《CHUANG TZU》Ancient Taoist Wisdom and Philosophical Treasures

"Zhuangzi", also known as "Nan Hua Jing" ("The Scripture of Southern Florescence"), is a Taoist text written by Zhuangzi and his followers during the Middle Warring States Period. In the Han Dynasty, it was revered as "Nan Hua Jing", and Zhuangzi was honored as the "True Hero of Nan Hua" (Zhenren of Nan Hua). Together with "Laozi" (Tao Te Ching) and "I Ching" (The Book of Changes), Zhuangzi forms the "Three Profound Classics" (San Xuan), a trio of core Taoist and ancient Chinese philosophical works. The book delves into Zhuangzi’s philosophy, art, aesthetics, outlooks on life, and political thought. James Legge, a prominent modern British sinologist, translated this work into English. As the first scholar to systematically study and translate ancient Chinese classics, Legge’s translations are widely recognized in the West as a reference for understanding Oriental civilization and Chinese culture.

【Notable Excerpt from the Book】 There is a fish in the Northern Ocean, and its name is Kun. The Kun is so large that no one knows how many thousand li (a traditional Chinese unit of distance, roughly 0.5 kilometers per li) it spans. It transforms into a bird, and its name is Peng. The Peng’s back is so broad that no one knows how many thousand li it measures. When it spreads its wings in fury and takes flight, its wings are like clouds hanging from the sky. This bird, when the ocean gales blow (during the seasonal maritime winds), will migrate to the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean is the Heavenly Pond (a celestial lake).