《南华真经直音(贾善翔)》

The Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin was written by Jia Shanxiang of the Northern Song dynasty and completed in the Bingyin year of the Yuanyou era. The entire work consists of one juan and is included in the Jade Secrets category of the Dongshen section of the Zhengtong Daozang. It was later incorporated into the Four Masters True Scriptures of the Zhonghua Daozang. Jia Shanxiang presented this book in his capacity as Chongde Wuzhen Dashi (Master of Venerating Attainment and Realizing the True).

Scholars throughout the land who take up official posts, when they first bind up their hair and begin their studies, select teachers and friends from whom to learn. Thus they are able to discourse at length and distinguish the genuine from the false, and later they enjoy wealth and honor, their reputations circulating without end. All of this originates from reading and seeking learning. The saying that “a volume of a book must have a teacher to guide one” refers precisely to this principle.

Yet there are those in the world who love to read but have no time to select teachers and friends. They often take advantage of leisure moments to browse books, thereby nourishing their temperament. When they encounter obscure characters in the texts, along with difficulties of punctuation, pronunciation, loan characters, and designations, they often fail to recognize them and consult phonetic dictionaries. But such dictionaries have their own conventions, and the fanqie method of phonetic notation is hard to understand; readers may not necessarily grasp it. After looking things up two or three times, their minds already weary, they unconsciously close the volume and fall asleep.

If one does not recognize a character, one does not understand its meaning; if one does not understand the meaning, reading has no interest; if there is no interest, one cannot take pleasure in reading. How then could one wish to read without growing weary? I have not merely heard friends speak of such things; I have seen this with my own eyes.

Therefore, in the spare time of my Tuna (breathing cultivation), I annotated the obscure characters in the Laozi and Zhuangzi, as well as the difficulties of punctuation, pronunciation, loan characters, and the like, using simple and clear characters. Where it was hard to find a simple character to explain them, I used homophones and the fanqie method for phonetic notation. I hope that when readers browse, they will more easily recognize the characters. I have named this book Zhiyin (Direct Pronunciation), as a modest bit of help for those who study.

Recorded by Pengqiuzi in the winter of the Bingyin year of Yuanyou.

“Free and Easy Wandering” (Xiaoyaoyou) is the first; “Discussion on Making All Things Equal” (Qiwulun) is the second; “The Principle of Nurturing Life” (Yangshengzhu) is the third; “In the Human World” (Renjianshi) is the fourth; “The Sign of Full De (Virtue/Power)” (Dechongfu) is the fifth; “The Great Ancestral Teacher” (Dazongshi) is the sixth; “Responding to Emperors and Kings” (Yingdiwang) is the seventh; “Webbed Toes” (Pianmu) is the eighth; “Horses’ Hooves” (Mati) is the ninth; “Rifling Trunks” (Quqie) is the tenth; “Letting Be and Leaving Alone” (Zaiyou) is the eleventh; “Heaven and Earth” (Tiandi) is the twelfth; “The Dao (the Way) of Heaven” (Tiandao) is the thirteenth; “The Turning of Heaven” (Tianyun) is the fourteenth; “Constrained in Will” (Keyi) is the fifteenth; and “Mending the Inborn Nature” (Shanxing) is the sixteenth.

Note: Binding the hair refers to the ancient practice of men tying up their hair, commonly used to indicate the age at which formal study began. Tuna is a method of regulating the breath in Daoist cultivation. Punctuation, pronunciation, loan characters, and designations respectively involve the parsing of sentences in ancient texts, pronunciation, the use of phonetic loan characters, and the appellations of terms. Fanqie is a traditional phonetic notation method that uses two characters combined to indicate the pronunciation of one character.

The titles of the Inner Chapters, Outer Chapters, and Miscellaneous Chapters of the Zhuangzi appear in sequential order as Autumn Floods, the seventeenth, and Perfect Happiness, the eighteenth; Mastering Life, the nineteenth, and The Mountain Tree, the twentieth; Tian Zifang, the twenty-first, and Knowledge Wandered North, the twenty-second; Gengsang Chu, the twenty-third, and Xu Wugui, the twenty-fourth; Zeyang, the twenty-fifth, and External Things, the twenty-sixth; Imputed Words, the twenty-seventh, and Yielding the Throne, the twenty-eighth; Robber Zhi, the twenty-ninth, and The Old Fisherman, the thirtieth; Discoursing on Swords, the thirty-first, and Lie Yukou, the thirty-second; Unifying All Under Heaven, the thirty-third. Free and Easy Wandering is placed after the list of chapter titles.

Kun is pronounced “kun”; Peng is pronounced “peng”; Bo is pronounced “tuan.” The “shang” of “er shang” is read as “shi zhang qie”; “xie” is read as “yi zhe qie”; the “fu” of “qie fu” is pronounced “fu”; “ao” is read as “yu jiao qie”; “jiao” is read as “jiao pei,” in which “pei” is pronounced “pei”; “yao” is read as “yu biao qie”; “que” is pronounced “e”; Tiao is pronounced “tiao,” Yu is pronounced “xue.”

The “shang” of “tuan er shang” is read as “shi zhang qie”; “xie” is read as “yi zhe qie”; the “fu” of “qie fu” is pronounced “fu”; “ao” is read as “yu jiao qie”; “jiao” is read as “jiao pei,” in which “pei” is pronounced “pei”; “yao” is read as “yu biao qie”; “que” is pronounced “e”; Tiao is pronounced “tiao,” Yu is pronounced “xue.” Zhi is pronounced “xue”; Qiang is read as “qi liang qie”; Yu is pronounced “yu”; Fang is pronounced “fang.”

In the two characters “mang cang,” “mang” is read in the rising tone and “cang” in the departing tone; “chun” is read as “shi rong qie”; the “zhi” of “xiao zhi” is pronounced “zhi”; Jun is pronounced “jun”; Hui is pronounced “hui”; Gu is pronounced “gu”; Chun is read as “chou lun qie”; Ji is pronounced “ji”; “guang” is read in the departing tone; “shu” in the rising tone; “shang” in the departing tone; Ao is pronounced “ao”; Hao is read as “hao dao qie.”

