Average customer rating:
- Th e best book of eastern phiolospy I have read...
- A. C. Graham
- Wonderful book
- Brilliantly written
- There are better translations available
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Chuang Tzu: The Inner Chapters
David Hinton
Manufacturer: Counterpoint
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ASIN: 1887178791 |
Customer Reviews:
Th e best book of eastern phiolospy I have read..........2006-10-09
I REALLY enjoy this book. It is interesting and full of wisdom and leaves this simple reader with a lot to chew on. I especially enjoyed the tale of the butcher in "To care for this life". I have not read any other translations of The Inner Chapters, but I certainly will. I have compared other of David Hinton's translations with different translators, and find that his writing is touching and poetic, and for me, "hits home" the most. He seems to put great care and respect into his work, and I tend to enjoy his translations the most. I am gobbling up all his work I can get my hands on. Highly recommend his Wilderness Poems of Ancient China and translations of Tao Chien. I hope you buy this book.
A. C. Graham.......2005-01-13
This translation, I have to say, cannot hold a candle to A. C. Graham's. Graham reorganized the whole text, and explains how and why very methodically in his 35-page introduction. He tried to put the Inner Chapters into what could be (he believes) more faithful to the initial text. His translations read beautifully, much better than Hinton's often clunky ones. Also, when Zhuangzi switches from prose to poetry, or vice versa, it is noted in Graham's translation, often by putting the translation into a poem. In Hinton's, you'll find no such doings. Also, call me a snob, but I like my philosophy books to be translated by philosophers.
I'm sure it's a fine book, but I really must strongly recommend the Graham translation over this.
Wonderful book.......2004-10-03
I haven't read any other translations so I cannot comment per the prior reviewers' disagreement over this. On the other hand, some folks prefer a very literal translation and others perfer to optimize the poetic nature or the philosophical meaning and accuracy. There may not be a right or wrong on this point. However, the quality of Chuang Tzu's work is not in question--it's magnificent. This translation appeared to preserve the poetic beauty of the original while retaining its philosophical/religious integrity--but then, I don't read Chinese. I suggest you read it and form your own opinion.
Brilliantly written.......2000-03-19
Chuang Tzu's literary themes and format of choice differ considerably from those of the more famous Lao Tzu; his prose anecdotes are more accessible than Lao Tzu's didactic verse, yet often deeper as well, and are worthy of examination even by those with no particular interest in Taoist philosophy.
How accurate is this work as translation? Not being familiar with the original Chinese, I can't say -- but the English phrasings are extraordinarily effective in their own right, far clearer and more beautiful than those in another, more popular version that I've seen.
There are better translations available.......1998-03-19
What I don't understand is why this translation is IN PRINT, while some really excellent translations of the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), such as those by A.C. Graham and Victor Mair, are OUT OF PRINT.
Book Description
The Inner Chapters are the oldest pieces of the larger collection of writings by several fourth, third, and second century B.C. authors that constitute the classic of Taoism, the Chuang-Tzu (or Zhuangzi). It is this core of ancient writings that is ascribed to Chuang-Tzu himself.
Customer Reviews:
An almost correct translation, but not really enjoyable to read.......2005-03-02
HISTORY OF BOOK TITLED: ZHUANGZI
The present version of the ancient Taoist book on philosophy titled Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) was edited by Kuo Hsiang around 300 CE. He edited an earlier version consisting of 52 sections down to 33 sections, the omitted 19 sections were considered inferior and of a spurious nature. The 33 sections were divided into the inner chapters (seven sections), outer chapters (15 sections) and miscellaneous chapters (11 sections.).
The inner chapters the Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) are considered to be the most authentic chapters and most likely to have been written by Zhuangzi or at least written by a brilliant and keen mind. (The inner chapters probably date to around the second century BCE.) The inner chapters contain all the important ideas and are consistently brilliant. The outer and miscellaneous chapters are more uneven and sometimes contain excellent pieces of philosophical writing and others times are the work of a feeble scribbler--to quote the famous Chinese translator Arthur Waley.
QUALITY and READABILITY of GRAHAM'S TRANSLATION
From the above, one can see why the late sinologist Angus Graham wisely chose to only translate the inner chapters of Zhuangzi. However, at least two things are essential for a good translation, capturing the meaning and getting the flow. If a translation sounds awkward or is not otherwise enjoyable to read it is not a successful translation.
