Zhuangzi In-Depth: Professor Edward Slingerland

Part care-free mystic, part radical philosopher, Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) was one of China's most influential thinkers. Professor Edward Slingerland takes us deep into Zhuangzi's wisdom...
☯📖☯ Join my free newsletter! "On the Way": weekly ideas for balanced living
Ideas you can read in a few minutes to help you, and to help us collectively, find a more harmonious way of being.
⏩⏩ Join over 15,000 readers: www.wayfinder.academy/newsletter
☯🏔☯ Learn Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Daoism with Master Gu - online!
The Online Wudang Taoist Wellness Academy is designed to help you live long and live well.
Start your journey for free with the Wellness Wisdom Newsletter:
⏩⏩ www.taoistwellness.online/wel...
🌎🌍🌏 LEARN IN COMMUNITY - join Wayfinders, free!
Wayfinders is a community uncovering wisdom for people and planet. I host free weekly Qi Gong and meditation sessions. There are also 15 community-run sessions a week - share your explorations with amazing people from around the world!
⏩⏩ Join the community: wayfinders.global/
☯👂☯ Listen to the Way of Nature Podcast: Exploring Daoism, living well and sustainability with some of the most interesting minds in the world...
⏩⏩ anchor.fm/wayofnature
☯🫁☯ Tap into the power of the breath: Breathe! Course
I aim to equip you with the ideas and practices to make your breath a powerful tool that helps you live life to the fullest!
⏩⏩ Click here to learn about the course: www.wayfinder.academy/breathe...
☯道☯ Ancient wisdom for harmonious living: 6-week Daoism Course
In over 10 hours of deep philosophy, taiji and meditation, I offer ideas and practices to help bring Daoist wisdom into your everyday life.
⏩⏩ Click here to learn about the course: www.wayfinder.academy/daoism-...
☯💪🙏☯ Patreon
Support me and the team to make philosophy in nature films with impact. In return get great benefits, including my best pictures as your wallpaper 📸
⏩⏩ / georgethompson
☯ Or support with a one-off payment? Thank you!
paypal.me/georgethuk
☯ Tea Time Taoism Full Series
What is Taoism? or is it Daoism? The Yin Yang? The Tao? Wu-Wei? The Tao Te Ching? Who is Lao Tze? Taoism 101 with Master Gu from the heart of China: goo.gl/6d2GKE
☯ FOLLOW FOR PICTURES OF THE ACTION
Instagram: / george.thompson._
Facebook: / georgethompson.uk
Twitter: / georgethuk
☯ RECOMMENDED READING LIST
🔸Best Book for Beginners - Tao of Pooh: amzn.to/2ERXE3p
Benjamin Hoff delightfully explores Taoist principles with the help of Winnie the Pooh.
🔸Best Tao Te Ching - Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life: amzn.to/2BPDaWy
Wayne Dyer applies the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching to modern lives. This book is transforming how I see myself and the world - it's a must-read.
🔸Supplementary Tao Te Ching - Tao Te Ching (Derek Lin): amzn.to/2GJ0Ivu
An accurate translation, getting you closer to Lao Tze's original meaning. Cross-reference with Wayne Dyer version.
🔸Zhuangzi: amzn.to/2tEvt2H
The second most famous Taoist text after TTC. Profound philosophy told through humorous stories.
🔸Further exploration - “Tao: the Watercourse Way”
World-famous philosopher, Alan Watts, explores Taoist concepts in his signature witty style.
🔸For personal growth - The Tao of Success: amzn.to/2EVCzoP
Derek Lin shows that being a Taoist doesn't mean becoming lazy. This book explores how to grow in harmony with the Tao. Highly recommended.

[@JonnaaM]

Thank you, George for continuing your work on Taoism. Respect from Norway!

[@George-Thompson]

Thank you Zaroastor!

[@PeachesCourage]

Thanks for this ! Always so great to see you !

[@gabrielofficial7859]

I'm so happy to hear more to you!

[@1258-Eckhart]

Thanks George for putting this up on your channel.

[@tbonsai7070]

Hi george great video as always. I have been studying zhuangzi and I have learnt so much about life. I am so thankful too you and your channel it has been a great help to me. Keep up the brilliant work and much respect from kent.