The “fu” of “gu fu” is pronounced “fu”; “zhi” is pronounced “zhi”; “xing” is read in the departing tone; “zheng” is to be read according to the pronunciation of the two characters “zuo cheng”; Yu is pronounced “yu”; Ju is read as “jiang yu qie”; the “fen” of “zhi fen” is read as “fu wen qie”; “shu shu” is pronounced “shuo shuo”; Ling is pronounced “ling”; the “wu” of “wu hu” is pronounced “wu”; Jue is pronounced “jue”; the “zhi” of “zi zhi” is pronounced “chi”; Jiao is pronounced “jiao”; Liao is pronounced “liao”; the “zhi” of “bu zhi” is read in the departing tone; Zun is pronounced “zun”; Zu is pronounced “zu”; “dang” is read in the departing tone; Bu is read as “pu bu qie”; Ting is pronounced “ting”; Mao is pronounced “miao”; She is pronounced “ye”; Ji is pronounced “ji”; Nao is pronounced “chuo”; Ci is pronounced “ci”; Li is pronounced “li”; Gu is pronounced “gu.”

The “yu” of “yu hu” is pronounced “yu,” and the same applies below; “guan” is pronounced “guan”; “long” is read as “lu gong qie”; the “zhi” of “fu zhi” is pronounced “zhi”; Pang is pronounced “bang”; Bo is pronounced “bo”; Qi is pronounced “qi”; Ji is pronounced “ji”; Ni is read as “nu li qie”; Gou is read as “gu kou qie”; Bi is pronounced “qi”; Kang is pronounced “kang”; Tao is pronounced “tao”; Zhu is pronounced “zhu”; Duan is pronounced “duan”; Fen is read as “fu yun qie”; Yao is pronounced “yao”; Yi is pronounced “yi”; Hu is pronounced “hu”; the “zhong” of “zhi zhong” is read in the rising tone; Sheng is pronounced “cheng”; Pou is read as “pu kou qie”; Hu is read as “hu Guo qie”; Xiao is read as “xu qiao qie”; Pou is pronounced “pou”; Ping is read as “bing jing qie”; Pi is pronounced “pi”; Kuang is pronounced “kuang”; “shu” is read in the departing tone; Yu is pronounced “yu”; Ji is pronounced “ji”; Shuo is pronounced “shui”; “nan” is read in the departing tone; “jiang” is read in the departing tone; Hu luo is read as “hu Guo qie”; the “fu” is pronounced “fu.”

Chu is read as “chi yu qie”; “zhong” is read as “zhi zhong qie”; “juan” is pronounced “quan”; Li is read as “dao zhi qie”; Xing is pronounced “xing”; “ao” is read in the departing tone; Tiao is pronounced “tiao”; the “zhong” of “zhong yu” is read as “zhi zhong qie”; “pi” is pronounced “pi”; Gu is pronounced “gu”; Li is pronounced “li”; Fang is pronounced “fang”; Huang is pronounced “huang.”

This passage of the Qiwu Lun is the phonetic annotation provided by the Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin for the Jing (scripture). It uses fanqie, tone markings, and homophones to indicate the pronunciation of difficult characters in the Qiwu Lun. In it, “qusheng” means to read in the departing tone, and “qie” means using two characters to combine into the pronunciation of one character.

Some phonetic annotations and words appear repeatedly in the text, and there are also unidentifiable symbols such as “□” and “J.” These places cannot have their original appearance determined based solely on the existing text, so specific content cannot be reliably filled in. The function of the entire passage is to help readers pronounce the Qiwu Lun accurately; it is not itself a coherent passage of Jing (scriptural) meaning and principle.

The pronunciations and glosses of the following words and phrases in chapters such as “Yangshengzhu” (Nourishing the Lord of Life) and “Renjianshi” (In the Human World) are as given below.

In the phrase “er zhi” (而知), the character zhi (知) is pronounced zhì, as in zhi (智), meaning wisdom. Dai (殆) is pronounced dà. In “zhizhe” (知者), zhi (知) is likewise pronounced zhì. Du (督) is pronounced dǔ, as in du (笃), meaning deep or profound. The verbal forms yang (养), wei (为), suohao (所好), and ranwei (然为) are all read in the departing tone (qusheng). Chu (触) is given the fanqie spelling chang-shu qie (昌蜀切). Qi (踦) is pronounced jǐ, as in ji (几). Hua (砉) is given the fanqie hu-mi qie (呼觅切), and huo (騞) the fanqie hu-huo qie (呼获切). Huai (怀) is read in the entering tone (rusheng). In “buzhong” (不中), zhong (中) is given the fanqie zhi-zhong qie (知仲切); the same reading applies in later occurrences. Xi (嘻) is pronounced xī, as in xi (希). Pi (批) is pronounced piān, as in pian (篇), and is read in the entering tone. Ji (技) is pronounced jì, as in ji (妓). Que (却) is given the fanqie qu-ni qie (去逆切) and means a crevice or gap. Kuan (窾) is pronounced kuǎn, as in kuan (款). Ying (萦) is read in the rising tone (shangsheng) of the character qing (轻). Gu (軱) is pronounced gū, as in gu (孤). In “gengli” (更力), geng (更) is pronounced gēng, as in geng (庚). Xing (硎) is pronounced xíng, as in xing (刑). Xian (闲) is read in the departing tone. Hui (恢) is pronounced kuí, as in kui (魁). Chu (怵) is pronounced chù, as in chu (黜). Huo (謋) is given the fanqie hua-bai qie (化百切). Chou (踌) is pronounced chóu, as in chou (紬), and chu (躇) is pronounced chú, as in chu (除).

