wears his scholarship lightly, and doesn't overburden the text with extraneous matter. His many translations from Ancient Chinese Literature are of uniformly high quality, and are well worth having as they are books one often wants to returns to.

The present book won't, as I've said, give you the whole of Watson's Chuang Tzu. For that you'll have to find a copy of his 'Complete Works of Chuang Tzu.' But it will give you most of what is generally agreed to be Chuang Tzu, and everyone should read it. If you're not a Chuang Tzu enthusiast before you start, I can guarantee that you'll be one before you finish.

Fine translation of a great work that is fun to read!.......2000-12-22

Most people have heard of Lao Tzu, the alleged author of the Tao Te Ching. However, cognoscenti know that the writings attributed to the Chinese "Taoist" Chuang Tzu are at least as interesting, challenging, and profound.

Chuang Tzu shows his mastery of almost every form of writing in this work: parable, humor, philosophial dialogue, even what seem like brief philosophical essays. Sometimes the net effect is quite dizzying: what are we to make of the story of how Chuang Tzu was dreaming that he was a butterfly, and then awoke, but was unsure whether he was Chuang Tzu who had been dreaming that he was a butterfly, or a butterfly who was now dreaming that he was Chuang Tzu?! And how is a butcher who carves an ox carcass with seemingly supernatural grace and ease a model for how we should lead our lives? Understand this book or not, you'll have fun reading it!

The eponymous book, the _Chuang Tzu_ is actually a collection of writings by different authors from different periods. However, many scholars believe that the so-called "Inner Chapters" are by one hand. Watson's translation includes all of these, as well as selections from some of the other portions of the text. (Watson has also published separately a complete translation, although it is rather expensive.) Watson is a very gifted translator, and his love for this text shows. This is one of the standard translations, and for good reason. (One tidbit: Watson seems to translate into English, not from the original Chinese, but from Japanese translations of the Chinese. Surprisingly, the result is very good.)

There is much disagreement over how to interpret Chuang Tzu, so you may want to compare how different translators do different things with the same text. A.C. Graham's translation (soon to be reprinted, I understand) is excellent, with helpful introductory material, but Graham rearranges the text according to his own sometimes idiosyncratic view of how it should be organized. Victor Mair's translation is also excellent, and gives a reasonably priced version of the complete Chuang Tzu. (I often find Watson's English the most beautiful of the three.)

For help in understanding the text, Victor Mair has edited an anthology of secondary essays on it, and so have Philip J. Ivanhoe and Paul Kjellberg. (Kjellberg has done an excellent but briefer translation himself, which is included in Ivanhoe and Van Norden, eds., Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy.)

There are better translations out there........1999-06-17

It astounds me that this translation of Chuang-tzu is still in print while A.C. Graham's is not. As one of the first translations of the work, Watson did a very respectable job. More recent scholarship has sharpened our understanding of the work and, of course, the quality of the translation.

If you want to understand the ideas in Chuang-tzu, read A.C. Graham. There are many passages that are at best obscure in Watson's translation, but in Graham's come to life with meaning.

Since this is a work that many of us can only read in translation, it is unfortunate that such a dated translation is the one most commonly read.

The Essential Tao : An Initiation into the Heart of Taoism Through the Authentic Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang-Tzu
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a horse of a different color

Probably very close to the authentic Tao Te Ching

Mixed feelings about this one

My intro to the Way...

Finding the Way

The Essential Tao : An Initiation into the Heart of Taoism Through the Authentic Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang-Tzu
Thomas Cleary
Manufacturer: HarperOne
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0062502166

Amazon.com

Thomas Cleary presents original translations of the two ancient Chinese texts that describe the essential philosophy and practice of the Tao, or "universal way." The Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu's classic anthology of sayings, poems, and proverbs, appears here in its entirety; Cleary's excellent, detailed notes to each of the 81 stanzas illuminate the more difficult verses and unfamiliar ideas. The first seven, or "inner" chapters of the Chuang-Tzu, those containing the essence of the Taoist master Chuang-tzu's teachings, are also presented, with accompanying notes explaining the philosophy and significance of the symbolic stories. Readers already acquainted with the two texts will find renewed enjoyment in the directness and simplicity of Cleary's translations, which are particularly pleasing to modern ears while losing none of the nuances of the originals. The well-known opening lines of the Tao Te Ching, for example, are given new life: "A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path; names can be given, but not permanent labels." And there is a clarity in the passages from the Chuang-Tzu not often found in other interpretations: "Who knows the unspoken explanation, the unexpressed Way? Among those who do know, this is called the celestial storehouse: we can pour into it without filling it, we can draw from it without exhausting it; and yet we don't know where it comes from." The subject matter of both texts ranges widely, from politics and economy to psychology and mysticism, addressing the needs and interests of a diverse readership. No less relevant today than when they were written more than 2,000 years ago, there is a "perennial currency" to these writings achieved by few of the world's great books. Cleary's readable introduction and notes provide an elegant frame that complements the quiet grandeur of these important texts. --Uma Kukathas

