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The butterfly dream asks if what we experience is real or just a dream. The story also challenges readers to imagine transforming themselves into butterflies. If they can, perhaps they would appreciate how different the world could be from others' perspective.
The following is the text of Chapter 2 Section 14 from the book "Zhuangzi, Basic Writings" translated by Burton Watson (1925-2017), with some minor changes.
Chapter 2, Section 14 - The butterfly dream
Once Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn’t know he was Zhuang Zhou. Suddenly he woke up, and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuang Zhou. But he didn’t know if he were Zhuang Zhou who had dreamed he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuang Zhou. Between Zhuang Zhou and a butterfly, there must be some distinctions! This is called the Transformation of Things.[1]
Notes
- Possibly Zhuangzi wishes to challenge readers to imagine the possibility of transforming into a butterfly. There are distinctions between a butterfly and Zhuang Zhou. There are also distinctions between each person and other living things. If people attempt to imagine these transformations, they would know others better.
See Also
Please find the Chinese text and English translation by James Legge below:
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