Zhuangzi: The Essential Writings: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries (Hackett Classics)

I've found this book to be more accessible than the Tao Te Ching and it really helps me see how one can incorporate the Tao Te Ching into every day life and it helped me understand what the Dao is (the story about the wind in the forest was super illuminating for me). It's clear the translator put a lot of effort into the book and the footnotes are frequently interesting or informative. I also greatly appreciated learning about the historical context in which the Zhuangzi was written. I actually haven't had any of my thinking and perspectives challenged by this book because I've long thought nearly identically to Zhuangzi. It's pretty interesting I think the same as a long dead Chinese man.I love his idea of the Course-Axis because I've long had trouble articulating that I frequently hold competing perspectives simultaneously and am very flexible with my perspectives. A lot of people nowadays look down on this and consider it flip-flopping/two-faced/hypocritical. I agree with Zhuangzi, though, that the Course-Axis is far better than being constrained to one way of thinking.Zhuangzi was a top tier critical thinker and this book is pure critical thought. Something distinct about Daoism is that it does not claim to have any answers to the universe, but instead fully embraces the unknowabilty of it all. Accepting there will never be any answers (merely perspectives) gives true freedom.

I bought because I was looking for a copy of Zhuangzi, but wasn't able to find any good free translations. This one is very well done, and the traditional commentaries are a very nice touch. The translator has put a lot of effort into making the text easy to understand for people who don't have background in Chinese literature. Tricky or ambigous spots will have a nice footnote with another possible translation or extra info you need to understand the passage. It has a glossary and points out key words that are the same in the original Chinese when they are translated in somewhat different ways according to how the English flows; this can be somewhat important to understand some of the arguments that are used based on the wording of the Chinese. The only downside is this doesn't contain the entire Zhuangzi. The inner chapters are fully present, but the translator has chosen to translate from the other parts when they support ideas from the inner chapters.

This translation easly surpasses all others in print, even though scholars will still, I'm sure, refer to the AC Graham version (I will). Ziporyn has translated into current American English with style and clarity while preserving enough of the Classical Chinese cast of the text to make this a translation for scholars as well as students. I appreciate too how he has varied the translation of key terms with footnotes in romanized Chinese, so we can appreciate the dexterity of the translator's art as well as the one sustained Chinese term. Especially valuable in this edition are the superb commentaries which give significant new insight into the passages, especially for me Guo Xiang, Wang Fuzhi, and Shi Deqing. I used this text for the first time in a discussion class at Shimer College this past semester; our discussions reached a level of maturity and insight early in the course as great or greater than we achieved in a whole semester in other years. Clearly, I recommend it highly!

Provides clear access to ancient writings and thought that would otherwise be inaccessible to those whose prime language is not Chinese

In my prior review, I complained about Ziporyn omitting large swathes of the original Zuangzi. He has since released a complete version (which I own, and it's wonderful).But, you may ask, what's the point of buying this version? The commentaries. They are an incredibly invaluable source for delving deeper into the meaning of the Inner Chapters. I can't imagine how much work went into compiling, and I assume, translating the commentaries.In conclusion, Ziporyn is the GOAT.

This book is, in my opinion, the crowning achievement of all Taoist writers. Its subtly humorous, incredibly wise, and infinitely applicable even for modern people. If you want to learn about Taoism or just want to read a good self-improvement book this is the book to get. The Tao Te Ching is often considered the book that built the foundation of Taoism as a philosophical/religious system. If that's the case then this book is the beautiful temple built on top of the foundation.

Sensational translation and interpretation of Zhuangzi. Definitely a must for anyone considering an academic interpretation.

I chose Brooke Ziporyn's translation as a focus for a deeper dive into the Zhuangzi classic largely based on reputation as a translator. But my effort was stalled by the translation. Can't quite put my finger on it but I found Ziporyn difficult/awkward to read. At every turn I found my understanding at odds with Ziporyn's. It almost seemed like there was another influence guiding Ziporyn's interpretation. I already had read Zhuangzi translations from Lin Yutang and Burton Watson. Ultimately, I chose two other translators for my study, Chung Wu and Victor Mair, the later being very enjoyable and most informative.

There is wisdom in all ancient sages and their writings, all worth the read.

"Suppose you and I get into a debate. If you win and I lose, does that really mean you are right and I am wrong? If I win and you lose, does that really mean I'm right and you're wrong? Must one of us be right and the other wrong? Or could both of us be right, or both of us wrong? If neither you nor I can know, a third person would be even more benighted. Whom should we have straighten out the matter? Someone who agrees with you? But since he already agrees with you, how can he straighten it out? Someone who agrees with me? But since, she already agrees with me, how can he straighten it out? Someone who disagrees with both of us? But if he already disagrees with both of us, how can he straighten it out? Someone who agrees with both of us? But since he already agrees with both of us, how can he straighten it out? So neither you nor I nor any third party can ever know how it is--shall we wait for yet some "other"? extract 2.44 from Inner Chapter Two Equalizing Assessments of Things page 20footnote to the above "Wait for some `other"' is dai bi [Chinese characters given]. For dai, see ... Glossary. Bi, here translated "other," is the word used for "that" as opposed to "this" earlier in this chapter.2.44 SHI DEQING: The living pulse of Zhuangzi's writing integrates it from top to bottom, like an underground spring. This chapter speaks laterally and vertically, up and down and back and forth, for over three thousand characters, finally arriving at this one word "other" to conclude it. What power it has! Looking back to the beginning of the discussion, with its subtle hints about a "genuine ruler," we find that he said there merely that "without an other there is no me," making this word "other" the ruling principle of the discussion. At the end here the phrase "wait for yet some other" is suddenly and boldly thrown forth. When you see to the bottom of the workings involved here, the transformations of this kind of prose are understood in all their inconceivable spiritual marvel. Page 160 Selections from TRADITIONAL COMMENTARIES ON THE INNER CHAPTERSDAI [Chinese character given]. Depend On, Wait, Wait For, Attend To. The word means both diachronic "waiting for" and synchronic "dependence on," as well as "to attend to" someone, as one does to a guest. .... For Zhuangzi, the meaning of words "depends" on the perspective from which they are spoken.. Right and wrong "depend" on the meaning assigned to words, the primary designation of what is "this." The value of one's identity "depends" on the environments that affirm it. Liezi and Peng "depend on" the wind, just as Kun "depends on" the water. In all these cases, Zhuangzi regards dependence as an undesirable condition to be overcome. But the same word is used in the crucial line of Chapter 4: "The vital energy is an emptiness, a waiting for the presence of beings" ... Freedom from dependence is attained not by withdrawal from interaction with things, but by emptying oneself of a fixed identity so that one can depend on--follow.' along with, go by"--the intrinsic self-posited value of anything that comes along. GLOSSARY of [18] essential terms page 213/4SHI DEQING (1546-1623). One of the "Four Eminent Monks" of the Ming dynasty, Shi Deqing was a Buddhist monk renowned for his works on Chan (Zen), his spiritual autobiography, and his syncretic approach to Buddhism. More broadly, he viewed the three teachings (Buddhist, Daoism, and Confucianism) as forming a unity. His commentaries to both the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi and to the Daodejing, are regarded by many as masterpieces, showing close attention both to the literary structure and to the religious and philosophical implications of the texts. Page 225 ABOUT THE [47] COMMENTATORSThus Brook Ziporyn layers his ZHUANGZI, a beautiful translation and a model of YI MING [also glossed].

Very happy with this version. The translator's notes add important historical context and interpretive variation.

book arrived in good quality

Was what I was expecting from synopsis - however needs concentration when being read. A book to pick up, put down and reflect.