This translation is more suitable for a scholar as it is uses terminology that is technically precise, but arcane and awkward in many places. The style of this translation is very academic. It is written by a scholar who appears to subscribe to the notion that any word that is close enough in meaning is the word to use regardless of how it sounds to the reader or what images it invokes in the reader's mind. If one has handy a good English dictionary and is willing to read Graham's end notes the meaning will become clear, but this kind of reading is not an enjoyable experience as the wit, energy and spirit of Chuang Tzu is diminished by this style of translation.
The more I translate Chuang Tzu, the less I like Graham's translation. His translations often significantly differ from Watson's and others translators. He makes many unusual translation choices.
I recommend that unless you are writing an academic paper on Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi), are a philologist, or are taking a class on Chinese philosophy to skip this translation. (Note, Angus Graham also wrote a second book detailing his translation notes for this book. Again this is only suitable for a scholar, not for the non academic.)
ALTERNATE AVAILABLE TRANSLATIONS
Burton Watson's translation is superior in capturing the exuberance of Chuang Tzu. The few "mistakes" Watson makes are inconsequential as he truly captures the essential meaning and the spirit and the flow of the writing. I highly recommend Burton Watson's translation in either his book: The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu (a full translation) or his smaller paperback: Chuang Tzu--Basic Writings. (This last is a subset of the most interesting and best written parts of Chuang Tzu, and it includes all the inner chapters.)
If one wants a more poetic translation suitable for random daily study or meditation then one should seriously consider Thomas Merton's translation of selected passages of Chuang Tzu. They are very well done. And despite the fact that Thomas Merton did not know Chinese, pretty faithful to the original text. The only drawback to his book--and this is its strength as well--is that the selections tends to be short and sometimes he omits passages that are logically and thematically connected and hence probably should not have been omitted. With few exceptions Thomas Merton's selections are the cream of Chuang Tzu. Very occasionally, Merton adds in something that is not in the original Chinese, but he does it so skillfully that it reads like something that Chuang Tzu could and even should have written.
I have read (and am inclined to agree) that Arthur Waley's selected translations of Chuang Tzu in his book: Three Ways of Thought are the best written, however Waley only translated some of Chuang Tzu.
COMPARISON BETWEEN GRAHAM'S and WATSON'S TRANSLATION
The late Angus Graham was a respected sinologist, so it is surprising that his translation is flawed, both in its readability and in my opinion in the accuracy of the translation itself. Compare Graham's translation of chapter three, section three, with Burton Watson's.
Graham's
My life flows between confines, but knowledge has no confines. If we use the confined to follow the unconfined, there is danger that the flow will cease; and when it ceases, to exercise knowledge is purest danger.
...
Three years more and I never saw an ox as a whole. Nowadays, I am in touch through the daemonic in me, and do not look with the eye. With the senses I know where to stop, the daemonic I desire to run its course. I rely on Heaven's structuring, cleave along the main seams, let myself be guided by the cavities, go by what is inherently so.
Watson's
Your life has a limit but knowledge has none. If you use what is limited to pursue what has no limit, you will be in danger. If you understand this and still strive for knowledge, you will be in danger for certain!
...
After three years I no longer saw the whole ox. And now---now I go at it by spirit and don't look with my eyes. Perception and understanding have come to a stop and spirit moves where it wants. I go along with the natural makeup, strike in the big hollows, guide the knife through the big openings, and follow things as they are.
Not for Everyone.......2002-04-30
I am a person who wants to know everything about the philosophy of Daoism. This book is indispensible to me beacause it reveals many "hidden" meanings in the text of Master Zhuang (Chuang Tzu). But like some others, I find Graham gets a little too analytical for his own good (not to mention ours). He did a much better job with his translation of Lieh Tzu (Lie Zi).
Chuang Tzu smiles and nods his head in approval........2001-05-22
Chuang Tzu is the wisest, wittiest, and easiest-to-read of all philosophical writers, and also the greatest. And the question that A. C. Graham's 'Chuang-Tzu - The Inner Chapters' raises in an acute form is this: Do you want to read Chuang Tzu himself? Or do you want to study what a scholarly mind thinks about him, and in the process have your mind carefully adjusted so that you will end up thinking in the same way too?
