Zhuangzi Speaks: The Music of Nature

by Tsai Chih Chung

Book Overview

During a period of political and social upheaval in China, the unconventional insights of the great Daoist Zhuangzi (369?-286? B.C.) pointed to a way of living naturally. Inspired by his fascination with the wisdom of this sage, the immensely popular Taiwanese cartoonist Tsai Chih Chung created a bestselling Chinese comic book. Tsai had his cartoon characters enact the key parables of Zhuangzi (pronounced jwawngdz), and he rendered Zhuangzi's most...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691008825
• ISBN13: 9780691008820
• Release Date: July 1992
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A Wonderful Way to Understand the Dao

What a wonderful book. It is such an easy read. The illustrations are great and the stories convey profound wisdom in an entertaining fashion. The humor is gentle. One will grow in wisdom without even realizing it by reading this book. What a gem.

The Essence of Chuangzi presented in easy to read format

Now you can enjoy the essence, wit and wisdom of Chuangzi brought to life through cartoons. Near the edge of each page, you'll also find the story written in Chinese characters. Through these popular and illustrated stories, you'll get a taste of "listening to the music", living spontaneously, free from social encumbrances, free from the strict rules of conduct of Confucianism - in harmony with the Tao, surrendering to the moment and enjoying whatever situation presents itself. This lovely book presents the wisdom of Chuanzi through about 78 enlightening metaphorical stories.

Fantasic book on Daoism

This book is a great primer on Daoism. At the same time, the illustrations are often downright funny. The comic format makes it perfect for the compulsively busy friend you want to give some Daoist inspiration. I've read though this book countless times and always seem to find some new insight every time I pick it up. It is worth every penny.

You, too, can understand the Tao

The Chinese Tao is not easily accessible to the Western mind because culturally, historically, linguistically and philosophically, the eastern mind sees the world differently. What Chih-Chung Tsai (CC Tsai) and Brian Bruya have done is provide insights to Taoism that are easily accessed by you and me living in the western world. The illustrations, while simple, assist in bridging the gap between east and west. This is a mind treat, something you give yourself because, well, it's just pleasant. At the same time, it's profound, tapping into thousands of years of wisdom, coming from the Tao's most famous commentator Chuang-tzu (Zhuangzi in pinyin). Each story, generally only a page or two and seldom more than 150 words, strikes at the heart with the accuracy of an archer's arrow. If you are at all curious about what the Tao might mean to you, this is a delightful way to begin to take a peak. If you are already familiar with the concepts of Taoism, you may find this a refreshing new look at an ancient awareness.