The Book of Chuang Tzu (Compass) [Paperback]

Martin Palmer (Translator), Elizabeth Breuilly (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Compass | Publication Date: May 1, 1996

A Chinese classic, the "Chuang Tzu" was written sometime in the 14th century BC, and consists of original teachings, stories, tales and jokes told by Master Chuang, as well as others which have coalesced round his name. It is considered second only to the "Tao Te Ching", but the two books coundn't be more different. Where the "Tao Te Ching" is distant and proverbial in style, the "Chuang Tze" buzzes with life and with insights, often with considerable humour behind them. "Chuang Tzu"'s development of what later became known as Taoism lies in his advocacy of change as fundamental to life, and of the desire to cling on to things as being the basic problem of suffering and fustration. His writing combines wisdom and wit, and does not present a case so much as engage in argument and debate with the reader.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese

About the Author

Chuang Tzu lived in the fourth century BC.
Martin Palmer is director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education, and Culture and a translator of many Chinese classics and folktales.
--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140194886
• ISBN-13: 978-0140194883
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Nonfiction > Chinese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic translation of Chuang Tzu, March 14, 2000

By 

Charles Pinney (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book of Chuang Tzu (Compass) (Paperback)

This is a great version of the Chuang Tzu containing all of the Inner, Outer and Miscellaneous chapters. Martin Palmer begins the book with a well written and educational preface and introduction going into the details of his translation and the Taoist concepts and ideas in the book.

He states: "The Book of Chuang Tzu is like a travelogue. As such, it meanders between continents, pauses to discuss diet, gives exchange rates, breaks off to speculate, offers a bus timetable, tells an amusing incident, quotes from poetry, relates a story, cites scripture."

"And always listen out for the mocking laughter of Chuang Tzu. This can be heard most when you start to make grand schemes out of the bits, or wondrous philosophies out of the hints and jokes. For ultimately this is not one book but a variety of voices swapping stories and bouncing ideas off each other, with Chuang Tzu striding through the whole, joking, laughing, arguing and interrupting."

Indeed the Chuang Tzu does all these things. Providing a fascinating and enlightening glimpse, using heavy doses of humor and wit, into the path of Tao. Experience is all.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous!, June 3, 2001

By 

Technobliss (NV USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Book of Chuang Tzu (Compass) (Paperback)

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!

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not the best - but still good, April 30, 2003

By 

Bao Pu (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Chuang Tzu (Compass) (Paperback)

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