In other words, are you a mature and sensible person with an enquiring mind, who for some reason or other has become interested in China's most brilliant philosophical rascal - one who would have let out a howl of laughter if shown the present book? Or are you a student being run through society's ideological mill, and one needing to grub up on the history of Chinese philosophy and Chuang Tzu's relation to the Mohists and Logicians and other such extraneous stuff, a mill for whom Chuang Tzu is just another 'philosopher' (a word that hardly describes him since he's something much bigger)?
If you are one of the latter, perhaps Graham, who is one of the world's foremost Sinologists and a brilliant translator, is the man for you. So far as Graham is concerned, and many agree, most of the received text of Chuang Tzu wasn't written by Chuang Tzu at all. He feels that only the first seven chapters, the 'Inner Chapters,' are Chuang Tzu's own work, the other chapters being a collection of pieces written by others, and in his edition has rearranged the text to bring it into line with his thesis.
Consequently his book falls into six parts: 1. Introduction; 2. The Inner Chapters and related passages; 3. A 'School of Chuang-tzu' selection; 4. The essays of the Primitivists; 5. The Yangist miscellany; 6. The Syncretist writings.
The 40-page Introduction is both detailed and informative. Each of the remaining six parts has its own introductory note, and is annotated with other long notes. The book is rounded out with a List of Chinese Characters (sinographs) and an Index. All in all, then, this is a thorough and scholarly production in which Graham presents a very persuasive and convincing case for his complex rearrangement of Chuang Tzu's text, and one backed up by lots of impeccably logical argument.
So why did I say it would have made Chuang Tzu howl with laughter? Well, because Graham's rationalist approach violates the whole spirit of Chuang Tzu, a man who had seen through the folly of the overemphasis on reason. Graham founds himself squarely in reason, while failing to note that reason can never really arrive at the truth. Chuang Tzu, in contrast, and although he was certainly capable of a reasonable use of reason, was more a bubbling and sparkling fountain of joyous insights, brilliant insights into the nature of man and woman and reality, and he doesn't need any commentators. All you need to read him is a mind of your own.
Confronted by the kind of mindset represented by Graham, we should never forget what Lu Chi (+ 754-805) reminds us of in his brilliant 'Essay on Literature,' the 'Wen fu,' when he tells us that: 'Theses are convincing - but deceptive...' I can just see Chuang Tzu smiling and nodding his head in approval.
So if you are a student, and if you need a heavily annotated scholarly (though rearranged) translation because you have to grub up for an exam on Chinese Philosophy, Graham's edition can certainly be recommended. Others, however, who may be approaching Chuang Tzu for the first time, would be wiser to look for something less cluttered, something that allows them more immediate access to this scintillating writer without the distractions of a mass of extraneous matter. Two uncluttered and excellent translations that can be strongly recommended are those of Lin Yutang and Burton Watson.
And for the simplest and easiest approach of all to Chuang Tzu there is Thomas Merton's quite brilliant reworking and abridgement, 'The Way of Chuang Tzu.' Merton, who was not a scholar of Chinese, may not have given us Chuang Tzu's actual words in his selection of these ironic, witty, and sophisticated stories. But as a man of insight he's succeeded wonderfully in capturing the spirit of the old rascal.
Purists may scowl, but I think I spot Chuang Tzu looking down from his dragon as it flaps him across the heavens, and beaming and nodding in approval of Merton too.
Excellent!.......1998-04-15
This is one of the best translations of the writings attributed to the brilliant Taoist philosopher Chuang Tzu. Although less well known outside of China than "Lao Tzu," the reputed author of the _Tao Te Ching_, Chuang Tzu, who lived in the 4th century B.C., is both one of history's greatest anti-rationalist philosophers and one of the best prose stylist of world literature. Among the most famous (and moving) passages in his eponymous work is the story of how Chuang Tzu (whose full name is Chuang Chou) dreamed he was a butterfly, and, upon awakening, "does not know whether he is Chou who dreams he is a butterfly or a butterfly who dreams he is Chou."
