Zhuangzi: Basic Writings

Zhuangzi, Burton Watson

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Year: 2003
• eBook ISBN: 9780231521338
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Eastern Philosophy

Only by inhabiting Dao (the Way of Nature) and dwelling in its unity can humankind achieve true happiness and freedom, in both life and death. This is Daoist philosophy's central tenet, espoused by the person—or group of people—known as Zhuangzi (369?–286? BCE) in a text by the same name. To be free, individuals must discard rigid distinctions between right and wrong, and follow a course of action not motivated by gain or striving. When one ceases to judge events as good or bad, man-made suffering disappears, and natural suffering is embraced as part of life.

Zhuangzi elucidates this mystical philosophy through humor, parable, and anecdote, using non sequitur and even nonsense to illuminate truths beyond the boundaries of ordinary logic. Boldly imaginative and inventively written, the Zhuangzi floats free of its historical period and society, addressing the spiritual nourishment of all people across time. One of the most justly celebrated texts of the Chinese tradition, the Zhuangzi is read by thousands of English-language scholars each year, yet, until now, only in the Wade-Giles romanization. Burton Watson's conversion to pinyin in this book brings the text in line with how Chinese scholars, and an increasing number of other scholars, read it.

Index

Abyss

Advice, perils of giving

Ai, duke of Lu

Ai Taituo

Aided-by-Ink

Ailanthus tree

Analects (Confucius); cited; quoted

Antiquity

Argument

Attributes

Autumn hair, tip of

Bamboo

Beginning

Beia (ghost)

Being

Beishanlu (Shenqing), quoted

Bell stand, of woodworker Qing

Betting, and skill

Bi Gan

Bian Qingzi, Master

Bird

Bird in Lu capital

Bo, duke of Chu

Bo Yi

Body: of man; care of

Bohun Wuren

Book of Changes; quoted

Book of Odes; quoted

Boundaries

Break Vine

Broad-and-Borderless field

Broad-and-Boundless field

Buddhism

Buliang Yi

Butterflies

Butterfly, dream of

Categories

Caterpillar

Centipedes

Ceremony

Chang Hong

Chang Ji

Chaos, see Hundun

Cheng Xuanying

Child, dead

Child, The

Chui (artisan)

Cicada

Clarity

Classic of Filial Piety

Commander of the Right

Companion (term)

Companion: of Heaven; of men; of ancient times

Completion and injury

Concordance to Chuang Tzu

Confucianism; as state philosophy

Confucians

Confucius

Confusion, of human life

Congzhi (state)

Copy-the-Source

Courage

Crime of hiding from Heaven

Crooked Shaft

Crow’s Feet

Cypress

Danger, from external things

Dao, see Way, the

Dao (term)

Daodejing

Daoism

Dark Lord Hill

Dark-Obscurity

Dark Palace

De (term)

Death; hatred of; and life

Debates on Salt and Iron

Decrees, great

Deer

Ding (cook)

Dipper, Big

Discrimination

“Discussion of the Essentials of the Six Schools, The” (Sima Tan)

Disorder

Dongguo

Dongye Ji

Dove

Dreaming; see also Butterfly, dream of; Yuan, lord of Song

Dried Leftover Bones (birds)

Duty

E Lai

Earth (see also Heaven and Earth); piping of

Eight Virtues

Emptiness

Enlightened man, see Sage, Daoist

Equality of all things

Exclaimed-Wonder

Eye

...

Table of contents

• Cover 
• Half title
• Editorial Board
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents 
• Preface
• Outline of Early Chinese History
• Introduction
• Free and Easy Wandering
• Discussion on Making All Things Equal
• The Secret of Caring for Life
• In the World of Men
• The Sign of Virtue Complete
• The Great and Venerable Teacher
• Fit for Emperors and Kings
• Autumn Floods
• Supreme Happiness
• Mastering Life
• External Things
• Index
• Series List