Selected quotes from Zhuangzi (with translation)

Zhuangzi’s thought contains elements of simple dialectics. His main idea is that "the way of heaven is inactive" and believes that everything is changing. He believes that "Tao" is "born in heaven and earth". Since "Tao has not yet begun to have seals", Zhuangzi mainly believes that natural is better than man-made, advocates uselessness, and believes that great uselessness is useful. "Historical Records" introduces Zhuangzi in a few concise lines, saying that he wrote more than 100,000 words, most of which are fables, such as "The Fisherman", "The Stealer", and "The Box", etc., which are all used to distinguish What Lao Tzu advocates. The Xigutang Chinese Studies website has selected Zhuangzi’s classic sayings and translated them for the majority of Zhuangzi enthusiasts to learn and appreciate.

1. Great knowledge is leisurely, small knowledge is fleeting; big words are arrogant, but small words are zhanzhan. "Zhuangzi? On the Equality of Things"

Translation The wisest person will always show an open-minded and generous attitude; a person with little talent will always care about trivial rights and wrongs. Speeches that are in line with the Dao are as powerful as a prairie fire, both beautiful and grand, making people feel convinced after hearing them. Those clever remarks are trivial and full of nonsense.

2. My life has a limit, but my knowledge also has no limit. "Zhuangzi? Master of Health Preservation"

Translation Human life is limited, but knowledge is infinite. Use your limited life to devote your limited life to unlimited learning.

3. Moreover, if the accumulation of water (1) is not thick, it will not be able to carry a large boat. "Zhuangzi? Xiaoyaoyou"

Translation If the water is neither deep nor thick, then it will not have the strength to carry a large ship. From the relationship between a boat and water, we can at least get this inspiration: To pursue great studies and do great things, we must lay a solid and profound foundation.

4. Phase and nothingness, mutuality and nothingness, mutuality and nothingness. "Zhuangzi." "Grand Master"

Translation: Friendship with each other is in non-friendship, mutual action is in inaction. To make friends, friendship should be achieved without intention, and mutual help should be achieved through inaction. This is the "irreconcilable friendship".

5. Although the cooks do not manage the cooks, the corpses will not pass over the bottles but will be replaced. - "Zhuangzi? Xiaoyaoyou"

Although the translation chef does not make the sacrifices, the master of ceremonies who presides over the sacrifices will not go beyond the table of displaying the sacrifices and do it on the chef's behalf. This means that even if the chef fails to perform his duties, the corpse does not have to go beyond the scope of his authority to worship the gods and act on his behalf. It expresses Zhuangzi's thought of governing by doing nothing, and the idiom "Yue Zu Dai Pao" comes from this.

6. If there is no thickness, there will be room for ease. "Zhuangzi? Master of Health Preservation"

The translation is not thick but has gaps, so it is still generous and has room for operation. It explains that things should be done "according to the laws of nature" and "taking advantage of the limited space". This is the core of Zhuangzi's theory of health preservation. At the same time, it explains the need to understand the laws of nature and act in accordance with the laws of nature. The two idioms "a cow with no eyesight" and "with ease" both come from here.

7. Use fire to fight fire, and use water to fight water. This is called more benefit. "Zhuangzi? Human World"

Translation uses fire to put out fire and water to put out water. Not only does this not correct, but it will increase (Wei Jun's) faults. Let’s use the words Confucius taught Yan Hui to illustrate a way of life. This is where the idioms "fighting fire with fire" and "fighting water with water" come from.

8. Nothing is other than what it is, and nothing is other than what it is; if you know yourself, you will not see it, but if you know yourself, you will know it. Therefore, it is said: He comes from this, and this is also caused by that. "Zhuangzi? Equality of Things"

Translation Everything in the world has an opposite side, and there is an opposite side to it. What is not clear from the other side can be seen more clearly from this side. Therefore, the other comes from this, and this cannot be separated from the other. That is to say, there are two opposite sides of things, and no one can live without the other. It reveals the law of the unity of opposites in the development of things and denies metaphysics and absolute theory. It was 2,400 years earlier than the German physicist Einstein created the theory of relativity. For more famous quotes from Mencius, please pay attention to related articles on the Xigutang Chinese Studies website.

