Zhuangzi: Modern Annotation and Modern Translation

Name: Zhuangzi: Modern Annotation and Modern Translation
ISBN: 9787100042710

Chen GuyingThe Commercial Press · ChinaApr 2020

4.9

Word count: 449K words
Chapters: 288
ISBN: 9787100042710

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Summary

Zhuangzi: Modern Annotation and Translation

Editor's review

Chen Guying's Zhuangzi: Modern Annotation and Translation is a classic popular edition long in circulation from The Commercial Press. It provides a full modern annotation and translation of the complete Zhuangzi, balancing concise notes with a readable translation. Chen Guying's annotative style emphasizes the coherence of ideas and often highlights Zhuangzi's intellectual concerns at key points, so that readers see not only word-level explanations but also the inner connections among themes such as "Equalizing Things," "Free and Easy Wandering," and "Nourishing Life." The book serves well as both an introduction and a standby text for reading Zhuangzi straight through: beginners can use the translation to get past the literal meaning, while more advanced readers can return to the original details through the notes. It can be read sequentially from start to finish or advanced through in blocks by Inner, Outer, and Miscellaneous Chapters. It should be noted that this book is positioned as modern annotation and translation, not a variorum edition or textual criticism monograph; for version comparison or academic research, more specialized materials are still needed. Overall, it is a Zhuangzi reader that can accompany readers through repeated rereadings, suited to those who make classic reading part of daily life.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginning readers who want to read the full Zhuangzi and need modern annotation and translation support
General readers interested in Daoist thought and fable-like expression who hope to read systematically
Students of literature, history, and philosophy who need a concise and reliable annotated translation for university courses
Reading enthusiasts who enjoy slow reading of classics and are willing to reread and take excerpts

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers who need variorum editions, textual criticism, or version studies
Readers who only want a few fable stories and seek light entertainment
Readers who expect Zhuangzi to be restated through modern psychology or success-study frameworks

Reading tips

Begin with famous Inner Chapters such as "Free and Easy Wandering," "Equalizing Things," and "Nourishing Life" to build an initial grasp of Zhuangzi's core questions.
The Outer and Miscellaneous Chapters vary greatly in length and style; read them selectively by interest, then return to the Inner Chapters for a deeper sense.
After each fable, summarize the story and its argument in your own words, so you do not remember only the plot and miss the reasoning.
Keep an excerpt notebook to record recurring images and concepts; reread it after intervals to appreciate the echoes across the text.

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

The Commercial Press is a publisher known for classic works and academic publishing, with titles spanning Eastern philosophy, foreign literature, world history, social culture, and applied psychology. Its list includes classical commentaries such as Zhu Xi's Collected Commentaries on the Analects and Wang Bi's Commentary on the Zhouyi, as well as modern annotated translations like Zhuangzi with Modern Notes and Translation. In foreign literature it offers War and Peace and Crime and Punishment, while in world history it carries Braudel's The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II. Applied psychology is represented by Irvin D. Yalom's Existential Psychotherapy, and ethical texts include a Greek-Chinese-English edition of the Nicomachean Ethics. Its authors and translators include Zhu Xi, Wang Bi, Yalom, Braudel, and translators such as Huang Zheng, Zhang Yiling, Shen Dongyu, and Tang Jialong, balancing the editing of original texts with academic translation.

版权信息
北京商务重排版说明
修订版序
前言
内篇
逍遥游
一
二
三
齐物论
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
养生主
一
二
三
人间世
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
德充符
一
二
三
四
五
六
大宗师
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
应帝王
一
二
三
四
五
六
外篇
骈拇
一
二
马蹄
一
二
胠箧
一
二
在宥
一
二
三
四
五
天地
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
一二
一三
一四
一五
天道
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
天运
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
刻意
一
二
三
缮性
一
二
三
秋水
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
至乐
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
外篇
达生
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
一二
一三
山木
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
田子方
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
知北游
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
一二
杂篇
庚桑楚
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
一二
徐无鬼
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
一二
一三
一四
一五
则阳
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
外物
一
二
三
四
五
六
八
九
一○
一一
一二
一三
寓言
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
让王
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
一二
一三
一四
一五
盗跖
一
二
三
说剑
一
二
渔父
一
二
列御寇
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
一○
一一
一二
天下
一
三
四
五
六
七
八
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FAQ

Can I read this book directly without any foundation in classical Chinese?

Yes. The book provides modern annotation and translation; beginners can first read the translation to grasp the general meaning, then work gradually through the original text and notes. But Zhuangzi has many fables and jumps abruptly, so it is best to start with famous Inner Chapters and not demand to understand everything at once; repeated rereading is more effective than word-by-word struggle.

In what order should the Inner, Outer, and Miscellaneous Chapters of Zhuangzi be read?

It is generally recommended to read the Inner Chapters first, especially "Free and Easy Wandering," "Equalizing Things," and "Nourishing Life," which集中 present Zhuangzi's core speculation. The Outer and Miscellaneous Chapters are more mixed in style and content; after the Inner Chapters, read them by interest, then compare them back with the Inner Chapters to see the extension and variation of thought.

Are the annotations in this book sufficient for academic research?

The book is positioned as modern annotation and translation, focused on clarifying meaning and suggesting ideas; it is suitable for general reading and introduction. For textual collation, comparison of historical commentaries, or specialized research, one still needs variorum editions, critical annotated editions, and primary sources; this book alone is not enough.

Does reading Zhuangzi require other books alongside it?

At the beginner stage this book can be used independently. To deepen understanding, pair it with a history of Chinese philosophy or an introduction to Daoist thought to help grasp the background; after finishing, one may also read an annotated edition of Laozi to compare the similarities and differences between the two schools, but there is no need to spread out too many materials at the start.

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About the author

Chen Guying Author · China · 1935

Chen Guying, born in 1935 in Changting, Fujian, is a contemporary scholar of Daoism. He graduated from the Department of Philosophy and the Graduate Institute of Philosophy at National Taiwan University, where he studied under Fang Dongmei and Yin Haiguang. He has taught at National Taiwan University and Peking University and is regarded as a representative figure of contemporary New Daoism. Long devoted to the philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi and to Daoist culture, his scholarship combines textual annotation with philosophical exposition. His representative works, Laozi: A Modern Commentary and Translation and Zhuangzi: A Modern Commentary and Translation, pair detailed notes with modern translations, making these classical texts more accessible to general readers. Works such as New Discussions of Laozi and Zhuangzi and On the Mainstream of Daoist Philosophy trace the development of Daoist thought from a philosophical-historical perspective. He also edits the journal Daoist Culture Studies, promoting scholarly discussion in the field. His writings have circulated widely and have exerted a considerable influence on the transmission of Daoist philosophy among Chinese-language readers.