Book Description

A deluxe paperback edition: Thomas Cleary's brilliant translation of the sayings of Confucius presented in the order of the 64 classic I Ching hexagrams.

Customer Reviews:

a horse of a different color.......2007-04-02

Most Western (and Eastern) studies of the Daoist texts translated in this volume have been limited by reference to an extremely small range of expository commentary. In these translations, of an altogether different stripe from the familiar, Cleary makes use of commentarial traditions hitherto unknown to Westerners, as well as to Easterners unfamiliar with the Quanzhen school of Daoism. Western scholarship in this area has been limited by preconceptions based on solipsistic, nihilistic, or fatalistic views of so-called 'philosophical' Daoism, as well as by overly simplistic concepts of Chinese grammar and vocabulary. Therefore what is known of this tradition in the West has been restricted by its sources and suppositions, while the enormous range and variety of native Chinese interpretations has largely been untouched. It is not to be wondered, therefore, that Cleary's extraordinary new renditions of these works, informed by Quanzhen Daoist tradition, are found enlightening by those unafraid of enlarging their views, while irritating to those who require reassurance.

Probably very close to the authentic Tao Te Ching.......2006-07-15

Of the three translations/versions of the Tao Te Ching, and commentaries on it, that I have read to date, I recommend Cleary's. Some readers complain that Cleary's translation isn't as 'readable' as other translations of the Tao Te Ching. Stephen Mitchell's translation is more popularly admired, but this says more about readers than the integrity of the respective texts. Reason suggests that a close and accurate translation should indeed sound foreign and awkward to 21st century Western hearers. Cleary is highly regarded for his scholarship of ancient Chinese texts, and his translation also includes the Inner Teachings of Chuang Tzu, with commentary/notes on both texts.

The Tao Te Ching is a well-known battery of apparently counter-intuitive assertions, overwhelming contrary to materialist / consumerist / modernist assumptions, sometimes opaque and generally suggesting a need for scholarly commentary. Again, Cleary seems to be a trustworthy guide, dispassionate and well informed.

The Inner Teachings of Chuang Tzu are more fanciful and perhaps somewhat less interesting, but in part underscore one of the Tao's thematic threads, that of knowing and not-knowing:
"What is more, there is a great awakening, after which we know this is a grandiose dream. Yet fools think themselves to be awake. . . Even my saying you are dreaming is a dream too. This kind of talk is called extremely strange . . . Suppose I have a debate with you, and you beat me, I don't beat you--does that mean that you are actually right and I am actually wrong? If I beat you and you don't beat me, does that mean I am actually right and you are actually wrong? Are both right, or both wrong?"

I won't feign any personal expertise or intimate knowledge of Taoism, but merely observe what seems fairly obvious to me--this volume is a sound "initiation into the heart of Taoism through the authentic Tao Te Ching and the Inner Teachings of Chuang Tzu."

Mixed feelings about this one.......2005-07-25

Cleary is a very popular translator, and I assume it is because his scholarship is solid . I appreciate his choices of subjects for books and always want to learn from him, but I have a problem. I can't understand his translations well. This may be a purely personal mental quirk of mine, but when I read him I understand the words just fine but not the meanings. Or I understand basically, but still scratch my head, especially reading his Chuang-tzu. I will assume this is a fluke within my own head and not a problem of the author (though I have no such problem with any other author/translator).
What I like about this book is that it Cleary has chosen to deal with two essential Chinese Taoist classics together: the Tao Te Ching and Chuang-tzu. Further, he provides essential interpretations of Taoism in his commentaries. I read this cover to cover, but it was only because I am a disciplined reader; If I think the content is important (as with this book) I will concentrate and finish it even if it gets tedious or the translation leaves me bewildered in many places.