9. Don’t you know that your husband is a mantis? It is the beauty of his talent that he is angry and makes his arms feel like ruts, not knowing that he is incompetent.

"Zhuangzi? Human World"

Translation Don't you know that mantis? It danced its two sword-like arms in an attempt to block the advancing wheels. It doesn't understand that its own strength is completely incompetent, but it self-righteously believes that its abilities are very powerful. This is where the allusion of the idiom "a mantis's arm is like a chariot" comes from, which is a metaphor for overestimating one's own capabilities.

10. Mountain trees are invaded by invaders, and burned by fire. Gui is edible, so cut it down; lacquer can be used, so cut it. Everyone knows the uses of useful things, but no one knows the uses of useless things. "Zhuangzi? Human World"

Translation: The trees growing on the mountains were cut down because of the needs of nature, the ointment was burned because it could provide lighting, the osmanthus was cut down because it was edible, and lacquer could be used. So he was skinned. Everyone knows the uses of useful things but not the uses of useless things. Being useful and doing something will be harmful, but being useless and doing nothing is a blessing. It elucidates the "use of futility" that is often overlooked and contains simple dialectics.

11. When the spring dries up, the fish and the fish stay on the land. They wet each other by gnawing at each other, and wet each other with foam. It is better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes. "Zhuangzi? The Great Master"

Translation There has been a long drought without rain, and the river has dried up. Many fish were trapped on the beach in the river. They relied on each other closely, opening and closing their mouths to spit to moisten their bodies (in order to delay their lives and wait for the heavy rain to come). It would be better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes. It is a metaphor here that people should forget about life and death and wander in the land of great roads. The idiom "to moisten each other with foam" (also known as "to moisten each other with foam") comes from this.

12. Don’t let things set you back. "Zhuangzi? Heaven and Earth"

Translation: Disturbing one's own mind due to foreign objects (in this way, virtue is gone). Playthings are boring.

13. My husband is confused about the easy prescription, but he is confused about the easy nature. "Zhuangzi? Parallel Thumb"

Translation: A small confusion can make people go in the wrong direction, and a big confusion can make people lose their nature. It shows that pure human nature is the natural nature of human beings, while benevolence and righteousness are not only inconsistent with human nature, but also harmful to the world.

14. A filial son does not flatter his relatives, and a loyal minister does not flatter his king. This is the prosperity of ministers and sons. "Zhuangzi? Heaven and Earth"

Translation: A filial son does not flatter his parents, and a virtuous and loyal minister does not flatter his monarch. This is the state of being a virtuous minister and a filial son. We lament that worldly flattery has become commonplace, lament that the world is so confused and hopeless, and call for true filial sons and wise ministers.

15. If you do nothing, you will have more than enough for the world; if you do something, you will have enough for the world. "Zhuangzi? The Way of Heaven"

Translation: If you do nothing, you will be able to take advantage of the world, and you will feel that you have more leisure; if you do something, you will be used by the world, and you will feel that you are urgent and insufficient. Use nothingness, nature, and inaction to explain the rule of inaction.

16. A bird becomes white without being bathed in the sun, and a bird becomes black without being exposed to the sun. "Zhuangzi? Tianyun"

Translation: The swan does not bathe every day, but its feathers are white; the crow does not bathe in the sun every day, but its feathers are black. All things come from nature and cannot be changed by force.

17. There is no greater sorrow for a husband than the death of his heart, and the death of a human being is also the second most grieving thing. "Zhuangzi? Tian Zifang"

Translation: There is nothing more tragic than a heart that is as gray as death, a spirit that is destroyed, and the death of the human body is still secondary. People need to have some spirit.