In “wuhu” (恶乎), wu (恶) is pronounced wū, as in wu (乌). Jie (介) is pronounced jiè, as in jie (戒). In “tianyu” (天与), yu (与) is pronounced yú, as in yu (余). Zhuo (啄) is pronounced zhuó, as in zhuo (卓). Qi (蕲) is pronounced qí, as in qi (祈). In “suiwang” (虽王), wang (王) is read in the departing tone. Shi (失) is pronounced yì, as in yi (逸). Dan (聃) is given the fanqie ta-han qie (他酣切) and should be read after the pronunciation of dan (耽); treating it as the ordinary reading of dan (聃) is a mispronunciation. Hao (号) is given the fanqie hu-gao qie (户羔切). In “youxie” (友邪), xie (邪) is pronounced yé, as in ye (爷). Bei (倍) is pronounced péi, as in pei (裴). Le (乐) is pronounced luò, as in luo (洛). Xian (县) is pronounced xuán, as in xuan (玄). Jie (解) is pronounced xiè, as in xie (蟹).

In the chapter “Renjianshi” (In the Human World), in “qixing” (其行), xing (行) is read in the departing tone. Liang (量) is pronounced liàng, as in liang (亮). Jiao (蕉) is pronounced jiāo, as in jiao (焦). In “shuji” (庶几), ji (几) is read in the level tone (pingsheng). Liao (廖) is pronounced chōu, as in chou (抽). Xi (嘻) is pronounced xī, as in xi (希). Dai (殆) is pronounced dà. Rao (扰) is given the fanqie er-xiao qie (而小切).

This section consists of phonetic-annotation materials from the Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin (Direct Pronunciations of the True Scripture of Southern Florescence), which mark the readings of the scripture text; they are not a continuous scripture. “Qie” indicates the fanqie method of phonetic notation: the initial of the first character is combined with the final and tone of the second character to spell out the pronunciation. Qusheng (departing tone), shangsheng (rising tone), and pingsheng (level tone) are markers of the ancient tones.

Xia (暇) is read like xia (下); zhi (知) is read like zhi (智); the wei of suowei (所为) is read in the departing tone; the zhi of zhichu (知出) is read like zhi (智). The sound of ya (轧) is given by the fanqie yu-ba (於八); the zhi of zhi ye (知也) is read like zhi (智); the sound of zheng (征) is given by the fanqie ku-jiang (苦江); qiang (强) is read in the departing tone; the xuan of xuanbao (衒暴) is read like xian (县); the e of ren e (人恶) is read like wu (污).

The next group of phonetic notes repeats the same material once more. The original note on the character jiu (旧) does not mark the reading clearly. The zhi of zhichu (知出) is read like zhi (智); the sound of ya (轧) is given by the fanqie yu-ba (於八); the zhi of zhi ye (知也) is read like zhi (智); the sound of zheng (征) is given by the fanqie ku-jiang (苦江); qiang (强) is read in the departing tone; the xuan of xuanbao (衒暴) is read like xian (县); the e of ren e (人恶) is read like wu (污).

The original note on the character zai (灾) does not mark the reading clearly. The e of er e (而恶) is read like wu (污); xiao (肖) is read like xiao (笑); e (恶) is read like wu (乌); the sound of jie (捷) is given by the fanqie zai-jie (在接); ying (荧) is read like ying (萤); jie (桀) is read like xie (蝎); zhou (纣) is read like zhou (宙); the sound of yu (伛) is given by the fanqie yu-fu (纡父); fu (拊) is read like fu (抚). At jiji (挤霁) a note explains that present editions write only ji (挤) using the character ji (赍). The hao of haoming (好名) is read in the departing tone; hu (扈) is read like hu (户); xu (虚) is read like mei (袂); lu (戮) is read like liu (六); yu (语) is read in the departing tone; e (恶) is read like wu (乌); zi (訾) is read like zi (子); ju (讵) is read like ju (巨); shangbi (上比) is given by the fanqie shi-zhang (时掌); qi (蕲) is read like xi (析); the xie of zhi xie (之邪) is given by the fanqie yi-zhe (以遮); the sound of qing (擎) is given by the fanqie qi-jing (其惊); the sound of ji (跽) is given by the fanqie ju-ji (巨几); quan (拳) is read like quan (权); ci (疵) is read like ci (慈); zhe (谪) is read like zhai (摘); die (谍) is read like die (牒); the xie of yi xie (易邪) is given by the fanqie yi-zhe (以遮); hao (皞) is read like hao (号); ru (茹) is read like ru (汝), with a note that it is read in the departing tone; hun (荤) is read like xun (熏); shu (数) is read in the rising tone; yu (寓) is read like yu (遇).

The zhi of youzhi (有知) is read like zhi (智), and a note explains that here youzhi (有知) and wuzhi (无智) have the same pronunciation. Ji (几) is read like ji (饥); que (阕) is read like que (缺); xun (徇) is read like xun (旬), with a note that it is read in the departing tone; the zhi of xinzhi (心知) is read like zhi (智); the sound of niu (纽) is given by the fanqie nü-jiu (女酒); xi (羲) is read like xi (希); qu (蘧) is read like qu (渠); li (栗) and cu (粗) are read according to their ordinary face-value readings; zang (臧) is given by the fanqie zuo-lang (作郎); cuan (爨) is given by the fanqie qi-luan (七乱); qing (清) is given by the fanqie qi-xing (七性); the yu of re yu (热与) is read like yu (余); the le of aile (哀乐) is given by the fanqie luo-jiu (洛酒).

Later the notes again repeat that xi (羲) is read like xi (希); qu (蘧) is read like qu (渠); li (栗) and cu (粗) are read according to their ordinary face-value readings; zang (臧) is given by the fanqie zuo-lang (作郎); cuan (爨) is given by the fanqie qi-luan (七乱); qing (清) is given by the fanqie qi-xing (七性); the yu of re yu (热与) is read like yu (余); and the le of aile (哀乐) is read like luo (洛).