My intro to the Way..........2003-06-11

This book holds fond memories for me. I carried it for a long time, perusing it occasionally, trying to get a hold of this thing called 'the Tao'. But, as with the Way of the Tao, one day I simply 'got it'. And this entire book made complete sense. My life would never be the same. There is before and after that moment. So for that I hold it in high regard.

As I've matured a bit and have become familiar with other translations, this one shows its limitations. It is a great introduction and Cleary obviously knows his stuff. But it is written with a Western (American?) audience in mind.

While all translations carry interpretation as well, this one leans more toward an interpretation, one tailored to a Western audience (though definitely not as tailored as others, e.g. Stephen Mitchell's). So while it does makes sense of the text it also rides that edge of losing something as well.

The inclusion of Chuang-Tzu also makes the book a great value. Chuang-Tzu brings great humor and insight to the Tao Te Ching. Cleary's translation is clear but is a bit scholarly (though I suppose it is difficult for anyone to bring out the playfulness of the text, thus Lao-Tzu's concept that 'if it can be explained it ain't the Tao').

There are some translation of certain lines that I prefer and find brilliant. For example, 'when everyone knows good as good, this is bad' adds a different twist to the traditional rendering of 'when everyone knows good as good, this is because bad is already there'. But there are other translations that yield the same gems. I literally have seven different translations. Yikes. For a Way that is supposed to be unspoken, there are certainly a lot of words about it.

All in all, though, this is a great starter. Make sure to add it to or add to it other translations to really seek the essence and, more importantly, to live it.

Finding the Way.......2003-04-26

Thomas Cleary, a recognised and respected scholar on Eastern religions and philosophies, is an acknowledged master also of translation from classic Chinese and Japanese tests. If one seeks out English translations of `The Taoist I Ching' or `The Art of War,' Cleary's version is probably the edition most likely to be found.

Thus, the work in this book, `The Essential Tao,' an initiation into the heart of Taoism through the authentic `Tao Te Ching' and the inner teachings of `Chuang Tzu,' carries a great pedigree. It fully lives up to expectations. These two works, which together describe the essentials of the philosophy and practice of Tao, impart great wisdom and insight, and Cleary's translation keeps much of the distinctiveness of the original Chinese.

The `Tao Te Ching' and `Chuang Tzu' cover a wide array of topics, from traditionally religious subjects such as mysticism, spirituality, morality, and cosmology, to more practical matters such as politics, economics, and even how to manage stress in a stress-filled world (which may account for the rise in popularity of Eastern philosophies as we hurry toward a 24-hour non-stop economy).

`Few of the world's great books have achieved the perennial currency of these writings. Countless readers have found endless fascination and enlightenment in the pregnant aphorisms and fantastic allegories of these ancient texts.'

Those who mastered the teachings of the Tao Te Ching, the teachings and wisdom of Lao-tzu, the Old Master, were sought after as advisors, spiritual leaders, mentors, and administrators. According to the ethos of Tao, the developments, insights and wisdom gained from following Tao must be shared, put to the service of all.

`The Way is unimpeded harmony;
its potential may never be fully exploited.
It is as deep as the source of all things:
it blunts the edges,
resolves the complications,
harmonises the light,
assimilates to the world.
Profoundly still, it seems to be there:

I don't know whose child it is,
before the creation of images.'

Some of the aphorisms read as proverbs:

`To speak rarely is natural.
That is why a gusty wind doesn't last the morning,
a downpour of rain doesn't last the day.'

and

`Be tactful and you remain whole;
bend and you remain straight.
The hollow is filled,
the old is renewed.'

These are hopes and promises of many religions, and the goal of many sciences and philosophies.

The second work, the `Chuang Tzu,' is a great work of Chinese literature, in addition to being a source of Taoist wisdom. Written by Chuang Chou, the first Taoist master and scholar of the teachings of Lao-tzu, this work has allegories and symbols that have been contemplated since it was first written. Chuang Chou lived at a rather more turbulent time than Lao-tzu, and because of his learning, was sought after as advisors to kings, but declined, preferring not to become, as he put it, a sacrificial animal.

Chuang Chou looked for freedom in many ways, psychological and social as well as political. He looked for freedom from tyranny of emotions, social convention, intellect, and even from death. `Chuang Tzu' consists of three sections, the inner, outer and miscellaneous chapters. This work of Cleary's contains the inner chapters, a basic core of his philosophy and symbolism.