18. Stinky rot turns into magic again, and magic turns into smelly rot again. Therefore, it is said: "The whole world is connected with one breath." "Zhuangzi? Zhibeiyou"

Translation: People regard the things they like as magical things and the things they hate as stinky rot; however, stinky rot It can be transformed into magic, and magic can also be transformed into stinky rot. Therefore, it is said: "The whole world is just a kind of Qi." Opposite things can transform into each other. The idiom "turn decay into magic" comes from this.

19. The beauty of heaven and earth is not mentioned, the laws of the four seasons are clear but not discussed, and the rationality of all things is not explained. "Zhuangzi Zhi Beiyou"

Translation: The heaven and earth have great creation and merit without talking about them; the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter have clear laws without discussing them; all things have their natural formation principles without explanation. Everything you do must follow the laws of development. For more famous quotes from Mencius, please pay attention to related articles on the Xigutang Chinese Studies website.

20. The reason why Tsuen is in the fish, he gets the fish and forgets the Tsuen; the reason why the hoof is in the rabbit, he gets the rabbit and forgets the hoof; the speaker is so concerned about it, but he is proud and forgets to speak. "Zhuangzi? Foreign Objects"

Translation: Bamboo cages are used for fishing, but some people catch fish but forget about the bamboo cage; rabbit nets are used for catching rabbits, but some people catch rabbits but forget about them. Tuwang; Language is used to express thoughts. Some people understand the thoughts but forget the language. Fish and rabbits are used as metaphors, and crabs and hooves are used as metaphors for speech. Emphasizing that catching fish and catching rabbits is the goal, and traps and hooves are just means to achieve the goal, it vividly illustrates the rationality of "being so proud that you forget your words". This is where the idiom "getting the fish forgets the trap" comes from.

21. Those who are content will not burden themselves with benefits; those who judge their gains will not be afraid of losing them; those who practice inner cultivation will have no position and will not be discouraged. "Zhuangzi? Let the King"

Translation: A contented person does not work hard for profit; a person who knows how to enjoy himself will not feel worried about losses; a person who pays attention to inner moral cultivation has no I don't feel ashamed of my official position. Only when you are contented and contented and do not seek fame and position can you be detached.

22. Now that the great cold has arrived, and the frost and snow have fallen, I know how luxuriant the pines and cypresses are. "Zhuangzi? King Rang"

Translation: The cold season is here, frost and snow have fallen, and the lushness of pine and cypress trees can be seen even more at this time. "The luxuriance of pines and cypresses" means that a gentleman has high moral character.

23. If you beat a foot, you will get half of it in a day, and it will last forever. "Zhuangzi? The World"

Translation: If you cut off half of a foot-long whip every day, you will never be able to finish it. Matter is infinitely divisible.

24. If there is a machine, there must be an idea, and if there is an idea, there must be an intention. If the mind is in the chest, it will be pure and unprepared; if pure and unprepared, the spirit will be uncertain; if the spirit is uncertain, the Tao will not contain it. "Zhuangzi Heaven and Earth"

Translation: With machinery, ingenuity will arise; with ingenuity, ingenuity will arise; if ingenuity is placed in the heart, pure whiteness will be destroyed quality. Those who do not have the quality of pure white will be unsettled, and those who are unsettled will be abandoned by the Tao. Utilitarianism is indeed a bad thing that harms people.

25. Sniper Gongfu said: "Three times in the morning and four in the evening." All the snipers were angry. He said: "But it will be four in the morning and three in the evening." All the snipers were happy. "Zhuangzi." Translation: There was an old man who raised monkeys. He gave acorns to the monkeys and said to them: "I will give you three liters in the morning and four liters in the evening, okay?" The monkeys listened. They were all angry. The old man added: "Then four liters in the morning and three liters in the evening!" The monkeys were all happy. Zhuangzi used the principle of "the name and reality are not lost" to describe the fact that those who have not yet attained the Tao cannot forget right and wrong. The idiom "three in the morning and four in the evening" comes from this, which is a metaphor for capriciousness.

