Rewriting as Reception: Gary Snyder’s Representation of Chuang Tzu in His Eco-Poetic Literature

Authored by the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi, Chuang Tzu is another culturally significant Taoist canon, aside from Tao Te Ching. Due to its essential role in development of philosophy and literature, has drawn attention sinologists worldwide introduce this oriental masterpiece their cultures influenced local literati. Burton Watson’s high-quality rendition The Complete Work Tzu(1968) been well-received renowned American poet Gary Snyder, who, based on translation, rewrote his eco-poetic literature show agreement with Zhuangzi’s philosophies. Most scholars studying however, seem ignore reception are more inclined credit Ching alone for familiarity Taoism. Thus, study explores Snyder’s understanding Tzu. Borrowing André Lefevere’s concept rewriting seeing it as a method reception, article conducts comparative analysis between compositions (Watson’s translation of) investigates how philosophies were rewritten interpreted context. It found that Snyder mainly through commentary imitation, some ideas embraced directly while others redefined repositioned.