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Zhuangzi

A New Translation of the Sayings of Master Zhuang as Interpreted by Guo Xiang
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Zhuangzi is a foundational work in Chinese philosophy and Daoist thought, presenting aphorisms, narratives, and parables rich in meaning but often ambiguous. This edition offers Richard John Lynn's new translation that uniquely follows Guo Xiang's early and influential commentary, integrating the text with Guo's interpretative insights. Featuring a complete interlinear translation of Guo's commentary and thorough annotations, it situates the classic within its fourth-century historical context while exploring its guidance on personal cultivation and self-realisation.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$8599
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for scholars, students, and readers interested in Chinese philosophy, Daoism, intellectual history, and classical literature, especially those who appreciate detailed commentary and historical context in philosophical texts.

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The earliest and most influential commentary on the Zhuangzi is that of Guo Xiang (265–312). Richard John Lynn’s translation of the Zhuangzi is the first to follow Guo’s commentary in its interpretive choices. Its guiding principle is how Guo read the text, which allows for the full integration of the Zhuangzi with Guo’s commentary.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Zhuangzi (Sayings of Master Zhuang) is one of the foundational texts of the Chinese philosophical tradition and the cornerstone of Daoist thought. The earliest and most influential commentary on The Zhuangzi is that of Guo Xiang (265–312), who also edited the text into the thirty-three-chapter version known ever since. Guo's commentary enriches readings of The Zhuangzi, offering keen insights into the meaning and significance of its pithy but often ambiguous aphorisms, narratives, and parables.

Richard John Lynn's new translation of The Zhuangzi is the first to follow Guo's commentary in its interpretive choices. Unlike any previous translation into any language, its guiding principle is how Guo read the text; Lynn renders The Zhuangzi in terms of Guo's understanding. This approach allows for the full integration of the text of The Zhuangzi with Guo's commentary. The book also features a translation of Guo's complete interlinear commentary and is annotated throughout.

A critical introduction includes a detailed account of Guo's life and times as well as analysis of his essential contributions to the arcane learning (xuanxue) of the fourth century and the development of Chinese philosophy. Lynn sheds new light on how the Daoist classic, which has often been seen as a timeless book of wisdom, is situated in its historical context, while also considering it as a guide to personal cultivation and self-realisation.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Richard John Lynn's translation is hailed as a monumental achievement, providing exceptional depth and scope. Wendy Swartz praises it as indispensable for the study of Chinese philosophy and intellectual history. Michael Nylan highlights how Lynn's work restores Zhuangzi to its original political and philosophical power by following Guo Xiang's commentary, correcting previous misreadings through Buddhist lenses.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780231123877

Publisher: Columbia University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 September 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Columbia University Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Richard John Lynn
  • Translated by Richard John Lynn

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 808

About the Author

Richard John Lynn is professor emeritus of Chinese thought and literature at the University of Toronto. His previous Columbia University Press books are The Classic of Changes: A New Translation of the I Ching as Interpreted by Wang Bi (1994) and The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi (1999).

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