`If all is one, can anything be said? Once it has been said that all is one, can nothing be said? Unity and speech make two; two plus one make three. What follows cannot be grasped even by skilled calculators, much less by ordinary people. Therefore when you go from nonbeing to being, you thereby come to a third point. How about when you go from being to being! It is simply for this reason that there is no getting anywhere.'

Chuang Chou recounts the tale of the maestros, who each knew his field (a harpist, a tuner, and a philosopher) -- they were successful, and known to posterity. Their devotion set them apart. However, they wanted to teach, but tried to explain what they could not fully understand, and thus slipped into sophistry. Thus, when their culture died, so did their memory. Can this, Chuang Chou asks, be counted as success?

However, `the aim of sages is for diffused brilliance: they do not employ it for affirmation, but entrust it to the constant. This is called using clarity.'

Cleary concludes with translation notes -- Chinese being quite distinct from English, and the concepts here being subtle, the possibility for confusion is magnified moreso than a translation from another European language into English. These translator notes are useful to see the complexity of thinking in the simplest thoughts.

May this help you find your Tao, your Way.

Chuang-Tzu: The Inner Chapters (Mandala Books)
Average customer rating:

An almost correct translation, but not really enjoyable to read

Not for Everyone

Chuang Tzu smiles and nods his head in approval.

Excellent!

Chuang-Tzu: The Inner Chapters (Mandala Books)
G. Cox , P. Lowe , M. Winter , and A.C. (Translator) Graham
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

The Inner Chapters are the oldest pieces of the larger collection of writings by several fourth, third, and second century B.C. authors that constitute the classic of Taoism, the Chuang-Tzu (or Zhuangzi). It is this core of ancient writings that is ascribed to Chuang-Tzu himself.

Customer Reviews:

An almost correct translation, but not really enjoyable to read.......2005-03-02

HISTORY OF BOOK TITLED: ZHUANGZI

The present version of the ancient Taoist book on philosophy titled Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) was edited by Kuo Hsiang around 300 CE. He edited an earlier version consisting of 52 sections down to 33 sections, the omitted 19 sections were considered inferior and of a spurious nature. The 33 sections were divided into the inner chapters (seven sections), outer chapters (15 sections) and miscellaneous chapters (11 sections.).

The inner chapters the Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) are considered to be the most authentic chapters and most likely to have been written by Zhuangzi or at least written by a brilliant and keen mind. (The inner chapters probably date to around the second century BCE.) The inner chapters contain all the important ideas and are consistently brilliant. The outer and miscellaneous chapters are more uneven and sometimes contain excellent pieces of philosophical writing and others times are the work of a feeble scribbler--to quote the famous Chinese translator Arthur Waley.

QUALITY and READABILITY of GRAHAM'S TRANSLATION

From the above, one can see why the late sinologist Angus Graham wisely chose to only translate the inner chapters of Zhuangzi. However, at least two things are essential for a good translation, capturing the meaning and getting the flow. If a translation sounds awkward or is not otherwise enjoyable to read it is not a successful translation.

This translation is more suitable for a scholar as it is uses terminology that is technically precise, but arcane and awkward in many places. The style of this translation is very academic. It is written by a scholar who appears to subscribe to the notion that any word that is close enough in meaning is the word to use regardless of how it sounds to the reader or what images it invokes in the reader's mind. If one has handy a good English dictionary and is willing to read Graham's end notes the meaning will become clear, but this kind of reading is not an enjoyable experience as the wit, energy and spirit of Chuang Tzu is diminished by this style of translation.

The more I translate Chuang Tzu, the less I like Graham's translation. His translations often significantly differ from Watson's and others translators. He makes many unusual translation choices.

I recommend that unless you are writing an academic paper on Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi), are a philologist, or are taking a class on Chinese philosophy to skip this translation. (Note, Angus Graham also wrote a second book detailing his translation notes for this book. Again this is only suitable for a scholar, not for the non academic.)

ALTERNATE AVAILABLE TRANSLATIONS

Burton Watson's translation is superior in capturing the exuberance of Chuang Tzu. The few "mistakes" Watson makes are inconsequential as he truly captures the essential meaning and the spirit and the flow of the writing. I highly recommend Burton Watson's translation in either his book: The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu (a full translation) or his smaller paperback: Chuang Tzu--Basic Writings. (This last is a subset of the most interesting and best written parts of Chuang Tzu, and it includes all the inner chapters.)

