About the publication

Our approach

Old Words, New Eyes is a small publication for readers who enjoy understanding an idea closely. We begin with ancient Chinese texts and keep the stories, their context and the questions they raise in view.

A source you can find

The first reader follows six passages from the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi. Each gives an exact chapter and a historical English comparison. Our retellings are paraphrases, not definitive new translations. A reader can return to the actual passage and disagree with the explanation.

A voice with room for doubt

We favour plain language, specific details and a little dry humour. We ask who chose a measure of usefulness, what supports an impressive movement and why a skilled person slows down. The purpose is the pleasure of reading carefully.

How the work is made

AI assists drafting, source research and editorial checks. The publication remains responsible for its explanations. We make no claim of academic accreditation or independent human scholarly certification. Alternative readings and the limits of modern illustrations are kept visible.

Sources and corrections

Our primary historical reference is James Legge, The Texts of Taoism, Part I (1891). Contemporary scholarship informs brief textual orientation; see the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Source notes distinguish ancient stories from the translator's commentary.

If you find a mislocated passage or an explanation that misses something important, keep the chapter and wording with your note. Send corrections to [email protected].