Graham gives a complete translation of the "Inner Chapters," which are regarded by many scholars as the authentic works of Chuang Tzu, and also gives selections from later Taoist works, attributed to Chuang Tzu (but probably from other philosophers). Graham's interpretive Introduction (with sections on such tasty topics as "Rejection of Logic" and "Death and Mutilation") is itself one of the classic interpretations of Chuang Tzu's philosophy.
Readers familiar with the _Chuang Tzu_ from other translations will notice that Graham has rearranged some sections of the text. This is not mere whim on Graham's part, but part of his thoughtful view that parts of the text have been moved from their original locations due to textual corruption as the book was recopied by generations of scribes.
As you can see, this book is currently out of print (which is a testament to both the poor taste of much of the book-buying public, and to the near-sightedness of publishers). I sincerely hope that some publisher will pick up the rights to this outstanding translation.
Other excellent translations of the _Chuang Tzu_ include those by Burton Watson, _Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings_, and Victor Mair, _Wandering on the Way_. Two fine collections of interpretive essays on Chuang Tzu's thought are Paul Kjellberg and Philip J. Ivanhoe, eds., _Essays on Skepticism, Relativism, and Ethics in the Zhuangzi_, and Victor Mair, ed., _Experimental Essays on Chuang-tzu_.
Customer Reviews:
The Great Chinese Master's Death Blow to Relativism.......2000-09-03
Any honest philosopher seriously interested in ancient Chinese philosophy or in origins of Ch'an Buddhism will find this work a masterpiece of scholarship and a very interesting read. It presumes the reader is familiar with Lao Tzu's Dao De Jing, and Chunag-Tzu's Inner Chapters. The koan about Chuang-Tzu's having dreamed he was a butterfly is gone into in depth, with Allinson presenting an interesting twist on the translation, if a slight change in the order of the account of the dream is made. Allinson thinks that a person is spiritually uplifted by following his lead as he walks through the mental landscape that Chuang-Tzu has surveyed for us. It is an interesting journey through the mind of a great and revered master of ancient Chinese thought. In Buddhism, a vow is taken to destroy all "-isms", and so the wise are concerned with criticisms that Chinese philosophy is relativistic, or that everything is permitted since all is relative. Allinson goes deep into this problematic view, and shows that Chuang-Tzu is not a relativist. Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, the Old Master and the Great Master form the Lao-Chuang Philosophy of Taoism (pronounced Dow-ism). Three metaphors for the Dao are flowing like water, receptive like females, and virgin minds, like infants. Anyone making himself out to be a relativist, or any kind of "-ist", is making himself or herself out to be an icecube, by attaching to ideas, and so is not flowing like water. Everyone has his or her own right way of living, and each is a self-legislator. Allinson thinks that there is no one rule which can tell us how to act in every situation, since every situation is different. But he believes that philosophy is a matter of life-and-death and that if we have a choice, we should choose life! Life is right in any case. And that while alive, we should be thoroughly alive. So that we die with no regrets. This is the Zen, or Ch'an, of life and death. Basically, Chuang Tzu is said to be the founder of Ch'an Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is the Japanese version. Buddhism came, originally, from India. Allinson thinks that our minds are like gardens; we get indoctrinated when we are children, in one set of beliefs, one culture, and one language, unless our parents are bi-lingual. We study ancient philosophy in order to see where some of our ideas come from, to overcome the past, and to free ourselves from it. The philosopher shows us how to empty our minds or free our minds of false beliefs which are like weeds in our mental gardens. This gives us room for good ideas to grow. Robert Allinson believes that if we free our minds so that we can develop our original ideas, that then we will be happier. He says that the mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. And, that reason poisons desire and destroys happiness. Happiness is our destiny, and comes from deep within us. If we do what is in our hearts, or try to follow our feelings, intuitions, and affections, we shall be true to our selves. In this way, we shall be true to others, as Shakespeare said. Although the book is long, Allinson agrees with Alexander Pope that a little learning is a dangerous thing, drink deep, or taste not, the Pierian Spring. He presents enough theory to take the reigns from our emotions, and to find ourselves. This book should be read from front to back, and will give the reader many years of enjoyment upon re-reading it. It is a masterpiece that one can return to over and over whenever one needs food for thought. Philosophy is like food for your mind. There is plenty to feast on here! Dr. Allinson was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, before Bill Clinton. He grew up in New Haven, Connecticut where his father taught surgery at Yale Medical School. He earned his undergrad degree Summa Cum Laude at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He spent a year studying in Kerala, India while working on his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. He studied Chinese at Columbia University and has been a Graduate Lecturer in Philosophy at The Chinese University in Hong Kong since 1977, where he is now on the Graduate Committee. His many accomplishments and papers would take a long time to list. I recommend this book strongly.
