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The Book of Chuang Tzu (Penguin Classics) [Kindle Edition]

Chuang Tzu (Author), Martin Palmer (Translator)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews) |
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Product Description

Product Description

The Book of Chuang Tzu draws together the stories, tales, jokes and anecdotes that have gathered around the figure of Chuang Tzu. One of the great founders of Taoism, Chaung Tzu lived in the fourth century BC and is among the most enjoyable and intriguing personalities in the whole of Chinese philosophy.

About the Author

The Taoist author named Chuang-tzu is estimated to have lived in the fourth century BCE, between 399 and 255 BCE.

Martin Palmer is Director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture. Currently he is working with the China Taoist Association on a project to protect the main Taoist sacred Mountains of China.

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 2513 KB
  • Print Length: 356 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 014045537X
  • Publisher: Penguin (30 Nov 2006)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B002RI99KU
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #120,357 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
103 of 106 people found the following review helpful
life-changing 21 Aug 2001
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I read an old dusty translation of Xuang Tzu (Chuang Tzu) in Southampton library many years ago. It made me re-assess my understanding of philosophy towards life, though it was my first understanding of Taoism.

This version is much easier to understand and (as far as I know) is complete. There is another book (The Way of Chuang Tzu), which has a few of these stories within it in a more easily understood format (though not directly translated). However if you want a cheap comprehensive book of Chuang Tzu's writing this is the one to get. I re-read it regularly and always find it amusing and interesting. If I lost it I would buy it again.

There is a good introducion of Chuang Tzu and the texts. It comprises a series of stories which are both insightful and amusing. Some passages must be re-read to get an understanding of the meaning (and often after reflecting on them), but this is intrinsic within the work and not an effect of the translator.

I never found the Tao Te Ching very interesting - this is like an interesting version of it in story form with which I found a much stronger association (and actually helped me to understand the Tao Te Ching better).

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56 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The Book of Chuang Tsu is the other great work of Taoism (as opposed to general Chinese masterworks) and is considerably different to the Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching. It consists of short stories, often with Confucius and other legendary figures as participants - illustrating aspects of the Tao and of Chuang Tzu's thinking. (Or in the case of Confucius more often demonstrating what not to do.)

The stories are interesting, (and central) but if you are looking for an introduction to Taoism or the thinking of Taoism I'd recommend you read the Tao of Pooh first (Ben Hoffman).

As I have only read this version, I cannot comment with any authority on the merits of the translation. Though Martin Palmer is a bona fide thinker in that he is not a mere academic translating a text - he is someone who has feeling for the Tao. (He has written lots of other stuff which suggests this.) Which is a good thing.

There is much wisdom in this book, but it is not preachy. Recommending a classic of literature like this is like reviewing and recommending the Bible or any other ancient text. But it is not preachy, and expects nothing of you than to read it. This is what all good books are about. Recommended!

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22 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Darren P. Hammond VINE™ VOICE
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have only recently started to read about the Dao and books on it or by its great practitioners... and this particular one came across more a book on accepting ones place in life and venerating the emporer rather than a great philosophical treatise.

Within the text there are some fantastic nuggets of wisdom that really speak volumes but be warned the writing style is all over the place, which is not a bad thing.

I thought that the introduction could be considerably shorter as it quoted many phrases from the actual writings but didnt really add anything to them.

A good book, and worth reading.

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Popular Highlights

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&quote;
Forget about life, forget about worrying about right and wrong. Plunge into the unknown and the endless and find your place there! &quote;
Highlighted by 9 Kindle users
&quote;
Everyone knows the usefulness of the useful but no one knows the usefulness of the useless! &quote;
Highlighted by 9 Kindle users
&quote;
Once upon a time, I, Chuang Tzu, dreamt that I was a butterfly, flitting around and enjoying myself. I had no idea I was Chuang Tzu. Then suddenly I woke up and was Chuang Tzu again. But I could not tell, had I been Chuang Tzu dreaming I was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming I was now Chuang Tzu? However, there must be some sort of difference between Chuang Tzu and a butterfly! We call this the transformation of things. &quote;
Highlighted by 8 Kindle users

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