If one wants a more poetic translation suitable for random daily study or meditation then one should seriously consider Thomas Merton's translation of selected passages of Chuang Tzu. They are very well done. And despite the fact that Thomas Merton did not know Chinese, pretty faithful to the original text. The only drawback to his book--and this is its strength as well--is that the selections tends to be short and sometimes he omits passages that are logically and thematically connected and hence probably should not have been omitted. With few exceptions Thomas Merton's selections are the cream of Chuang Tzu. Very occasionally, Merton adds in something that is not in the original Chinese, but he does it so skillfully that it reads like something that Chuang Tzu could and even should have written.

I have read (and am inclined to agree) that Arthur Waley's selected translations of Chuang Tzu in his book: Three Ways of Thought are the best written, however Waley only translated some of Chuang Tzu.

COMPARISON BETWEEN GRAHAM'S and WATSON'S TRANSLATION

The late Angus Graham was a respected sinologist, so it is surprising that his translation is flawed, both in its readability and in my opinion in the accuracy of the translation itself. Compare Graham's translation of chapter three, section three, with Burton Watson's.

Graham's

My life flows between confines, but knowledge has no confines. If we use the confined to follow the unconfined, there is danger that the flow will cease; and when it ceases, to exercise knowledge is purest danger.
...
Three years more and I never saw an ox as a whole. Nowadays, I am in touch through the daemonic in me, and do not look with the eye. With the senses I know where to stop, the daemonic I desire to run its course. I rely on Heaven's structuring, cleave along the main seams, let myself be guided by the cavities, go by what is inherently so.

Watson's

Your life has a limit but knowledge has none. If you use what is limited to pursue what has no limit, you will be in danger. If you understand this and still strive for knowledge, you will be in danger for certain!
...
After three years I no longer saw the whole ox. And now---now I go at it by spirit and don't look with my eyes. Perception and understanding have come to a stop and spirit moves where it wants. I go along with the natural makeup, strike in the big hollows, guide the knife through the big openings, and follow things as they are.

Not for Everyone.......2002-04-30

I am a person who wants to know everything about the philosophy of Daoism. This book is indispensible to me beacause it reveals many "hidden" meanings in the text of Master Zhuang (Chuang Tzu). But like some others, I find Graham gets a little too analytical for his own good (not to mention ours). He did a much better job with his translation of Lieh Tzu (Lie Zi).

Chuang Tzu smiles and nods his head in approval........2001-05-22

Chuang Tzu is the wisest, wittiest, and easiest-to-read of all philosophical writers, and also the greatest. And the question that A. C. Graham's 'Chuang-Tzu - The Inner Chapters' raises in an acute form is this: Do you want to read Chuang Tzu himself? Or do you want to study what a scholarly mind thinks about him, and in the process have your mind carefully adjusted so that you will end up thinking in the same way too?

In other words, are you a mature and sensible person with an enquiring mind, who for some reason or other has become interested in China's most brilliant philosophical rascal - one who would have let out a howl of laughter if shown the present book? Or are you a student being run through society's ideological mill, and one needing to grub up on the history of Chinese philosophy and Chuang Tzu's relation to the Mohists and Logicians and other such extraneous stuff, a mill for whom Chuang Tzu is just another 'philosopher' (a word that hardly describes him since he's something much bigger)?

If you are one of the latter, perhaps Graham, who is one of the world's foremost Sinologists and a brilliant translator, is the man for you. So far as Graham is concerned, and many agree, most of the received text of Chuang Tzu wasn't written by Chuang Tzu at all. He feels that only the first seven chapters, the 'Inner Chapters,' are Chuang Tzu's own work, the other chapters being a collection of pieces written by others, and in his edition has rearranged the text to bring it into line with his thesis.

Consequently his book falls into six parts: 1. Introduction; 2. The Inner Chapters and related passages; 3. A 'School of Chuang-tzu' selection; 4. The essays of the Primitivists; 5. The Yangist miscellany; 6. The Syncretist writings.

