Introduction
If you have not encountered Chuang Tzu before, you are in for a treat.
He was the sage who stood apart from all others in Chinese history.
He was a unique presence, a great mind like no one before or since.
If you have encountered Chuang Tzu before in other books, you
may find that this book offers a different approach by focusing on his
stories, rather than on historical footnotes or scholarly citations. In
Chinese culture, Chuang Tzu is not an academic subject to be
analyzed but a source of inspiration and insight.
The name “Chuang Tzu” (“Zhuangzi” in the Pinyin system)
means Master Chuang. His full name was Chuang Chou (Zhuang
Zhou), and he lived about twenty-four hundred years ago, during the
Warring States period. It was a time of death and destruction due to
widespread warfare. It was also a time when many schools of
philosophy emerged, perhaps as a response to the extreme chaos.
Chuang Tzu quickly distinguished himself and became well
known for his deep understanding and sense of humor. His mastery
was such that he could explain the Tao with simple stories. His humor
was such that he could see the joy in ordinary things. He taught his
students about “carefree wandering”— the path of moving through
life with a free and happy heart, regardless of how turbulent the
journey might be. He regarded this as the Tao of true happiness.
His teachings were collected in the classic known as Nan Hua
Ching (Nan Hua Jing), and it had a tremendous impact on Chinese
culture. Many common sayings and expressions in modern Mandarin
trace directly back to it. The concepts and ideas within its pages are
actively studied and appreciated today. As long as Chinese culture
lives, the legacy of Chuang Tzu will also endure.
It is time for us to join in on the fun. Chuang Tzu’s wisdom is
not just for the Chinese, but for all humanity. We may not have the
instability or the clash of massive armies in the Warring States period,
but we definitely have a lot of stress and tension in these modern
times. Many of us find ourselves fighting little battles on the personal
front just to get through the day. We can definitely benefit greatly
from Chuang Tzu’s teachings.
The best way for us to learn also happens to be the easiest.
Chuang Tzu loved to teach through stories. The tales he crafted drew
his students in, captured their imagination, and conveyed the Tao in
unforgettable ways.
As you take in the stories, you will see that Chuang Tzu had a
unique perspective on just about everything. He rejected conventional
concepts. He took numerous notions to a level beyond the mundane to
reveal how different things looked in the Tao. When people mourned
the death of a loved one, he showed them that it made more sense to
celebrate a life well lived. When philosophers talked about living with
no particular goals or traveling with no particular destinations, he
described the spiritual journey as the sacred quest for the Tao*—a
journey full of meaning, undertaken with definite direction and
purpose.
This spiritual journey is exactly what we will delve into with
this book. It is the great truth behind Chuang Tzu’s idea of carefree
wandering. It is also his ultimate teaching, where the process of
learning about the journey is a journey in its own right.
So . . . what is the nature of Chuang Tzu’s spiritual journey, and
how do we prepare for it? What are the challenges along the way?
How do we get the most out of the trip? What happens when we get to
the destination? Let us begin by asking these questions . . . and let the
stories of Chuang Tzu bring us the best answers.