Xia (暇) is read like xia (下). The e of esi (恶死) is given by the fanqie wu-lu (乌路). The chuan of chuan zhi (传之) is read in the level tone, and subsequent annotations of the same kind are to be understood in this way. The fu of zhi fu (之夫) is read like fu (扶). The e of yi e (溢恶) is given by the fanqie wu-ge (乌各). The le of qi le (奇乐) is read like luo (洛). The xing of xingzhe (行者) is read in the departing tone. Sang (丧) is read in the departing tone, and subsequent annotations of the same kind are to be understood in this way. The yi of bo yi (波易) is read in the departing tone, and subsequent annotations of the same kind are to be understood in this way. Fu (茀) is read like fu (弗). Kehe (克核) is given by the fanqie hu-ge (户格). The e of e cheng (恶成) is given by the fanqie wu-ge (乌各). The zhi of qi zhi (其知) is read like zhi (智). Ting (町) is read like ting (汀). Qi (畦) is read like xie (携). The sheng of shengren (胜任) is read like sheng (升), and ren is read like ren (壬). The wei of zhi wei (之为) is read in the departing tone, and subsequent annotations of the same kind are to be understood in this way. Sheng (盛) is read like cheng (成). Wen (蚊) is read like wen (文). Meng (虻) is read like meng (氓). Li (栎) is read like yao (药). Yan (厌) is read like ye (靥). San (散) is read in the rising tone. Fu (腐) is read like fu (府). Gou (构) is read like man (曼). Du (蠹) is read like du (妬). The jian of she jian (社见) is read like xian (现). The e of jiang e (将恶) is read like wu (乌). Fu zha (夫柤) is given by the fanqie ce-jia (侧加). Ju (橘) is given by the fanqie ju-yu (俱聿). You (柚) is given by the fanqie yu-jiu (余救). The luo of guoluo (果蓏) is read like luo (裸). Zhe (折) is read like she (舌). Xie (泄) is read like xue (薛).

Pronunciation notes for the De Chong Fu chapter: in the text the characters “而,” “相,” “隐” and others like them are read in the departing tone; “散” is read in the rising tone, and the same applies later. “恶” is read as “乌,” “诊” as “轸,” “趣” as “促,” “诟” as “姤,” “赖” as “籁,” and “呈” as “酲.” The “乘” of “千乘” is read in the departing tone. “掊” is read as “普口切,” “其拱” as “居勇切,” “白颡” as “息浪切,” “痔” as “直里切,” “颐” as “余之切,” “撮” as “子活切,” “胁” as “许劫切,” “挫” as “子卧切,” “繲” as “隹卖切,” and “郄” as “去逆切.”

The remaining notes in sequence are: “咶” read as “舐,” the “猿” of “狙猿” read as “侯,” “杙” as “戈,” “豚” as “豚,” “亢” as “杭,” “会” as “括,” “髀” as “卑,” “针” as “针,” “糊” as “胡,” “荚” as “策,” “食” as “嗣,” “仅” as “觐,” “载” in the departing tone, and “画” as “获.”

This passage consists of the pronunciation annotations supplied by the Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin for the De Chong Fu chapter; it is not the main text of the Jing (scripture).

This passage consists mainly of phonetic annotations supplied by the Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin (Direct Phonetic Glosses to the True Scripture of Nanhua) for individual graphs in the scripture; it is not a continuous stretch of the classic itself. The graph “切” (qie) marks the fanqie method of indicating pronunciation, whereby the initial of the first character is combined with the final and tone of the second. The note “下同” (xia tong, “the same below”) indicates that later occurrences of the same graph are to be read in the same way. The labels “去声” (departing tone) and “上声” (rising tone) specify the tonal category.

For example, “兀” is to be read according to the fanqie of “忽”; “骀” is read as “台”; “中分” is given the fanqie “陟仲”; “而王” is read in the departing tone; “知” is read as “智”; “骸” is read as “鞋”; the “假” of “登假” is read as “格”; “昏无” is given the fanqie “莫候”; “羿” is read as “诣”; “彀” is read as “遘”; “蹴” is given the fanqie “子六”; “见” is read as “现”; “且蕲” is read as “祈”; the “梏” of “桎梏” is given the fanqie “古沃”; “跂” is read as “企”; “脰” is read as “豆”; “盎” is given the fanqie “乌浪”; “謷” is given the fanqie “王羔”; and “瞑” is read as “眠”.

Some blocks of phonetic annotation are repeated in the original text, and there are also graphs such as “自I” that appear to be errors of manuscript transmission or of optical character recognition; from this excerpt alone it is not possible to determine which words they originally represented.

The phonetic annotations for the chapter “The Great Master” (Da Zongshi) are as follows:

The character yao (夭) is read with the fanqie “yu biao qie”; dang (当) is read in the departing tone; ju (讵) is pronounced like ju (巨); mu (暮) is pronounced like mo (模); li (栗) is pronounced like li (栗); ru (濡) is pronounced like ru (儒); jia (假) is pronounced like ge (格); jue (觉) is pronounced like jiao (教); zhong (踵) is pronounced like zhong (肿); hou (喉) is pronounced like hou (侯); yi (嗌) is pronounced like yi (益); wa (哇) is pronounced like wa (蛙); the e of “e si” (恶死) is pronounced like wu (污); xin (欣) is pronounced like xin (忻); ju (距) is pronounced like ju (具); xiao (翛) is pronounced like xiao (霄); juan (捐) is pronounced like yuan (缘); sang (颡) is read with the fanqie “xi dang qie.” In the original a character form is missing at this point and is recorded as “H,” with the notation “qu gui qie.” Nuan (暖) is pronounced like xuan (暄); the le of “gu le” (故乐) is pronounced like luo (洛); xing ming (行名) is read with the fanqie “xia meng qie”; ji ta (纪他) is read with the fanqie “tu a qie”; gu (觚) is pronounced like gu (孤).