The 40-page Introduction is both detailed and informative. Each of the remaining six parts has its own introductory note, and is annotated with other long notes. The book is rounded out with a List of Chinese Characters (sinographs) and an Index. All in all, then, this is a thorough and scholarly production in which Graham presents a very persuasive and convincing case for his complex rearrangement of Chuang Tzu's text, and one backed up by lots of impeccably logical argument.

So why did I say it would have made Chuang Tzu howl with laughter? Well, because Graham's rationalist approach violates the whole spirit of Chuang Tzu, a man who had seen through the folly of the overemphasis on reason. Graham founds himself squarely in reason, while failing to note that reason can never really arrive at the truth. Chuang Tzu, in contrast, and although he was certainly capable of a reasonable use of reason, was more a bubbling and sparkling fountain of joyous insights, brilliant insights into the nature of man and woman and reality, and he doesn't need any commentators. All you need to read him is a mind of your own.

Confronted by the kind of mindset represented by Graham, we should never forget what Lu Chi (+ 754-805) reminds us of in his brilliant 'Essay on Literature,' the 'Wen fu,' when he tells us that: 'Theses are convincing - but deceptive...' I can just see Chuang Tzu smiling and nodding his head in approval.

So if you are a student, and if you need a heavily annotated scholarly (though rearranged) translation because you have to grub up for an exam on Chinese Philosophy, Graham's edition can certainly be recommended. Others, however, who may be approaching Chuang Tzu for the first time, would be wiser to look for something less cluttered, something that allows them more immediate access to this scintillating writer without the distractions of a mass of extraneous matter. Two uncluttered and excellent translations that can be strongly recommended are those of Lin Yutang and Burton Watson.

And for the simplest and easiest approach of all to Chuang Tzu there is Thomas Merton's quite brilliant reworking and abridgement, 'The Way of Chuang Tzu.' Merton, who was not a scholar of Chinese, may not have given us Chuang Tzu's actual words in his selection of these ironic, witty, and sophisticated stories. But as a man of insight he's succeeded wonderfully in capturing the spirit of the old rascal.

Purists may scowl, but I think I spot Chuang Tzu looking down from his dragon as it flaps him across the heavens, and beaming and nodding in approval of Merton too.

Excellent!.......1998-04-15

This is one of the best translations of the writings attributed to the brilliant Taoist philosopher Chuang Tzu. Although less well known outside of China than "Lao Tzu," the reputed author of the _Tao Te Ching_, Chuang Tzu, who lived in the 4th century B.C., is both one of history's greatest anti-rationalist philosophers and one of the best prose stylist of world literature. Among the most famous (and moving) passages in his eponymous work is the story of how Chuang Tzu (whose full name is Chuang Chou) dreamed he was a butterfly, and, upon awakening, "does not know whether he is Chou who dreams he is a butterfly or a butterfly who dreams he is Chou."

Graham gives a complete translation of the "Inner Chapters," which are regarded by many scholars as the authentic works of Chuang Tzu, and also gives selections from later Taoist works, attributed to Chuang Tzu (but probably from other philosophers). Graham's interpretive Introduction (with sections on such tasty topics as "Rejection of Logic" and "Death and Mutilation") is itself one of the classic interpretations of Chuang Tzu's philosophy.

Readers familiar with the _Chuang Tzu_ from other translations will notice that Graham has rearranged some sections of the text. This is not mere whim on Graham's part, but part of his thoughtful view that parts of the text have been moved from their original locations due to textual corruption as the book was recopied by generations of scribes.

As you can see, this book is currently out of print (which is a testament to both the poor taste of much of the book-buying public, and to the near-sightedness of publishers). I sincerely hope that some publisher will pick up the rights to this outstanding translation.

Book Description

The fifth book in the tremendously successful "Zen Speaks" series of cartoon-illustrated adaptations of Chinese thought and philosophy by world-renowned author Tsai Chih Chung (100,000 copies in print), The Dao of Zhuangzi explores core portions of the Zhuangzi, one of the great Daoist texts. Together with the writings of Laozi, the Zhuangzi had an immense impact on Chinese culture that matched that of Confucianism. Over the centuries, this classical Daoism has influenced millions of readers and students of philosophy and literature throughout the world.

Tsai Chih Chung first tackled portions of the Zhuangzi in his first book published in the U.S., Zhuangzi Speaks, which sold 20,000 copies for Princeton--an astonishing number for a university press--and was the book that brought C.C. Tsai to the attention of American readers. In The Dao of Zhangzi, Tsai Chih Chung brings humorously to life new portions of the Dao--and extends the reach of his early efforts in profound and entertaining ways.