[@johnnonamegibbon3580]

I love this dude and Zhuangzi. I don't really study philosophy but he took me down the rabbit hole. It's so.. good.

[@edwardmonaghan3579]

Hi George - thank you for the wonderful content. I'm a professor at UCLA specializing in kinesthetic learning and mindfulness practice. My teacher's uncle was a monk at Purple Heaven Palace. We were there with him learning a qigong set a few years ago. What a wonderful opportunity that you've created for Master Gu. And what a wonderful opportunity to learn from an english speaking master. I'll be joining the online school shortly.

[@elizajames477]

Many thanks for this interview. I've read Chuang Tzu for last 35 years, but this certainly put it into a context I was unaware of. Wish I was able to read in the original Chinese!

[@t0xcn253]

You, me and every other non-native speaker who can sense that something is lost in any translation. Such a shame, but Master Chuang is a presence that transcends the limits of language the more time you spend with him, in english or otherwise.

[@mariusmarius4832]

Wow this Professor is very switched on regarding this subject. Love his views and perspective on the text. Would love to read his work on this. Thank you very much for such an Interisting video.

[@michaelbeitler]

This is a wonderful interview George. Thanks!

[@martianmerit4285]

You have changed my life George. Thank you so much. Your second and third video when U started, helped me better look at my life and career and have realistic expectations froma career and decision making

[@radamila4996]

Such a nice conversation, it has definitely helped me better understand Chuang Tzu better. Thank you.

[@merdufer]

I never thought about how Taoist Bruce Lee was, but you can definitely see parallels with his martial arts philosophy and Lao Tzu / Chuang Tzu.

[@riojanetelan4730]

Zhuangzhi ideas are liberating when you apply it. Very profound!Thanks for sharing it.

[@mizofan]

thank you once again- I have the Tao Te Ching/ Dao De Jing, and now I have ordered Zhuangzi

[@russellbarndt6579]

Just Wow ! Thank you for sharing this level of information on such a subject with this speaker ,grateful for that which you in such a humble and genuine manner George !

[@George-Thompson]

pleasure Russell, thanks for watching!

[@uliuli201]

The greatest way to spend your precious Life...and Time. Embracing the Flow of Tao...📿🙏📿🙏📿🙏📿🙏📿🙏

[@yuanlin8959]

a wonderful interview to talk about Chuang Tzu.

[@shadeofmirkwood]

Great content as usual George, thank you!

[@genfisher2456]

Was written so long ago, and yet holds so many lessons that we can use today, I sometimes wonder if they knew more about ourselves than we know now...

[@mikec6733]

They wouldn't have to know much to accomplish that. Lol

[@_Wai_Wai_]

the potential to understand the entire universe, is inside all of us

[@atomusbliss]

indeed- the Library at Alexandria is high in the itinerary....

[@schonlingg.wunderbar2985]

Less can not be more, but certainly better sometimes.

[@schonlingg.wunderbar2985]

@@_Wai_Wai_ How valuable is it to understand the universe, when you don't understand anything in it.

[@esechicojara]

Thanks!

[@TheChiefRockah]

I have studied Philosophy for about 5 years and then got the Graham translation. To me it was just the right translation. thx for the video

[@NReillee]

Super interesting. I learned a lot. Love your channel.

[@BasicBuddhist]

George your palpable love of Tao really shows through in your videos, your enthusiasm and curiocity is contageous. Well done.

[@George-Thompson]

Thank you for your very kind comment! ❤️

[@Dougbrown1947]

Amazing program. Really helped me understand Zhuangzi better than before. Dr. Slingerland is so very good and explains the complex material very well. One of the best programs I've seen on KZbin, ever. I'm 73 and started studying Taoism in collage 50+ years ago. I still find Zhuangzi a challenge! :) Thanks again!

[@George-Thompson]

Cheers Doug!

[@renehenriksen1735]

Doug Brown >>> Too bad that Chuangtse isn´t here today so we could ask him all the question we would like. An unique individual that unfortunately isn´t among us anymore.

[@maryjanepanke3017]

What does exploring in collage look like? I'm intrigued.

[@Moiez101]

love your work and your humour. Keep it up man! Hope you're well.