Li (郦) is pronounced like bing (丙); cui (崔) is read with the fanqie “qian zui qie”; tong (痛) is pronounced like chu (畜); jing (警) is pronounced like yao (邀); hao (好) is read in the departing tone; yue (悦) is read with the fanqie “ming ben qie”; xun (循) is pronounced like xun (旬); chuo (绰) is read with the fanqie “chang lue qie”; the zhi of “yi zhi” (以知) is pronounced like zhi (智); the hao of “qi hao” (其好) is read in the departing tone, and the same applies hereafter; zhuo (卓) is read with the fanqie “zhong xue qie”; he (涸) is pronounced like he (鹤); xu (呴), on account of a naming taboo, is pronounced like xu (吁); mo (沫) is pronounced like mo (末); yu (誉) is pronounced like yu (余); jie (桀) is pronounced like jie (竭); kuai (块) is read with the fanqie “ku dui qie”; yi (佚) is pronounced like yi (逸); he (壑) is pronounced like huo (镬); dun (遁) is pronounced like dun (钝); heng (恒) is pronounced like chang (常); xie (邪) is read with the fanqie “yi zhe qie”; xian (先) is read in the departing tone; zhang (长) is read with the fanqie “zhi zhang qie”; xi (狶) is pronounced like xi (嘻); wei (韦) is pronounced like wei (违); xie (絜) is read with the fanqie “ku jie qie”; xi (戏) is pronounced like xi (希); xi (袭) is pronounced like xi (习); te (忒) is read with the fanqie “ta de qie”; huai (坏) is read with the fanqie “pu bei qie.”

In “Kunlun” (昆仑) the first character is read kun and the second lun; zhuan (颛) is pronounced like zhuan (专); xu (顼) is pronounced like xu (旭); yu (禺) is pronounced like yu (愚); bo (伯) is pronounced like ba (霸); fu (傅) is pronounced like fu (付); yue (说) is pronounced like yue (悦); xiang (相) is read in the departing tone; yan (奄) is pronounced like yan (掩); kui (葵) is pronounced like qi (其); yu (偊) is pronounced like yu (雨); ru (孺) is read with the fanqie “er yu qie”; e (恶) is pronounced like wu (乌), and the same applies hereafter; ji (几) is pronounced like ji (饥); can (参) is pronounced like san (三); ying (樱) is pronounced like ying (萦); nie (聂) is pronounced like nie (蹑); xu (需) is pronounced like xu (须); yu (於) is pronounced like wu (乌); ou (讴) is read with the fanqie “wu xia qie”; kao (尻) is read with the fanqie “ku gao qie”; wei (伟) is read with the fanqie “ju gui qie”; lü (偻) is pronounced like lü (吕); yi (颐) is pronounced like yi (夷); zan (赞) is read with the fanqie “zhi shui qie”; li (沴) is pronounced like li (例); jian (间) is pronounced like xian (闲); pian (跰) is read with the fanqie “bu tian qie”; teng (儯) is pronounced like xian (先); xiao (鸮) is read with the fanqie “hu jiao qie”; zhi (炙) is read with the fanqie “zhang ye qie”; xuan (县) is pronounced like xuan (玄); xie (解) is pronounced like nai (螚); chuan (喘) is read with the fanqie “chi ruan qie”; chi (叱) is read with the fanqie “chang shi qie”; dada (怛怛) is read with the fanqie “ding da qie”; chi (翅) is pronounced like shi (试); han (捍) is read with the fanqie “hu dan qie”; ye (冶) is pronounced like ye (也); zhu (铸) is pronounced like zhu (注); mo (镆) is pronounced like mo (莫); ye (铘) is read with the fanqie “yi zhe qie”; lu (炉) is pronounced like lu (炉); “wu hu” (恶乎) is pronounced like wu (乌); qu (蘧) is pronounced like qu (渠); nao (挠) is pronounced like rao (绕); tiao (挑) is read with the fanqie “tu liao qie”; he (和) is read in the departing tone; yi (猗) is pronounced like yi (衣).

“Zhe ye” (者邪) is read with the fanqie “yi zhe qie”; hai (骸) is pronounced like xie (谐); zhui (赘) is read with the fanqie “zhi shui qie”; you (疣) is pronounced like you (尤); the phonetic annotation that originally followed the character tu (湥) is missing; kui (溃) is pronounced like hui (绘); ni (倪) is pronounced like ya (崖); mang (芒) is pronounced like mang (忙); pang (彷) is pronounced like pang (旁); huang (徨) is pronounced like huang (皇); kui (愦) is pronounced like hui (绘); lu (戮) is pronounced like liu (六); zao (造) is read with the fanqie “qi bao qie,” and the same applies hereafter; ji (畸) is pronounced like ji (饥); mou (侔) is pronounced like mou (谋); zhi (轵) is pronounced like zhi (止); qing (黥) is read with the fanqie “qi jing qie”; yi (劓) is read with the fanqie “yu qi qie”; hui (睢) is pronounced like hui (隳); fan (藩) is pronounced like fan (番) and is also written fan (烦); “yu hu” (与乎) is pronounced like yu (豫), and the same applies hereafter; gu (瞽) is pronounced like gu (古); fufu (黼黻) is pronounced like fu fu (甫弗); guan (观) is pronounced like guan (贯); the zhi of “qi zhi” (其知) is pronounced like zhi (智); chui (锤) is pronounced like chui (捶); yi (噫) is pronounced like yi (衣); the wei of “wo wei” (我为) is read in the departing tone; here the original has another missing character form, recorded as “h,” with the notation “ji”; zhang (长) is read with the fanqie “zhu zhang qie”; fu (复) is read with the fanqie “fu you qie”; jian (见) is pronounced like xian (现); cu (蹴) is read with the fanqie “zi liu qie”; duo (堕) is pronounced like hui (隳); qu (去) is read in the departing tone; the hao of “wu hao” (无好) is read in the departing tone; the shi of “shi zhi” (食之) is pronounced like si (祀); “fu ye” (父耶) is read with the fanqie “yi zhe qie”; qu (趋) is pronounced like qu (趣).

This passage consists of phonetic annotations for the “Great Master” chapter rather than continuous scripture. “Qie” denotes the traditional fanqie method of phonetic notation, which indicates a reading by combining the initial of one character with the final and tone of another. The original contains some repeated annotation entries, and a few character forms are missing from the text.

“Pian” is read as “bu tian qie,” “mu” as “mu”; “chi” as “chang shi qie,” “zhui” as “zhang shuo qie”; “xian” as “xuan,” “you” as “you.” The original phonetic annotation after “zhi xing” is missing; “qiao” is read as “ku jiao qie.”

“Pianmu” is the title of the chapter.