As with the previous works, the book will include an introduction by a scholar that will help to place Daoism and the Zhuangzi in historical and cultural context.

Customer Reviews:

Fun intro to a Taoist Masterpiece.......2003-10-15

I have became interested in this book after reading "The Tao Speaks" by the same author. Previously, I have read the Tao Te Ching years ago, and found it a mostly unintelligible and illogical document. For years I have given up on trying to understand anything because it made little sense. That is, until I met this wonderful cartoon series by Zhizhong Cai. Here I found even some of the most complicated and esoteric principles of Taoism explained using brilliant flowing art and very simple examples from ordinary experience. The Zhuangzi is the perhaps lesser known of the two masterpieces of Taoist literature. I actually like it more than the Tao Te Ching. [Zhuangzi is the one who dreamed about a butterfly, and woke up wondering whether he's really Zhuangzi who dreamed of a butterfly, or whether he's really a butterfly who's now dreaming he's Zhuangzi]. I find the cartoon panels very illuminating and hilariously funny at the same time. It makes the principles of Zhuangzi much more lucid and vivid, and easier to remember and understand.

This book is a little bigger than the Dao speaks, containing almost 125 pages each having roughly 6 panels per page. The art is very beautiful and interesting. Further, the edition I have (which is square in shape) has a side panel in every page containing the text of the Zhuangzi in Chinese (reading top to bottom the traditional way). I found that very interesting and adds an artistic touch to the volume. It is also useful to me since I am currently learning Chinese. Note that (1) there are two books about Zhuangzi: this one and another called "The Zhuangzi Speaks", and that (2) there is an older edition of this series which omits this panel (so the book has a more rectangular aspect ratio). What I don't like is that they changes the titles of the books between the two series (used to be "The Sayings of Zhuangzi" Books 1 and 2). So once I bought Book 2 thinking it corresponds to the book I don't have ("The Zhuangzi Speaks"), and ended up with the same book I possess. So be careful. In any case it wasn't such a big mistake, as the price was right and I ended up giving the second book as a gift.

Start Here.......2001-11-17

Just getting started on your desire to understand eastern philosophies? Have you stood at the bookstore for hours pouring over where to start and what to buy?

Any of this authors books are a wonderful place to start. The reason? Because these books are all about the title subject in a nutshell, easy to read as a comic book, the story lines and illustrations are wonderful, and after you read this as well as all the other books by Tsai, you will have a great, well rounded start on your path and will know what you want to study more deeply!

To add, when others ask you about your interest in eastern philosophy, you can get them started here as well, because these books are fun, consise, and you know they will enjoy them over and over again!

An invitation to the Way..........2000-03-28

You may think, that the world we live in makes no sense. You may desperate to find poetry, pure joy and deep understanding of the true nature of things. Then please, take a wonderful moment of freedom and happyness and browse through "the Dao of Zhuangzi". The art of Tsai Chih Chung is unique and the message is enlightning.

Extremely enlightening........1998-12-04

This is an excellent introdution to Daoist thought, as well as thourough review.I am a fan of C.C.Tsai's other works and this is one of my favorites.

Wonderful and fun........1998-07-17

Modern language and ancient wisdom juxtapose nicely with simple, fun graphic illustrations.

Average customer rating:

A new understanding of the Way
Five stars aint enough!
not the best - but still good
Not good for a beginner
Marvelous!

The Book of Chuang Tzu (Arkana)

Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

A new understanding of the Way.......2004-09-08

I am one of those people who discovered Tao with many thanks to Benjamin Hoff.

In his book I read about the Chuang Tzu for the first time as well. And now I have it, I cherish this book. It makes Tao alive for me, shows the way through tales that move you, and, maybe very surprising for a book this old, it can still make you laugh.

I have not read any of the other translations others mention here, but I know this: as a starter on the way it was a very good read, the poetry of the words is amazing.

This book is a keeper, and I am very happy it is on my shelves.

Five stars aint enough!.......2004-01-08

Fantastic!

Chuang Tzu is considered to have been a follower of the Taoist school of thought, influenced by Lao Tzu. However, we know much more about Chuang Tzu. He can be said to fit the classic ideal of a Taoist as a carefree ascetic with a sense of humour living in the forest in harmony with nature. This is certainly the portrayal of him in the book.

