In china, taoism has been as influential as confucianism. it was more influential than confucianism int eh time of the six dynasties; vis., from the third to the sixth centuries. it was at that time that the taoistic classics had their best commentators...... I venture to say that some passages of their "commentaries" are even more illuminating than the texts.

The saying of Lao Tzu and the books of Chuang Tzu and Lien Tzu are usually regarded as the earlier classics of Taoismm. Lao Tzu's book is bref enough, yet in it he spoke about many things. Sometimes his meaning is not clear, and opens up many deffernt interpretations. The authenticity of The Book of Lieh Tzu as we possess it is much questioned. A great part of the book is now regarded by most scholars as the production of the six dynasties. It is only in the Chuang-tzu that we have a well-developed philosophy; and a freat part of that book, especially the inner chapters, is usually considered genuine. There are also side branches of Taoism, the ultramaterialism and hedonism of Yang Chu, for instance. But Chuang Tzu's Philosophy represents the main current of the Taoistic teaching. His book, with Kuo Hsiang's commerntaries, is the most important literature of Taoism.

Contents

Preface

Introdution

The Happy Excursion(逍遥游)

On the Equality of Things(齐物论)

The Fundamentals for the Cultivation of Life(养生主)

The Human World(人间世)

The Evidence of Virtue Complete(德充符)

The Great Teacher(大宗师)

The Philosopher-King(应帝王)

Appendices

Index