The character pian is pronounced bu tian qie; mu is pronounced mu; chi is pronounced chang shi qie; zhui is pronounced zhang shuo qie; xian is pronounced xuan; you is pronounced you; the xing of zhi xing is read in the departing tone; fu is pronounced fu and is also read as fu; huang is pronounced huang; zhuo is pronounced zhuo; huang is pronounced huang; lei is pronounced lei; cuan is pronounced qi luan qie; bi is pronounced bi; kui is pronounced kui, the character being read in the rising tone and also having the sound qiu mi qie which is homophonous with xue; yu is pronounced yu; qi is pronounced qi; fu is pronounced fu; jing is pronounced xing ding qie; duan is pronounced duan; qu is read in the rising tone; he is pronounced he; tao is pronounced tao; xiao is pronounced xu qiao qie; xu is pronounced xu and when a taboo is observed it is read as hui; yu is pronounced yu; mo is pronounced mo; nao is pronounced rao; the yu of xing yu is pronounced yu; xun is pronounced xun, the character being read in the departing tone; xie is pronounced xie; jia is pronounced ce; zhi is pronounced zhi; the wu of you wu is pronounced wu; shu is pronounced zhu; zang is pronounced zuo lang qie and is the same in the surrounding context; cao is pronounced qi dao qie; the xing of zhi xing is pronounced xia meng qie.

In the Mati chapter, ti is pronounced ti, jian is pronounced jian, yu is pronounced yu, and he is pronounced he. The pronunciations of the remaining characters shu, zang, cao and the xing of zhi xing are the same as those given above.

Mati.

The character for “hoof” is pronounced ti (as in the word for “to lift”); “to trample” is pronounced jian (as in “lowly”); “to drive” or “charioteer” is pronounced yu (as in “speech”); “to gnaw” is pronounced he (as in the phonetic he); “to raise” (as of a hoof) is given by the fanqie of qi and yao; in the name Youxi the second syllable is pronounced xi (as in “rare”); in the name Bo Le, Le is pronounced luo (as in Luo River); “to pare” is given by the fanqie of ting and li; “to brand” is pronounced luo (as in Luo); “halter” is pronounced ji (as in “hunger”); “to hobble” or “tether” is given by the fanqie of zhi and yi; “stable” or “manger” is pronounced zao (as in “to make”); “stall” is given by the fanqie of shi and xian; “bit” (of a bridle) is given by the fanqie of qi and yue; “ornament” is pronounced shi (as in “style”); “whip” is pronounced ce (as in “strategy”); “potter” is pronounced tao (as in “to flee”); “clay” is pronounced zhi (as in “to plant”); “to hit the mark” is given by the fanqie of zhi and zhong (departing tone), and likewise hereafter; “to fill” is pronounced tian (as in “field”); “path” is here read zi; “passage” or “tunnel” is pronounced sui (as in “then”); “to connect” is pronounced zhu (as in “candle”); “to grow” is given by the fanqie of zhi and zhang; “halter” is again pronounced ji (as in “hunger”); “to draw” or “pull” is pronounced yuan (as in the surname Yuan); “to peep” is pronounced kui; the interrogative “wherein” or “how” is pronounced wu (as in “crow”); “uncarved simplicity” is pronounced pu; “to limp” or “shuffle” is pronounced bie (as in “turtle”); “to stumble” is pronounced xie (as in “to leak”); “to kick” is pronounced zhi (as in “value”); “to stand on tiptoe” is pronounced qi (as in “to hope”); “to overflow” is pronounced dan (as in “but”); “to spread unboundedly” is read in the departing tone; “to pluck” is given by the fanqie of zhi and ge; “sacrificial victim” is pronounced xi (as in “rare”); “neck” is pronounced jing (as in “classic”), in the rising tone; “to kick” is here pronounced ti (as in “hoof”); “knowledge” is pronounced zhi in the sense of “wisdom,” and likewise hereafter; “to grip” is pronounced e (as in “adversity”); “armor” or “individual” is given by the fanqie of gu and ren; “starting-point” or “child” is given by the fanqie of wu and jia; “threshold” is pronounced kun (as in “distress”); “bird of prey” is pronounced zhi (as in “to cause”); “extended” is pronounced man (as in “unbounded”); “deceitful” is pronounced gui (as in “ghost”); “to feed” (as a child) is pronounced bu (as in “step”); “to hang” is pronounced xuan (as in “mysterious”); “to stand on tiptoe” is pronounced qi (as in “to hope”); “to kick” is pronounced zhi (as in “value”); “to be fond of” is read in the departing tone; “knowledge” is pronounced zhi in the sense of “wisdom.”

Rifling Trunks (Quqie)

“To pry open” is pronounced qu (as in “to dispel”); “trunk” or “box” is given by the fanqie of ku and xie; “to search” is pronounced tan (as in “greedy”); “cord” or “binding” is pronounced teng (as in “to leap”); “bolt” or “hasp” is given by the fanqie of gu and ying; “lock” is pronounced jue (as in “to decide”); “knowledge” is pronounced zhi in the sense of “wisdom,” and likewise hereafter; “sack” is read in the departing tone; “knowledge” is pronounced zhi in the sense of “wisdom.”

Rifling Trunks (Quqie)

The term “zai you” in the chapter title “Zai You” means to let things follow their natural course, to be tolerant and not to disturb them.

