Introduction and Notes for a Complete Translation of the Chuang Tzu

Victor H. Mair, "Introduction and Notes for a Complete Translation of the Chuane Tzu"
18. Tzukung (60). One of Confucius' disciples. His cognomen may be interpreted to mean
"Sir Tribute. "
19. elements (61). More literally, " thngs. "
20. seamless cycle (61). This reminds us of the Hindu wheel of sahsiira (see note 9
above). - ...
21. karma (61). Since karma has long since become a legitimate English word, we may
use it here as a precise rendering of a. Indeed, ~h is the standard Buddhist Hybrid
Chinese translation of Sanskrit karma. Cf. the following note.
22. nonaction (61). On nonaction in the Bhaeavad Git2 and its parallels with wuwei in the
Tao Te Ching, see the Afterword to my translation of the latter, pp. 14 1-42.
23. realm (61). The sinograph for fang, translated here as "realm," has many different
meanings: square (including both the English word's geometric denotation and moral
connotation), direction, place, region, plan, method, device, a euphemism for Tao/tao, just
thenhow, prescription, recipe, secret, compare, side by side, center or focus, etc. At the
beginning of the previous paragraph it is translated as "spatial world, " and in Tzukung's next
question as "secret. " A "realm" may be thought of as a "method, " because dwelling therein
one adopts a holistic appraack ta life. Zt is " secret" if it is a es~ktis. tealm ar n&saL cat
shared by others .
24. Mengsun Ts'ai (61). A wise man of the state of Lu.
25. name (61). As mentioned in chapter 4, note 2, the word for "name" and "fame" is the
same in ancient Chinese (both are mine). It should further be pointed out here that an
important problem in classical Chinese philosophy was the relationship between name and
reality.
26. simplify (61). Interpretations of this sentence vary wildly. So far, no one seems to
have pointed out that the need for the simplification of funerals (reducing the length of
mourning, cutting down on expenditures, etc.) was an issue addressed by a number of
Warring States philosophers, but especially by Mo Tzu. The concerns appear to be the
necessary background for understanding this otherwise baffling sentence.
27. essence (62). This sentence is impossible to understand without reference to the parallel
passage in Huainan Tzu. The idea being expressed here is that the physical deterioration of
the "house" in which one's spiritlessence dwells normally implies a concomitant deterioration
of the spiritjessence--except for enlightened individuals.
28. awakened (62). Enlightened, that is.
29. tattoo, lop off (62-63). Tattooing and cutting off of the nose were typical corporeal
punishments in ancient China.