Zhuangzi: Modern Annotations and Translations - Volume 1, 2, and 3

Author: Chen Guying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features:
1. The "Annotations" section of this book took the most time. Often, for a single character, word, or sentence, I searched through ancient annotations only to find no suitable explanation.
2. The "Modern Translation" of this book is based on the "Annotations" and references existing Chinese and English translations. To ensure clarity and proximity to the original meaning, I have adopted phrases that others have translated well. In many cases where my translation differs from others, it is due to my personal interpretation of Zhuangzi's text.
3. The Zhuangzi text used in this book is based on the collated and annotated edition of Guo Qingfan's Collected Explanations (Shijie Shuju reprint). Guo Qingfan's Collected Explanations includes the full text of Guo Xiang's annotations, Cheng Xuanying's commentary, and Lu Deming's phonetic annotations, as well as excerpts from the etymological and textual research of Wang Niansi, Yu Yue, and others from the Qing Dynasty. It also includes Yuan Shengtao's and Guo Qingfan's own opinions. The Collected Explanations was originally based on Li Shujing's collated edition of the "Shiye Yeshu," while Zhuang's collation further corrected it based on the Shang Song edition of the "Xugu Yishu," the Yin Shi Xianlong edition, the Daozang edition of Cheng Xuanying's commentary, and Sun Yuxiu's collation notes from the "Sibu Congkan" (including the Song Dynasty Zhao Jianyi's annotations), as well as the textual research of Zhuang Shuimin and Liu Wen. Any additions or deletions to the original text are explained in the "Annotations."
4. The Zhuangzi is extremely extensive, and the "Miscellaneous Chapters" are particularly chaotic. For clarity, the entire book is numbered to divide sections and paragraphs.
5. During the annotation and translation process, in addition to referencing ancient and modern annotations, I also referred to English, Japanese, and mainland scholars' specialized works on Zhuangzi. The references in this book are limited to etymological and interpretive explanations, which are based on academic needs and do not involve political or ideological issues.
6. During the writing of this book, Mr. Yan Ling published the "Collected Zhuangzi" (Volume 1) and the "Zhuangzi Art and Literature" (Yiwen Yinshu Press), which provided great convenience for the annotation work of this book.