zhuangzi chapter 2 summary - Chapters
Throughout this chapter Zhuangzi refers to a number of historical figures, many of whom appear in the Analects, though the speeches and anecdotes which he invents for them have nothing to do with history. It was written during the late Warring States period (476–221 BC) and is named for its traditional author, Zhuang Zhou, who is customarily known as "Zhuangzi" ("Master Zhuang"). The Zhuangzi consists of stories and maxims that exemplify the nature of the ideal Taoist sage.
Understanding the Context
Zhuangzi (Chuang-tzu 莊子 “Master Zhuang” late 4th century BC) is the pivotal figure in Classical Philosophical Daoism. The Zhuangzi is a compilation of his and others’ writings at the pinnacle of the philosophically subtle Classical period in China (5th–3rd century BC). The Book of Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi), translated by Martin Palmer, Elizabeth Breauilly, Chang Wei Ming, and Jay Ramsay, is available here in EPUB, AZW3, and PDF formats. Zhuangzi (莊子) - full text database, fully browsable and searchable on-line; discussion and list of publications related to Zhuangzi.
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Key Insights
In English and simplified and traditional Chinese. He is credited with writing—in part or in whole—a work known by his name, the Zhuangzi, which is one of two foundational texts of Taoism, alongside the Tao Te Ching. Zhuangzi, Chinese philosophical, literary, and religious classic named for its author, Zhuang Zhou, who lived in the 4th century bce and is commonly referred to as Zhuangzi (“Master Zhuang”). The Zhuangzi (also known in Wade-Giles romanization romanization as Chuang-tzu), named after “Master Zhuang” was, along with the Laozi, one of the earliest texts to contribute to the philosophy that has come to be known as Daojia, or School of the Way.