[@natzw8222]

Hey George! many thanks for sharing this work... a fascinating insight from such a knowledgable guy! 🙏🏻 This interview/discussion has provided much more insight into my initial understanding of Trying not to Try! Can’t wait to see your next vid & future projects! 😊

[@marklewen9384]

I went to high school with him,he was valedictorian of our class. We called him "ted" back then..

[@TheMostHighShow]

Great work. Been following you for some time. Really well done film. Be blessed.

[@practicalphilosophy9031]

Thank you.

[@angelaem205]

That was really fantastic food for thought, even if you are new to the teachings of Zhuangzi. The Professor is wonderful, he explained it so effortlessly and I think your questions were to the point and cleared concepts up for us. Thank you so much George, I am forever grateful for your content! 🙇🏻‍♀️👌🏻👏🙏🏻💯

[@user-hk8bg7zl6m]

He explained it in wu wei 😆

[@kasumifu1541]

Ty for sharing.

[@peterraskin3865]

Thanks George

[@yapcheekhong4707]

For those who read Chinese, I would recommend an interpretation by a Taiwanese Chinese Studies associate professor, 蔡璧名. She wrote several books on Zhuangzi, and I think her two books 正是時候讀莊子 (It's the right timing to read Zhuangzi) are good.

[@nickmeister8414]

Thank you for these recommendations!

[@pillarheights1130]

hello, do you think there are translations of it in Korean?

[@yapcheekhong4707]

@@pillarheights1130 I don't think so

[@tomsss113]

Love your content! Thank you for always making such great videos! On topics we never get to see in western media 💛

[@thetruthseeker5448]

Western media, western governments, ha ha do not tell me about it. If George T. keeps on promoting Chinese Thought, culture or civilisation here on KZbin, his subscribers will be removed, and comments and replies will be censored. It is happening to others now.

[@tomsss113]

@@thetruthseeker5448 I really hope that's not the case and his channel wont be suspended. It's so nice to have a fair , respectful and positive channel about china that isnt fetishized or racist. I see so much negative coverage of Chinese culture, or channels that make chinese people seem weird and other worldly, like they are only there for amusment for westerners. Iv also notices channels that are just blatently racist, are complimented for showing the 'real' china. This channel is so respectful and shows appreciation instead of hate. I'm glad we have it around to show a more positive and accurate portrayal

[@StevensBorowsky]

Very educational, one must practically become an Asian philosopher just in order to endure the endless barrage of advertisements on the video!

[@amilalakshan8849]

this discussion is full of wisdom about human understanding and life itself.

[@A.T._FIELD]

this is interview was eye opening, ty so much

[@drewa6891]

Nice interview, very well researched. You really got the most out of this hour.

[@TheRebeccap82]

Great video! I resonate with Zhuangzi more so than Socrates and Confucius alone, so this video was super enjoyable for me!

[@kroneessencekatharas7234]

Thank you 🙏

[@bretta7057]

Beautiful conversation 🙏. Also, not sure how true to Classical Chinese it is, but David Hinton’s translation is wonderful. I’ve read a few translations, and Hinton’s is by far the most engaging to me.

[@emmajk7433]

Great video!

[@iains9405]

Excellent😇

[@tombouie]

Highly enlightening, pls do more with Dr Slingerland

[@marklewen9384]

I went to high school with him. He was valedictorian of our class. We used to discuss rudimentary philosophy. He was WAY above us,even back then...

[@michaelmay766]

There IS an outstanding English translation of the Zhuangzi, the one by Brook Ziporyn! ... Great interview! Thank you!

[@TheWhitehiker]

Edward be good! Thanks much.

[@annettekelly6446]

I expect Zhuanzui would reject todays world - anybody else feel the same? Thank you George - great video! Thought provoking - 🌈🙏

[@nadiabensily311]

Thoroughly enjoyed the discourse - thank you for sharing

[@George-Thompson]

Thank you for watching, Nadia! 🙏

[@ceb9769]

Thank you both. Teachings for Tiger Tamers.

[@1258-Eckhart]

There is no "taming" tigers, lions or panthers, there is only understanding them and going with their flow. They will then go with yours. And BTW you're not game, you don't look like it, you don't behave like it, you don't smell like it. You're just an ape, i.e. pretty uninteresting. Interest can of course always be garnered.