Book Description
At the time of his death in 1991, Angus C. Graham was one of the world's premier authorities on classical Chinese philosophy. Of particular significance is his corpus of publications on Taoism, the most important of which was his groundbreaking translation of more than three-fourths of the Chuang Tzu, first published in 1981 and, until recently, out of print for almost a decade. The current volume gathers together for the first time Graham's writings on the textual criticism and philosophy of the Chuang Tzu, most of which have heretofore been published in obscure sources. The most important of these are the textual notes that Graham wrote for publication with his original Chuang Tzu translation but which were never included therein. They were published by the School of Oriental and African Studies in a typescript of very limited circulation and have long been sought by devotees of Graham's translation. In this volume, Roth presents an edited version of these notes along with other essays on the text, philosophy, and translation of this beloved Taoist classic. A chapter on the significance of Graham's work introduces the volume.
Book Description
"What, exactly, are Anthropomorphics?" is the question most people ask upon seeing this publication. The answer is relatively simple -- an anthropomorphic character is any object or animal that is given human-like attributes that they would not normally possess. This type of character is most often seen in today's cartoons, where the industry term "funny animals" is used to describe them.
But when you think about it, you realize that this sort of characterization is all about us; they are used to sell cereals, video games, snack foods, clothing... the use of "funny animals" in advertising has been growing constantly, and shows no sign of abating.
However, unlike other genres, the anthropomorphic character artist occupies a special niche in the industry. Despite the focused need for highly talented artists in this area, advertising agencies and other companies often have very few sources to draw upon for quality artwork. Their normal "stable" of artists aren't really up to the task, as it takes years of very specialized effort to be able to draw animal characters truly well. Often these firms wind up making do with lower quality art than they could have had -- and losing out on sales a more attention-catching character might have brought in.
The Journal was designed to act as a middle ground where demand could find supply, and everyone would benefit thereby. It acts as volumes of "headshots" do for actors -- interested companies and individuals who want to commission an artist from the Journal will find their direct contact information inside -- along with specific rates for illustration, if available... a cost-saving benefit you would find almost nowhere else in the artistic world.
Furthermore, unlike industry "black books" that can charge upwards of $3,000 per page for the "priviledge" of an artist being able to feature his work in them, the American Journal charges the artists that participate nothing. Not one thin dime. It is, for them, a free resource and service.
A concerted effort was made to produce a very high quality product; from the layout and content to the selection of paper, cover stock and binding. We hope you enjoy it, and appreciate your supporting our efforts on behalf of our artists contained within.
Customer Reviews:
Good yet old... .......2007-10-03
At the time of my purchase i hadn't realized how dated this book was, though it is helpful to me as an anthro art collector, it still has old addresses / people who may or may no longer do comissions.
What i would liked to have seen was a date on the publishing of the product so that i could have known it's age not just the ISBN.
Other than that, i do appreciate the art contained therein and hope more editions become available sooner or later.
Beautiful artwork.......2007-03-17
This book contains some of the best furry artwork that I have seen in a long time. It lists the price of commisions as well as contact information to the artists.
Good stuff.......2007-01-18
For the most part, the artwork in the book is good, although I agree with other reviewers that it is blurry on some pages. It has a very broad selection of work, not all of which is furry. My only complaint is that it isn't in color. (Had I read all the reviews I would have known this) I expected it would be, and was kind of disappointed that it wasn't.
Good stuff...........2002-05-17
A nice collection of artists, with some great examples of what they can do. But....
Paper stock is poor and some prints are a bit blurry.
Look at it Regularly!.......2000-03-13
This is a great artbook, featuring many famous furry artists. I love the art, and look at it regularly. If you're a fan of Michele Light, I recommend it.
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