It is unclear who wrote the work and many authorities consider only the first few chapters as authentic. That's why it's good to get a translation that covers all the chapters as from reading them it's possible to get the feeling that even if are were a forgery, they are a worthwhile, beautiful forgery.

What is Chuang Tzu's philosophy? This is a question that has plagued people from religious Taoists to scholars for ages, because there is no definite answer but a number of strands. However, he is certainly a critic of contemporary society in terms of what he sees as a life that is too complicated. He is critical both of language as a means of pinning down concepts and civilisation in terms of corrupting people by creating rigidity. Many see him as a moral relativist, but I think he was just an advocate of a simplicity and "naturalness" and thought that moral labels only tended to make people more immoral.

The other concept I loved was wu-wei or "non-action". Unlike the cryptic nature of it in the Tao Te Ching, here, Chuang Tzu shows us through a series of misfits, cripples, ascetics and the like - all of whom figure as characters in his stories. Many of them survive and thrive through some kind of skill they've developped which doesn't require much intellectualising. When they're lost in their work (say trapping cicadas), they are happy and achieve success by not struggling, hence wu-wei. For starters, this highlights better than almost any other text I've read the intrinsic dignity of lives that are radically different to the norm in that they can still be worthwhile and fulfilling if we open our minds and see their essence. But Chuang Tzu was concerned in applying that kind of not-overly-intellectual action to government, which is also fascinating.

The edition has some footnotes but the book itself is large sections of narrative/prose/poetry that requires little external explanation. The translation probably leans towards poetic paraphrase over precise equality which I think is good for classic texts. The illustrations are great and really enhance the value of the book as a coherent whole.

A book of moving, funny, sad, chaotic, intuitive parables, stories, allegories and anecdotes that feel like they're speaking to you directly from over 2000 years ago.

not the best - but still good.......2003-05-01

I prefer Burton Watson's translation to Palmer and Breuilly's, especially after reading parts in the Chinese text. But Palmer and Breuilly won't steer U wrong though. No, this is a decent translation of the entire text, which is not a common sight! Only Burton Watson, James Legge, and Victor Mair have put out complete Zhuangzi translations. AC Graham's translation is also quite good.

BAO PU-
embrace simplicity

Not good for a beginner.......2001-06-30

I got this book because I was interested in learning more about Tao -- my only experience had been the Tao of Pooh. This is probably a good book if you know about Tao and the philosophy behind it, but as a newcomer, it wasn't interesting or educational.

Marvelous!.......2001-06-03

As a long-time Chuang-Tzu enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed this translation. I imagine this would be very enjoyable to the general reader; I have read many commentaries on the meaning of Chuang-Tzu's philosophy (Victor Mair's, Allinson's, Wing-Tsit Chan's, A.C. Graham's, etc.) so my perspective is "biased" in particular way- I like the absurdity and relativistic notions, sort of a Lewis Carroll point of view. This translation fits in with my predilictions nicely. Chuang-tzu takes some pondering, and any translation that makes it too simple is doing the reader an injustice. This one captures all the irony and absurdity, yet leaves plenty of room for befuddlement. It contains ALL the chapters, not just the inner ones. Highly recommended!! I keep this by the bed along with The People's Guide to Mexico, another perennial favorite!

When the Shoe Fits: Stories of the Taoist Mystic Chuang Tzu

Average customer rating:

Amazing!

When the Shoe Fits: Stories of the Taoist Mystic Chuang Tzu
Osho
Manufacturer: Watkins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1842930850

Book Description

“Only that which is attained through effortlessness will never be a burden to you.” That is the message of the renowned Indian philosopher Osho, one of the 10 people (others include Gandhi, Nehru, and Buddha) said to have changed the very destiny of his nation. This previously little-known study—a true classic of interpretation—presents his distinctive and highly illuminating exploration of Taoism. Osho offers penetrating commentary on the stories of Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu, the tradition's founder, as well as inspirational anecdotes on the quest for love, spiritual understanding, and true happiness. The powerful combination of Taoist wisdom and Osho's insightful interpretation make this a true gem, appropriate for the growing audience interested in Eastern thought.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing!.......2007-07-13

Osho sheds a clear light on the teachings of Chuang Tzu, helping them to penetrate the Western mind. Very enlightening!

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