[@JulesInfinite888]

Preordered the book 🙏🏽 thank u

[@ValleyData]

Great talk.

[@CALLOUSMANNER1]

This was a good conversation.

[@mikec6733]

The screen looks as if you two are in the same room, with George peeking up from behind the book shelf. ☺

[@67Dinosaurus]

Trying not to listen to this George as i'm waiting for the professors book to turn up on my doorstep any day now.... But i probably will........in the morning with my tea(strong). What a fine way to start a day....... Keep on keeping on. Thanks

[@ryokan9120]

I'm surprised to hear Edward Slingerland's claim there are no good English translations of Zhuangzi. The translations of Professors Watson, Mair, Graham, and Ziporyn have all been critically acclaimed and recommended by various Sinologists. Since this video was posted, Professor Brook Ziporyn has translated the complete text of Zhuangzi (published March 2020) which has received rave reviews from academics who claim this is the best translation available. Ziporyn has extensively annotated, revised, corrected, and improved on his previous partial translation. In my humble opinion, it is truly masterful.

[@stock99]

原來是莊子...我還想說粽子好像是吃的呀...... Good to see people sharing the ancient chinese philosophy. There are so much values there most western cultutere barely touch. Hopefully you will cover more on this area in future.

[@alllowercase6277]

that was, so good. new thinkers all the time.

[@George-Thompson]

Thank you for watching! 🙏

[@delbertdabney3940]

Thank you George you are the best! Take me to China someday! haha

[@mikekapnerarcangeluriel8006]

BLESSINGS FAMILY

[@michaelwynkoop327]

Thomas merton and osho both have good commentaries on chuang tzu also.

[@estherkrouse7057]

Wonderful conversation! Too many commercials!

[@StillGamingTM]

Zhuang Zi is probably my favourite book. Esp the one by Kristoffer Schipper

[@genkiferal7178]

i luv Yang. The cartoon version of Chuang Tzu is great on YT.

[@mattpaskell4687]

Do you have a link for the .cartoon. great vid

[@alinao625]

Great discussion! A propos conventional success models, Prof. Slingerland's success as a tenured academic has worn him out: he looks tired and a little haggard ;-)

[@schonlingg.wunderbar2985]

People get old. Maybe you want to look up that strange concept called time.

[@mark-ge8dr]

Fascinating interview! I will get the book, probably the illustrated one

[@George-Thompson]

It's a great book :)

[@miyousjz4940]

I really like your job, love from France ! What's your shirt's brand btw ? I love it. (The green one) :)

[@dominicbaron611]

yeah i´d like to know as well. super video as usual :) very informative

[@George-Thompson]

John F. Gee - I found it at a charity shop :)

[@FearTec]

I just ordered try not to try, thanks Edward

[@dez6888]

I let my eyes see wathever they want to see, i let my mind think whatever they want to think, no se inglés pero lo escuché por ahí jaja, como sea, no sé si el viento me monta o yo monto el viento, Ride to the wind, man, me gusta ese texto.

[@daithiocinnsealach3173]

I tried to get into Slingerland's book on Wu Wei, but it just wasn't for me. I'm sure it will be helpful to many others on the path, but I'm over all the scientific confirmation stuff. I'm much more interested in just getting down to the meaty wisdom of the ancient Taoists themselves and experiencing it for myself. Edit: really enjoyed the talk. Might give rue book another try. Also wish he'd narrated it himself. I hope he narrates his next trade book.

[@gregorylent]

Vaul, Dog Warrior if the mystic can’t confirm it, the science isn’t true

[@babygorilla4233]

An academic discussion of an esoteric spiritual text. Very daoist carry on.

[@nickmeister8414]

What about Brook Ziporyn's translations? Those are excellent, my favorite second only to the original Chinese text.

[@Melki]

16:05 reminds me of entropy, I think entropy is an expression of how things keep on changing in ways that don't conform to their "original purpose". But do they? What if there's a point of view where the purpose of everything's changing makes sense? We know that existence maintain itself...

