Zhuāng zǐ
Zhuangzi (369-286 BC), Daoist author
Zhuāng Lǎo
Zhuangzi and Laozi, the Daoist masters
zhuāng zhōu mèng dié
Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子 dreams of a butterfly (or is it the butterfly dreaming of Zhuangzi?)
Dào Jiā
Daoist School of Thought of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), based on the religion of Laozi or Lao-tze 老子[Lǎo zǐ] (c. 500 BC-) and later promulgated by Zhuangzi 庄子 (369-286 BC)
zhū zǐ
various sages
refers to the classical schools of thought, e.g. Confucianism 儒[ru2] represented by Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3] and Mencius 孟子[Meng4 zi3], Daoism 道[dao4] by Laozi 老子[Lao3 zi3] and Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3], Mohism 墨[mo4] by Mozi 墨子[Mo4 zi3], Legalism 法[fa3] by Sunzi 孫子|孙子[Sun1 zi3] and Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子[Han2 Fei1 zi3], and numerous others
Lǎo Zhuāng
Laozi and Zhuangzi (or Lao-tze and Chuang-tze), the founders of Daoism
chén yú luò yàn
lit. fish sink, goose alights (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); fig. female beauty captivating even the birds and beasts
jūn zi zhī jiāo
Friendship between gentlemen, insipid as water (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuāng zǐ]).
Zhuāng Zhōu
same as Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子 (369-286 BC), Daoist author
táng láng bǔ chán
the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
diào guǐ
bizarre
paradoxical
a paradox (from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)
jūn zi zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ
A gentleman's friendship, insipid as water (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuāng zǐ]).
tǔ gù nà xīn
lit. to breathe out stale air and breathe in fresh (idiom, from Zhuangzi 庄子); fig. to get rid of the old and bring in the new
zhǐ kě yì huì , bù kě yán chuán
can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); mysterious and subtle
táng láng bǔ chán , huáng què zài hòu
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
āi mò dà yú xīn sǐ
nothing sadder than a withered heart (idiom attributed to Confucius by Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3])
no greater sorrow than a heart that never rejoices
the worst sorrow is not as bad as an uncaring heart
nothing is more wretched than apathy
gǔ pén
lit. to drum on a bowl
refers to Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子 grieving for his lost wife
fig. grief for a lost wife
dé yú wàng quán
lit. catch fish then forget the trap (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); fig. to take help for granted
tàn lí dé zhū
to pluck a pearl from the black dragon (idiom, from Zhuangzi); fig. to pick out the salient points (from a tangled situation)
to see through to the nub
qiè gōu zhě zhū , qiè guó zhě hóu
steal a hook and they hang you, steal the whole country and they make you a prince (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)
yí bīng
ignorant
doubt stemming from ignorance
(a summer insect has no word for ice, Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)
zhū zǐ shí jiā
various sages and ten schools of thought
refers to the classical schools of thought, e.g. Confucianism 儒[ru2] represented by Confucius 孔子[Kong3 zi3] and Mencius 孟子[Meng4 zi3], Daoism 道[dao4] by Laozi 老子[Lao3 zi3] and Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3], Mohism 墨[mo4] by Mozi 墨子[Mo4 zi3], Legalism 法[fa3] by Sunzi 孫子|孙子[Sun1 zi3] and Han Feizi 韓非子|韩非子[Han2 Fei1 zi3], and numerous others
gǔ pén zhī qī
drumming on a bowl in grief (idiom, refers to Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子 grieving for his lost wife)
fig. grief for a lost wife
kě yǐ yì huì , bù kě yán chuán
can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); mysterious and subtle
qiè guó zhě hóu , qiè gōu zhě zhū
steal the whole country and they make you a prince, steal a hook and they hang you (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)
jìn tuì zhōng shéng
to advance or retreat, each has its rules (idiom from Zhuangzi); many translations are possible
jìn tuì yǒu cháng
to advance or retreat, each has its rules (idiom from Zhuangzi); many translations are possible
ài mò dà yú xīn sǐ
nothing more sad than a withered heart
no greater sorrow than a heart that never rejoices
(popular culture misquotation of 哀莫大於心死|哀莫大于心死, saying attributed to Confucius by Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)
zhǐ kě yì huì , bù kě yán chuán
can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); mysterious and subtle
táng láng bǔ chán , huáng què zài hòu
the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
jūn zǐ zhī jiāo
friendship between gentlemen, insipid as water (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3])
jūn zǐ zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ
a gentleman's friendship, insipid as water (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3])
kě yǐ yì huì , bù kě yán chuán
can be understood, but not described (idiom, from Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); mysterious and subtle
wú yòng zhī shù
useless person (originally from Zhuangzi's "A Happy Excursion" 逍遙遊|逍遥游)
qiè guó zhě hóu , qiè gōu zhě zhū
steal the whole country and they make you a prince, steal a hook and they hang you (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)
qiè gōu zhě zhū , qiè guó zhě hóu
steal a hook and they hang you, steal the whole country and they make you a prince (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子)
Dào jiā
Daoist School of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), based on the teachings of Laozi or Lao-tze 老子[Lao3 zi3] (c. 500 BC-) and Zhuangzi 庄子 (369-286 BC)
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