26. Don’t you know that Zhou’s dream is Hu Dieyu, and Hu Die’s dream is Zhou Yu? "Zhuangzi? On the Equality of Things"

Translation: I wonder if Zhuang Zhou turned into a butterfly in his dream, or if the butterfly turned into Zhuang Zhou in his dream? Zhuangzi spoke from his own experience and believed that dreams and awakening are no different; they are both materialized phenomena of Tao. Therefore, if we want to be consistent with the theory of things, we must first get rid of the idea of ????self and become one with all things.

27. It refers to being short of money, and the fire is spreading, and you don’t know how to use it up. "Zhuangzi? Master of Health Preservation"

Translation: The fat is burned out, but the fire is passed on endlessly. This sentence uses fuel as a metaphor for shape and fire as a metaphor for spirit. The passing of fire after death means that although the body dies, the spirit will last forever. Later, it was used as a metaphor for the transfer of academic knowledge from master to disciple.

28. Although the shank of a duck is short, it will be sad if it is continued; although the shank of a crane is long, it will be sad if it is broken. "Zhuangzi's Parallel Thumb"

Translation: Although a wild duck's legs are short, if a section is added to it, it will suffer; although a crane's legs are long, if a section is amputated, it will be sad. It shows that forceful thinking will inevitably cause misfortune and pain. The idioms "The crane is long and the duck is short" and "The crane is broken and the duck is revived" all come from here. For more famous quotes from Mencius, please pay attention to related articles on the Xigutang Chinese Studies website.

29. The friendship between gentlemen is as light as water, while the friendship between villains is as sweet as wine. "Zhuangzi Mountain Trees"

Translation: The friendship between gentlemen is as thin as water, but the friendship between villains seems as sweet as wine. A true friend never talks about benefits.

30. In life, if there is a gap between heaven and earth, it will happen suddenly. "Zhuangzi Knows His Journey to the North"

Translation: Life between heaven and earth is like seeing a white horse galloping through a gap, but it only lasts a moment. The idiom "A white horse passes through the gap" comes from this. Life is short, don't waste it.

31. The problem is getting worse every time I go to the market. "Zhuangzi Knows His Journey to the North"

Translation: A famous city official asked a butcher about the method of checking the fatness of a big pig. (The butcher said) The more you step down, the more you will understand. The Tao is everywhere, and the more you look at it from humble places, the more you can see the true situation of the Tao. "Every time the situation gets worse", some people mistakenly meant "every time it gets worse" since the Song Dynasty. Zhang Shizhao also used the wrong word in his "Gu Tong Miscellaneous Notes" published in the "Jiayin" weekly, and was ridiculed by Lu Xun. Nowadays, the word "getting worse" is often used, which means that the situation is getting worse and worse.

32. Small knowledge is not as good as great knowledge, and small years are not as good as big ones. "Xiaoyaoyou"

Translation: Those with little knowledge do not understand those with much knowledge, those with short lives do not understand those with long lives.

"Morning bacteria don't know the new moon, and crickets don't know the spring and autumn." Fungi that are born in the morning and die in the evening, and insects that are born in the summer and die in the autumn, have a short lifespan and it is difficult to experience and know more things.

33. A perfect person has no self, a god has no merit, and a saint has no name. "Xiaoyaoyou"

Translation: The perfect man has eliminated the opposition and distinction between things and me, and there is no more "I". Gods and men obey nature, completely abandoning the concept of "merit"; the sage understands the principles of things. , completely abandoning the shackles of "fame". Great people are not burdened by ego, achievements, or fame.

34. Everyone knows the useful uses, but no one knows the useless ones. "Human World"

(Translation: People all know the usefulness of usefulness, but they do not understand the greater use of uselessness.)