[@onethreeify]

Can anyone link me to his lecture series on KZbin? I can't find it! He talks about it around 52:55

[@jesuschrist1501]

interesting, although im more spiritual i operate under the philosophical framework of taoism and it helped me frame my wisdom and knowledge about the real world overtime similar to what is explained by edward here about zhuangzi, despite me never really adopted or listen intently zhuangzi philosophies... it is kind of confusing how he's establishing that these 2 are different, i believe zhuangzi was heavily inspired by the tao te ching OR his framework was just a reflectance of the tao te ching without ever maybe encountering it. i don't necessarily think these 2 are different (even the slightest) as i've never encounter zhuangzi yet i've very similar to zhuangzi through my taoist framework and my experience in life, rather they reflect each other quite well.

[@spookybuk]

There is a difference. If you check the last chapter of Zhuangzi, he will list several approaches to Tao and list their differences (although not always in an obvious way). If you know what you look for, you can understand the words he uses to show these differences. Her regards Laozi as the higher wisdom of older days, but he did go beyond that. You can read a good text about this difference here: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/thesescanada/vol2/002/MR24855.PDF

[@renehenriksen1735]

There are a lot of people in the West who reject and even hate Chuangtse and Taoism. Maybe that´s some of the reason why there´s also many people that have never heard about him. One can then wonder if people in the West generally are seekers at all, and if they are what is it then that they´re seeking? Personally I find it hard to believe that Taoism isn´t for everyone who wants it. If there´s just a little bit of a romantic soul in people then Taoism definitely isn´t something to reject.

[@danwilder695]

May I suggest the translation by Gia Fu Feng. More words count less. Thanks George for all you contribute

[@JulesInfinite888]

Put link to his book yes 🙌🏽

[@jdanielcramer]

🙀 I’m in BC now, cool.

[@spookybuk]

My favorite book. There's a deep seated confusion about Enlightenment that seems to even throw this professor off. Many people get to experience the One and consider it sacred, while rejecting the relative (the ten thousand things). This is merely transcendence - not yet the higher achievement Zhuangzi is talking about. This is also the main difference between Zhuangzi and Laozi; transcendence vs. non-transcendence. We start with duality - the experience of the world and many different things. Then we can reach non-duality and experience the world and a single thing. This is Enlightenment already, but only the first part. After that, there is nonduality of "duality and nonduality" - that is, we find the sacred in the mundane and the mundane in the sacred. There's no more difference between duality and non-duality; between Enlightenment and non-Enlightenment. There's a good text about it here: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/thesescanada/vol2/002/MR24855.PDF

[@bruceclark2277]

I can't open this URL do you have another link? I too have sought to reconcile ND and D and have considered a Trinitarian approach where father = non dual; son=dual; spirit=reconciliation of the dualism … The unitive...

[@boden8138]

As a sculptor, when you’re using natural materials you have to work with the flaws. Michelangelo is talking about adjusting the sculpture as he found flaws in the stone.

[@cz8738]

Does Edward Slingerland need any help translating the book? I'd love to help.

[@akshaykamathb2788]

9:47 transalation of zhun 11:12 zhun just wants u2b free of d human world 31:45 v hv this heavenly spirit inside of us which v cn get in touch with if v cd down regulate our mind. 37:46 wearing tr spirits out

[@vladivor3554]

👍

[@HaileISela]

the best thing to do really is to triangulate as that is the way of the tao and not only that, but Universe is triangulating in the danceofthetao... I share my integration of taoist, permaculture perspectives and Buckminster Fuller's Synergetics on the embodied nature of our animate cosmos manifest in the manifold polyform shapes of spacetime and the practical use of dynamic geometry on my channel. please take a look, it does offer a lot of insights that weave together many of the seemingly paradox aspects of existence and is a key to living within natures pattern integrity instead of against it.

[@mileswilliams9737]

I wish we heard more contextualizing of Confucian writings in general. I take Confucius as the philosophy equivalent of kung-fu becoming Chinese opera. In a situation like imperial China, you can let a valued traditional die because the iron fisted government demands it, or you can stand up and die a martyr... OR you preserve what you can while trying not to be executed. Or possibly the state subverts an embedded tradition with some strawman shill who says "to obey the state is divine", "blessed are the poor and hard working, so embrace your oppression" It's all very convenient. In contrast we see many advocates for simple living, living in the landscape, sanctifying small rural communities, among the opressed and the rebellious, and quite often in spiritual thought away from state influence

[@Woonmoonsan]

Is there any translation that is not indebted to the work of Legge, who is not mentioned here? Proper respect?

