Zhuangzi, the Divine Classic of Nan Hua

📖 The Scoop

Mr. Frederic Henry Balfour was the first Sinologue to translate Zhuangzi. He was followed by Mr. Herbert Gile (1886, Zhuangzi, mystic, moralist, and social reformer) and Dr. Legge (The texts of Taoism, 1891, vols 1 and 2). H. Giles provided an analysis of this first translation in the China Review, 1883, 11:1-15 and Dr. Legge in the preface of his translation (pp. xviii). In the words of Dr. Legge, "it was no small achievement to be the first to endeavor to lift up the veil from Zhuangzi. Even a first translation, though imperfect, is not without benefit to others who come after, and are able to do better." The purpose of this reedition is to provide this first translation for historical and comparative purposes. The language and concepts used in the Zhuangzi are for me so complex and subtle that having several translations at hand is one of the steps to approach this incredibly rich esoteric text.

Genre: Reference / General (fancy, right?)