Zhuangzi's Collected Commentaries

Author: (Qing) Wang Xianqian
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1998-09-01
Features: "Zhuangzi" is one of the representative works of the pre-Qin philosophers and a gem in the classical Chinese literature. Since its inception, it has been highly valued by scholars throughout the dynasties. There are numerous commentaries on "Zhuangzi," numbering dozens. "Zhuangzi Jijie" (Collected Explanations of Zhuangzi) stands as the pinnacle of these works. The author, Wang Xianqian, was a Qing dynasty scholar who dedicated his life to the study of Zhuangzi. While summarizing the achievements of his predecessors, he also proposed many of his own insightful interpretations, which are highly valuable. For this compilation, we used the "Collected Works of Pre-Qin Philosophers" as the base text, cross-referencing other extant editions to select the best versions. To facilitate reading for general audiences, we not only converted the traditional vertical, complex characters to simplified horizontal characters but also specially rearranged the annotations interspersed within the text to notes at the end of each section, separating the original text from the annotations. Additionally, Mr. Wang Zhongzhou specially created over 30 illustrations to accompany the text, hoping they will be well-received by readers. For any shortcomings, we sincerely apologize.