[@gabrielofficial7859]

😍⭐👏🔝

[@noumenonjohn6136]

Joel Goldsmiths teachings are pretty close to Chuangzis.

[@billdunkelberger971]

Sexy by thinking. -Sartre

[@charleseade2209]

You need to read the 'Tao of Happiness' by Derek Lin.

[@zhengroger3475]

司马迁的《史记》(BC 91) 卷六十三《老子列传》附《庄周传》 「庄子者，蒙人也，名周。周尝为蒙漆园吏，与梁惠王、齐宣王同时。其学无所不窥，然其要本归于老子之言。故其著书十余万言，大抵率寓言也。作渔父、盗蹠、胠箧，以诋訾孔子之徒，以明老子之术。畏累虚、亢桑子之属，皆空语无事实。然善属书离辞，指事类情，用剽剥儒、墨，虽当世宿学不能自解免也。其言洸洋自恣以适己，故自王公大人不能器之。楚威王闻庄周贤，使使厚币迎之，许以为相。庄周笑谓楚使者曰：『千金，重利；卿相，尊位也。子独不见郊祭之牺牛乎？养食之数岁，衣以文绣，以入大庙。当是之时，虽欲为孤豚，岂可得乎？子亟去，无污我。我宁游戏污渎之中自快，无为有国者所羁，终身不仕，以快吾志焉。』」

[@ghostbeetle2950]

Hu. Sounds like Zhuangzi was a kind of Chinese Socrates, or perhaps Seneca/Marus Aurelius? The wise man knows that he knows nothing, and autonomy - to be a real value - has to be practiced while living in society, not just on the lonely mountaintop.

[@MetalMrJohnny]

Why does genuinely useful knowledge like this always come with such horrendous sound quality

[@brzpicnic]

Hi George, unfortunately there exists major issues with Daoism .....not in Daoism itself, but in the continuation of errors found in original translations of foundation texts. These are then repeated over and over in the literature or by “experts” as if they are well established fact, but in reality have not been properly scrutinised. “Wu wei” for example does not mean “trying not to try” nor does it mean “non action” nor does it refer to “spontaneity”......

[@jackiewatson5665]

So what does it mean?

[@jackiewatson5665]

Effortless action?

[@brzpicnic]

The problem with translation is that it is actually a trans-cultural situation. English is set in materialistic conceptual frame, Chinese is set in a philosophical and poetic framework, so it becomes necessary to go beyond a word for word gloss, to include wider contextual implications. That is why the same Chinese characters my have different meanings in different contexts. The best understanding of the expression “wu wei” is therefore conceptual not literal. In the Dao De Jing there is the idea that rain falls and everything grows..... but the rain doesn’t fall so that everything grows......in other words, there is “no intention” on the part of rain to fall “so that” everything grows. “Wu wei” is therefore best understood as the idea of “not so that” or non-intentional action or not interfering, or not forcing, or even minimising involvement or action....as these may give better understanding of “wu wei” in English.

[@charlesyoung8600]

Arguing for and against something at the same time, sounds like plato.

[@TheRmoroni]

it is all "confusionism" to me!

[@joshaustin9119]

I conspiracy theorize, Chuang tzu invented Lao tzu

[@timsweeney9558]

No Wu Wu. All Wu Wei.

[@kingivan3121]

Great talk , funny that hes hyping his book as the only good interpretation and it isn't even written

[@1258-Eckhart]

The "hype" is in your mind only.

[@user-jd1hy9bg1d]

*it's a paradox*lol pls stop talking theories, DO IT and speak from experience ! Then you'll truly understand, not philosophise about it !

[@mumblerocks77]

Honestly. PHD academics living in fancy houses who consider themselves authorities in Daoism and Buddhism always seem sort of sad to me. If they spend so much time learning the teachings of these teachers, you'd think they'd want to find out if what they are saying about freedom is right!