Zhuangzi

Introduction

The received text has 33 chapters in the edition of Guo Xiang (3rd–4th century CE), who cut it down from a longer version. They are divided into “inner chapters” (1–7), usually attributed to Zhuangzi himself, and “outer” and “miscellaneous” chapters from later followers and related schools. Instead of argument in a straight line, the book uses anecdotes, invented dialogues, absurd figures and jokes: it begins with a giant fish that turns into a bird. The second chapter, on “making things equal”, questions whether any standpoint can claim to be the right one. The text is read as philosophy and as literature and shaped later Chan (Zen) Buddhism.

Read the full text

• Wikisource (English)
• Internet Archive (English)
• Wikisource (French)
• Wikisource (Chinese)
• Chinese Text Project (Chinese)

Free full text, often an older edition or translation

Connections

Builds on

• Daodejingc. 400 BCE · Laozi

Taken up in

• Commentary on the Zhuangzic. 300 · Guo Xiang