Zhuangzi
The Writings of Kwang-tze
- Attributed to
- Zhuang Zhou
- Translated by
- James Legge
- Chapters
- 33
- This translation
- 1891
Free of copyright worldwide. The translator died in 1897, and this translation was published in 1891. Even under the longest copyright term in the world — the author's life plus 100 years, which applies in Mexico — the text has been free since 1998. Source scan
Every chapter is free to read in Taoist Diary, with no account and no ads. Listening — the narrated chapters and the daily audio — is the subscription, at $1.99 a month.
How it opens
In the Northern Ocean there is a fish, the name of which is Khwan,— I do not know how many li in size. It changes into a bird with the name of Phang, the back of which is (also) — d do not know how many If in extent. When this bird rouses itself and flies, its wings are like clouds all round the sky. When the sea is moved (so as to bear it along), it prepares to remove to the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean is the Pool of Heaven.
Zhuangzi · Hsiao-yao Yu, or Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease · translated by James Legge
Before you start
- Is Zhuangzi free to read?
- Yes — all 33 chapters, with no account and no ads. James Legge's translation is out of copyright worldwide, so there is nothing to buy in order to read it. The paid part of Taoist Diary is listening: the narrated chapters and the daily audio, at $1.99 a month.
- Which translation is this?
- James Legge's, published in 1891. It is not modernised, paraphrased or trimmed — the sentences are his. The scan it was taken from is linked above, so any line here can be checked against it.
- How long is it?
- 33 chapters, listed in full below — Hsiao-yao Yu, or Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease through Thien Hsia\. Most are short enough to read in a sitting, which is how the app serves them: one at a time, one a day.
Read closely: what we've written about Zhuangzi
The 33 chapters
- 1Hsiao-yao Yu, or Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease
- 2Khi Wft Lun, or The Adjustment of Controversies
- 3Yang vShang KiX, or Nourishing the Lord of Life
- 4Zan Kien Shih, or Man in the World, Associated with other Men 1
- 5Teh Khung Fix, or The Seal of Virtue Complete
- 6Ta tsung Shih, or The Great and Most Honoured Master
- 7Ying Ti Wang, or The Normal Course for Rulers and Kings
- 8Phien Mau, or Webbed Toes
- 9Ma Thi, or Horsess Hoofs
- 10KkW Kk\eh., or Cutting open Satchels
- 11tsa i Yu, or Letting Be, and Exercising Forbearance
- 12Thien Ti, or Heaven and Earth
- 13Thien Tao, or The Way of Heaven
- 14Thien Ytin, or The Revolution of Heaven
- 15Kho 1, or Ingrained Ideas
- 16Shan Hsing, or Correcting the Nature
- 17Kh iu Shui, or The Floods of Autumn V i . The time of the autumnal fl
- 18Aih Lo, or Perfect Enjoyment
- 19Td Shang, or The Full Understanding of Life^
- 20Shan Mh, or The Tree on the Mountain T. .AAvang-tze was walking on a m
- 21Thien tze-fang^
- 22Kih. Pei Y6, or Knowledge Rambling in the North
- 23Kang-sang Khn*^
- 24Hsu Wli-kwei^
- 253 eh-yang\
- 26Wai Wii, or What comes from Without h
- 27Y ii Y e n, or Metaphorical Language
- 28^ang Wang, or Kings who have wished to resign the Throne h
- 29Tao K\\i, or The Robber
- 30Yiieh Aien, or Delight in the Sword-fighth Formerly, king Wan of Wao^
- 31Yu-fii, or The Old Fisherman. Confucius, rambling in the forest of tze
- 32Lieh Yii-khiu^
- 33Thien Hsia\