Introduction.

Chuang Tzu¹ lived during the third and fourth centuries BC. He lived in the feudal age, when China was divided into a number of states that gave only nominal In name only; symbolic loyalty to the weak royal House of Chou.

He is described by the historian Ssu-ma Ch’ien, who lived at the close of the second century BC, as follows:

Chuang Tzu was a native of Meng.² His personal name was Chou. He held a minor official post at Ch’i-yuan in Meng.³ He lived at the same time as Prince Hui of the Liang State and Prince Xuan of the Chi State. His learning was very broad, but his main doctrines are based on the sayings of Lao Tzu.⁴ Consequently, his writings, which total more than 100,000 words, are mostly allegorical.⁵

¹ Pronounced Chwong-dza.
² Located in the modern province of Anhui.
³ For this reason, he is often referred to in formal literature as "Ch’i-yuan."
⁴ Pronounced Low-dza. The low sounds like the word allow. See page vii.
⁵ These writings are imaginative in character, matching the visionary teachings of his master, Lao Tzu.