Introduction
Outline of Early Chinese History
1. Free and Easy Wandering
2. Discussion on Making All Things Equal
3. The Secret of Caring for Life
4. In the World of Men
5. The Sign of Virtue Complete
6. The Great and Venerable Teacher
7. Fit for Emperors and Kings
8. Webbed Toes
9. Horses' Hoofs
10. Rifling Trunks
11. Let It Be, Leave It Alone
12. Heaven and Earth
13. The Way of Heaven
14. The Turning of Heaven
15. Constrained in Will
16. Mending the Inborn Nature
17. Autumn Floods
18. Supreme Happiness
19. Mastering Life
20. The Mountain Tree
21. Tian Zifang
22. Knowledge Wandered North
23. Gengsang Chu
24. Xu Wugui
25. Zeyang
26. External Things
27. Imputed Words
28. Giving Away a Throne
29. Robber Zhi
30. Discoursing on Swords
31. The Old Fisherman
32. Lie Yukou
33. The World
Index

Only by inhabiting Dao (the Way of Nature) and dwelling in its unity can humankind achieve true happiness and freedom, in both life and death. This is Daoist philosophy's central tenet, espoused by the person-or group of people-known as Zhuangzi (369?-286? B.C.E.) in a text by the same name. To be free, individuals must discard rigid distinctions between good and bad, right and wrong, and follow a course of action not motivated by gain or striving. When one ceases to judge events as good or bad, man-made suffering disappears and natural suffering is embraced as part of life.
Zhuangzi elucidates this mystical philosophy through humor, parable, and anecdote, deploying non sequitur and even nonsense to illuminate a truth beyond the boundaries of ordinary logic. Boldly imaginative and inventively worded, the Zhuangzi floats free of its historical period and society, addressing the spiritual nourishment of all people across time. One of the most justly celebrated texts of the Chinese tradition, the Zhuangzi is read by thousands of English-language scholars each year, yet only in the Wade-Giles romanization. Burton Watson's pinyin romanization brings the text in line with how Chinese scholars, and an increasing number of other scholars, read it.