Qie is pronounced “qu”; qie is pronounced “ku xie qie”; tan is pronounced “tan”; teng is pronounced “teng”; jiong is pronounced “gu ying qie”; jue is pronounced “jue”; “zhi” is the same as “zhi” meaning intelligence, and the same applies below; nang is pronounced “nu dang qie”; kong is read in the departing tone; wang is pronounced “wang”; gu is pronounced “gu”; lei is pronounced “li dui qie”; nou is pronounced “nai dou qie”; ci is pronounced “ci”; he is pronounced “he”; sha is pronounced “shi”; chang is pronounced “chang”; chi is pronounced “chi”; mi is pronounced “mei”; lu is pronounced “liu”; zhi is pronounced “zhi shi qie”; cang is read in the departing tone; han is pronounced “han”; dan is pronounced “dan”; bang is pronounced “pou”; she is pronounced “she”; hu is pronounced “hu gu qie”; xi is pronounced “xi”; jiao is pronounced “ju biao qie”; jie is pronounced “ju jie qie”; mian is pronounced “mian”; yue is pronounced “yue”; “zhi” is read as “zhi”; zhai is pronounced “zhi”; bi is pronounced “bi”; dan is pronounced “dan”; zhuo is pronounced “zhuo”; shuo is pronounced “shi zhuo qie”; jiao is pronounced “jiao”; li is pronounced “li”; chui is pronounced “chui”; xue is pronounced “si que qie”; the “xing” in “zhi xing” is read in the departing tone; qian is pronounced “ju yan qie”; rang is pronounced “ru yang qie”; yue is pronounced “yao”; li is pronounced “li”.

The phonetic notes for words such as “shuo, jiao, li, chui, xue, zhi xing, qian, rang, yue, li, li” reappear in the original text with the same pronunciations. Xi is pronounced “xi”; le is pronounced “luo”; wang is pronounced “wang”; jing is pronounced “jing” in the rising tone; zhong is pronounced “zhong”; ying is pronounced “ying”; qu is pronounced “qu”; gui is pronounced “gui”; hao is read in the departing tone; zhi is pronounced “zhi”; yi is pronounced “yi”; er is pronounced “er”; zeng is pronounced “zeng”; gou is pronounced “gou”; xue is pronounced “qiao”; ju is pronounced “jie”; fu is pronounced “fu”; jian is pronounced “jian”; xie is pronounced “hu jie qie”; jie is pronounced “ku jie qie”; gou is pronounced “ku dou qie”; bei is pronounced “bei”; shuo is pronounced “shi zhuo qie”; duo is pronounced “hui”; shi is read in the departing tone; chuan is pronounced “chang yuan qie”; ruan is pronounced “ruan”; xiao is pronounced “xiao”; qiao is pronounced “qi yao qie”; she is pronounced “she”; tian is pronounced “tian”; tan is pronounced “dan”; zhun is pronounced “zhi chun qie”.

This passage is not continuous scriptural text, but a phonetic annotation table from the Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin that marks the pronunciations of characters and words in the scripture. The annotations mainly employ the fanqie method, combining two characters to produce the reading of a third. Notations such as “departing tone” and “rising tone” indicate the tone, while “same as below” means that later occurrences are to be read in the same way.

For example, “洛, 桀, 竭” marks that the character “乐” is here to be pronounced with sounds of the type represented by luo, jie, and jie. “喜邪, 以遮切, 下同” explains that “邪” is read according to the fanqie “yi zhe qie,” and that subsequent instances of the same character follow this reading. “见, 现” indicates that “见” is pronounced as xian; “相, 去声” specifies that “相” takes the departing tone; and “愚知, 智” indicates that “知” here is to be read as zhi.

The passage as a whole proceeds in sequence, providing phonetic markings and distinctions for many characters used in the scripture. For instance, “诘” is read as “qu ji qie,” “鸷” as zhi, “撄” as ying, “枳” as zhi, “窈” as yao, and “匿” as “nü li qie.” Among these, “departing tone” and “rising tone” are tone markers; “departing tone” does not mean that the character should be omitted, but rather that it is to be pronounced in the departing tone.

In the original text, a stretch of phonetic annotations is repeated after “悖於”; following “莅, 利” there also appear fragmentary or illegible notations such as “G, 谷” and “□, 厥.” Overall, the purpose of this passage is to help readers recitate the Nanhua Zhenjing according to the pronunciations of that era; it does not expound methods of cultivation or the meaning of the scripture.

This section of the Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin (Phonetic Annotations to the True Scripture of Southern Florescence) is primarily concerned with marking the pronunciations of characters in the Nanhua Zhenjing (True Scripture of Southern Florescence), to serve as a reference for recitation. It is not continuous scriptural content. In the text, “切” indicates fanqie phonetic notation: the initial of the first character is combined with the final and tone of the second character to produce the reading; “去声” (departing tone) and “上声” (rising tone) mark the tones.

For example, “卒，尊忽切” means that “卒” is read as “zú”; “循，旬；挫，作卧切” respectively indicate the pronunciations of “循” and “挫”; “知，智” explains that here “知” is read with the sound of “智.” Similar phonetic notes include “漻，流,” “和，去声,” “索，所白切,” “喙，许秽切,” “狙，七余切,” and others.

The passage lists, in the original book’s sequence, the readings of many characters, including those used in phrases such as “heaven and earth” (天地), “without interval” (无间), and “beauty and ugliness” (美恶), as well as names of birds and beasts such as 狸 (fox), 狙 (macaque), 螳螂 (mantis), 鹑 (quail), and 鷇 (fledgling). Some of the annotations, through transmission or character recognition, exhibit duplication, erroneous characters, or incompleteness—for instance “絮，F节切.” They can therefore be understood only according to the extant wording, and cannot be used to determine the precise pronunciations of these characters.

This section consists primarily of phonetic annotations supplied by the Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin (Phonetic Guide to the True Scripture of Nanhua) for the relevant chapters of the Zhuangzi; it is not a continuous exposition of scriptural meaning and doctrine. The annotations commonly employ the fanqie method (using two characters to spell out the pronunciation of a third) and also indicate tones.

For the chapter “Tiandao” (The Way of Heaven), the phonetic annotations are as follows: “辟” is read as “辟”; “铙” is read as “闹”; “平中” is spelled by the fanqie “知仲切”; “乡” is read as “向”; “王” is read in the departing tone; “而间” is read as “闲,” and “而王” is read in the departing tone; “朴” is read as “朴”; in the phrase “人乐,” “乐” is read as “洛,” and likewise below; “戾” is read as “例”; in “长於,” “长” is spelled by the fanqie “知丈切”; “祟” is spelled according to “虽遂方”; “知” is read as “智”; in “之辟,” “辟” is read as “辟”; “衰” is read as “崔”; “绖” is spelled by the fanqie “田结切”; “杀” is spelled by the fanqie “所界切”; “而分” is read as “愤”; “省” is spelled by the fanqie “所景切”; “迕” is read as “悟”; “敖” is spelled by the fanqie “五报切”; “施” is read in the departing tone; “胶” is read as “交”; “扰” is read as “绕”; “藏” is read in the departing tone.