35. What is Tao? There is the way of heaven and there is the way of humanity. Those who are respected by doing nothing are the way of heaven; those who are tired by doing something are the way of humanity. The master is the way of heaven; the minister is the way of humanity. The way of heaven and the way of human beings are far apart, so we must observe them. "In You"

(Translation: What is Tao? There is the Tao of Heaven and the Tao of humans. Those who are noble by doing nothing are the Tao of Heaven; those who are tired due to doing something are the Tao of humanity. Those who are in a dominant position are the Tao of Heaven; ministers What is in a subordinate position is the way of humanity. There is a huge difference between the way of heaven and the way of humanity, which cannot be ignored. )

36. Although the heaven and the earth are large, they are unified; although there are many things, they are unified; Although there are many soldiers, their master is the king. The king originates from virtue and emerges from heaven. Therefore, it is said that the king of the ancient times did not do anything in the world. He only had virtue from heaven. "Heaven and Earth"

(Translation: Although the heaven and the earth are vast, their movements and changes according to their own nature are the same; although all things are numerous, their self-sufficiency is the same; although the people are numerous, their ruler is only the monarch. . The monarch is based on virtue and succeeds by doing nothing. Therefore, the ancient kings govern the world by doing nothing and follow the nature. )

37. Therefore, it is said that the husband is indifferent and lonely. Inaction is the balance of heaven and earth, and the quality of morality. "Deliberately"

(Translation: Therefore, tranquility, loneliness, emptiness, and inaction are the origin of heaven and earth and the highest state of moral cultivation.

38. The Sad and Happy Person , Virtue is evil; those who are happy and angry are the faults of the Tao; those who like and dislike are the fault of the heart. "Deliberate"

(Translation: Sadness and joy will make the virtue go astray; do not forget the joy and anger. , will regard Tao as a fault; fall into likes and dislikes, and will lose morality)

39. Everyone values ??profit, honest people value reputation, wise people value ambition, and saints value essence.

(Translation) : Most people value profit, honest people value reputation, wise men value ambition, and sages value spirit. Please pay attention to related articles on the Xigutang Chinese Studies website for more quotes from Mencius)

40. Confucius said: " ...In the time of Yao and Shun, there were infinite people in the world, and it was not a matter of knowing what to gain; in the time of Jie and Zhou, there were no people in the world, and it was not a matter of knowing what to lose; the times were just right.

"Autumn Waters"

(Translation: In the era of Yao and Shun, there were no poor people in the world, not because they were wise; in the era of Jie and Zhou, there were no wise people in the world, not because they were not wise. Everything. It’s all caused by luck. )

41. Skull said: “In death, there is no king above and no ministers below; there are no events in the four seasons, so the sky and the earth are regarded as spring and autumn, even if they are facing south. Wang Le cannot pass. ""Bliss"

(Translation: The skeleton said: "The dead have no king above, no ministers below, and no worries all year round. They can indulge freely and be with the heaven and the earth, even if they are facing south. The joy of being a king cannot be exceeded.")

42. Bianzi said: "...Now you are adorning your knowledge to frighten the foolish, and cultivating yourself to expose the dirty, so as to reveal the sun and the moon and walk the people. ..." "Dasheng"

(Translation: Now you modify your own wisdom to awaken ignorance, cultivate yourself to show others' despicableness, and your bright and dazzling appearance is like walking while holding the sun and moon.)

43. When a scholar is morally incompetent, he is tired; when he wears poor clothes and shoes, he is poor, and is not tired. This is not a bad time. "Shanmu"

(Translation: Scholars with lofty ideals) Failure to practice morality means fatigue; tattered clothes and worn-out shoes means poverty, not fatigue. This is what is called not encountering a good world.)

44. Yangzi said: "The disciples remember that it is to practice virtuous behavior. If you go on a journey of self-improvement, you will end up without loving it! ""Shanmu"

(Translation: Yang Zhu said: "Disciples, remember, if you are virtuous and can get rid of the idea of ??being virtuous, how can you not be loved!" )

45. Huangdi said: “...the Tao cannot be achieved, and the virtue cannot be achieved. Benevolence can be done, righteousness can be compromised, and etiquette can be fake. " "Zhibeiyou"

(Translation: Tao cannot be obtained, virtue cannot be achieved. Benevolence can be done, righteousness can be spurned, and etiquette can deceive each other.)

