The Book of Chuang Tzu (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Martin Palmer (Translator, Introduction), Elizabeth Breuilly (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2007 | Series: Penguin Classics

A masterpiece of ancient Chinese philosophy, second in influence only to the Tao Te Ching

One of the founders of Taoism, Chuang Tzu was firmly opposed to Confucian values of order, control, and hierarchy, believing the perfect state to be one where primal, innate nature rules. Full of profundity as well as tricks, knaves, sages, jokers, unbelievably named people, and uptight Confucians, The Book of Chuang Tzu perceives the Tao-the Way of Nature- not as a term to be explained but as a path to walk. Radical and subversive, employing wit, humor, and shock tactics, The Book of Chuang Tzu offers an intriguing look deep into Chinese culture.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics; Revised edition (April 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014045537X
• ISBN-13: 978-0140455373
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Nonfiction > Chinese
  • #39 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions > Taoism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 69 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)   

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

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