Near the passage “其规魄研规,” the phonetic annotations are as follows: “翻” is read as “番”; “中其” is spelled by the fanqie “知仲切”; “谩” is spelled by the fanqie “未旦切”; “恺” is spelled by the fanqie “开待切”; “意” is read as “衣,” and likewise below; “几” is read as “饥”; “放” is read in the rising tone; “偈” is read as “竭”; “趼” is spelled by the fanqie “古显切”; “壤” is spelled by the fanqie “而赏切”; “复见” is spelled by the fanqie “扶又切”; “刺” is read as “次”; “却” is spelled by the fanqie “去逆切”; in “巧知,” “知” is read as “智”; “恒” is read as “常”; “阚” is spelled by the fanqie “许览切”; “奋” is spelled by the fanqie “方问切”; “为其” is read in the departing tone; “扁” is read as “篇”; “斲” is read as “卓”; “槌” is spelled by the fanqie “直追切”; “魄” is spelled by the fanqie “普各切.”

The letters “h,” “H,” and “E” in the original text appear to be missing characters or recognition errors; some of the phonetic annotations are also duplicated, and therefore the corresponding pronunciations cannot be determined on this basis.

This passage is from the Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin, which annotates the pronunciations of characters in the Jing (scripture/classic) and does not form a coherent scripture text. It mainly uses fanqie and tone indications to specify character sounds; “qie” means combining two characters to produce the pronunciation, while “departing tone” and “rising tone” are names of ancient tones. Following the original order, the pronunciation explanations are as follows. The character “者” is read as “为,” with fanqie given as the two characters “于” and “伪.” “施” is read as “弛” in the departing tone. “祒” is given as the fanqie of “赤” and “遥.” “监” is read in the departing tone. “郢” is given as the fanqie of “以” and “井.” “悌” is the same as “弟.” “并” is read as “� tone. “郢” is given as the fanqie of “以” and “井.” “悌” is the same as “弟.” “并” is read as “鉼.” “徽” is read as “挥.” “迭” is given as the fanqie of “大” and “节.” “偾” is read as “忿.” “坑” is read like “坑.” “郄” is given as the fanqie of “去” and “逆.” In “目知,” the character “知” is read as “智.” “委” is read as “威.” “蛇” is read as “移.” “怠” is read as “代.” In “林乐,” the character “乐” is read as “洛.” “稽” is read as “鸡.” In “天乐,” the character “乐” is likewise read as “洛.” “焱” is read as “标.” “祟” is given as the fanqie of “虽” and “醉.” In “之行,” the character “行” is given as the fanqie of “下” and “孟.” “刍” is read as “初.” “盛” is read as “成.” “箧” is given as the fanqie of “古” and “牒.” “衍” is read as “演.” “脊” is read as “积.” “爨” is given as the fanqie of “七” and “乱.” “数” is read as “朔.” “咪” is read as “米.” “蕲” is read as “祈.” “拮” is read as “结.” “槔” is read as “羔.”

Next, “舍” is read like “舍.” “柤” is given as the fanqie of “侧” and “加.” “柚” is given as the fanqie of “由” and “救.” “狙” is given as the fanqie of “七” and “余.” “衣” is read in the departing tone. “龄” is read as “纥.” “啮” is given as the fanqie of “五” and “结.” “挽” is read as “晚.” “慊” is given as the fanqie of “枯” and “箪” and is borrowed as “惬.” “矉” is read as “频.” “挈” is given as the fanqie of “苦” and “结.” “沛” is read as “贝.” “蘧” is read as “渠.” “觏” is read as “勾.” “墟” is read as “祛.” “贷” is read as “太.” “湮” is read as “因.” “播” is given as the fanqie of “补” and “佐.” “蚊” is read as “文.” “虻” is read as “盲.” “噆” is read as “匝.” “�ie of “补” and “佐.” “蚊” is read as “文.” “虻” is read as “盲.” “噆” is read as “匝.” “憯” is given as the fanqie of “七” and “感.” “愤” is given as the fanqie of “扶” and “粉.” “放” is read in the rising tone. “鹄” is read as “鹤.” “黔” is read as “绀.” “呴” is read as “吁.” “嗋” is read as “胁.” “倨” is read as “据.” “纣” is given as the fanqie of “除” and “柳.” “杀” is given as the fanqie of “所” and “戒.” “种” is read in the rising tone. “悖” is read as “倍.” “睽” is read as “奎.” “堕” is read as “隳.” “施” is read in the departing tone. The character form marked after “D” is unclear, with its pronunciation given as the fanqie of “� read as “隳.” “施” is read in the departing tone. The character form marked after “D” is unclear, with its pronunciation given as the fanqie of “勑” and “迈.” “虿” is given as the fanqie of “许” and “谒.” “鲜” is read as “仙.” “蹴” is given as the fanqie of “子” and “六.” “奸” is read as “干.”

Later the text repeats the annotations for characters such as “纣,” “杀,” “种,” “悖,” “睽,” “堕,” “施,” “D,” “虿,” “鲜,” “蹴,” and “奸,” assigning them the same pronunciations. “说” is read as “税.” “鶂” is given as the fanqie of “五” and “历.” “眸” is read as “牟.” “复” is given as the fanqie of “扶” and “又,” meaning “again.” “孺” is given as the fanqie of “喻” and “如.” “传” is read as “付.” “要” is read as “腰.”

A few character forms or phonetic notes may be unclear owing to edition or transcription issues, for example “D” and certain fanqie characters. The function of this section is to help readers recite the Jing according to the pronunciations in the old annotations.

The Direct Sounds of the Nanhua True Scripture (Nanhua Zhenjing Zhiyin) ends here.

l: The character “fang” is suspected to be the character “qie.”