46. The beauty of heaven and earth is not revealed, the laws of the four seasons are clear but not discussed, and the principles of all things are not explained. The sage understands the beauty of heaven and earth and understands the principles of all things.

(Translation: The virtues of heaven and earth are not explained, the four seasons have clear laws but are not discussed, and the reasons for the creation of all things are not explained. The sage studies the virtues of heaven and earth and understands the reasons for the creation of all things. If the body is like a withered skeleton, and the mind is like ashes, the true knowledge does not hold on to the past.

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48. Do you know that I am a fool? If you are unkind, you will harm others; if you are unrighteous, you will harm others. Ji. "Geng Sangchu"

(Translation: Don't you know? People say I'm stupid. Do you know? It harms my body. If you don't act benevolently, you will harm others; if you act benevolently, you will harm yourself; If you fail to do justice, you will harm others; if you do justice, you will harm yourself. Please pay attention to the relevant articles of Xigutang Chinese Studies Network for more Mencius quotes) 49. Those who are in Tsuen fish, they will forget Tsuen when they get fish. ; The reason why the hoof is in the rabbit, and the hoof is forgotten when the rabbit is obtained; the reason why the speaker is concerned, and when he is satisfied, he forgets to talk to him. "Foreign Things"

(Translation) : Bamboo cages are used for fishing, and the bamboo cages are forgotten when the fish are caught; rabbit nets are used for catching rabbits, and the rabbit nets are forgotten when the rabbits are caught; language is used to express ideology, and mastering the ideology I forgot the language. Where can I find someone who has forgotten the language to talk to him? So do it all. "Human World"

(Translation: Name is the cause of mutual strife; wisdom is the means of fighting each other. The two are weapons and cannot be done.)

Introduction to Zhuangzi

Zhuangzi (approximately 369 BC - 286 BC) was a philosopher of the Warring States Period. Zhuangzi was a great thinker, philosopher, and writer in the pre-Qin (Warring States) period of China.

He was originally a descendant of the Duke of Chu State and King Zhuang of Chu. He later moved to Meng, State of Song Dynasty due to chaos. He is the main founder of Taoism. Together with Laozi, the founder of Taoism, they are called "Laozi and Zhuangzi". Their philosophical system of thought is respected by the academic community as "Laozi and Zhuangzi philosophy", but their literary talent is even better than that of Laozi. The representative work "Zhuangzi" has been interpreted in many versions by respected people. His famous works include "Xiaoyaoyou", "Equality of Things", etc. Zhuangzi advocates "the unity of nature and man" and "quiet and inactive".

Zhuangzi is a representative figure of the Taoist school, the inheritor and developer of Laozi’s philosophical thoughts, and the founder of the pre-Qin Zhuangzi school. His teachings covered all aspects of social life at that time, but the fundamental spirit was still converted to Laozi's philosophy. Later generations will refer to him and Laozi as "Laozi and Zhuangzi", and their philosophy is called "Laozi and Zhuangzi philosophy". Zhuangzi once worked as an official in Qiyuan and lived in poverty. However, he despised glory, wealth, power and fame, and tried to maintain an independent personality in troubled times and pursue a carefree and secure spiritual freedom. Feudal emperors paid special attention to Zhuangzi's important contributions to the history of Chinese literature and thought. In the 25th year of Kaiyuan of the Tang Dynasty, Zhuangzi was edicted as "The True Man of Nanhua", and later generations called him "The True Man of Nanhua". Zhendao regards him as the founder of the sect and regards him as the incarnation of Taiyi, the God who saves suffering. Zhuangzi wrote more than 100,000 words in his lifetime, and the book is titled "Zhuangzi". The book "Zhuangzi" is also called the "Nanhua True Sutra". His articles have a strong romantic color and have a great influence on later literature. This document is a treasure among ancient Chinese classics.