Text first
Concepts and stories are grounded in the Zhuangzi chapter where they occur, not in floating quotation culture.
About the project · traceability before ornament
How does Chuangtzu.ai work on Zhuangzi?
The aim is not to build a 'Zhuangzi-flavored site' but to assemble a revisable, citable, source-aware entrance to Zhuangzi. Each page is meant to answer the main question first, then show chapter context, common misreadings, and a small set of references a serious reader can continue with.
Editorial method
Question first, source text second, translation and scholarship third, page prose last.
Then translation and scholarship
When pages cross languages, they check spellings, translations, and major interpretive summaries instead of relying on one inherited phrasing.
Then the reader-facing answer
The published page should answer the reader's live question before expanding into nuance and dispute.
The source layer is public
Project-level evidence is not hidden in internal notes. The sources page makes the current basis visible to readers.
Read The source layer is publicRevision discipline
Coverage, evidence, and dates should stay visible, not hidden.
| Area | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Source section | Every page lists at least a chapter or book entry and a scholarly reference |
| Bilingual writing | English pages are rewritten for English readers instead of mechanically translated |
| Scope claims | The site states which chapters are live and which are not yet covered here |
| AI boundary | AI can assist wording and structure, but it does not replace source checking, translation comparison, or scholarly judgment |
| Updates | When evidence or coverage changes, the page date changes too |
What triggers a revision?
A revision is for evidence change, not cosmetic churn.
Source expansion
When a page gains a stronger chapter link, source-text reference, or scholarly source, its date should move with the new evidence.
Interpretive correction
If a better textual context or scholarly explanation overturns earlier wording, the page should replace the weaker wording directly.
Scope correction
If the site cannot yet sustain a coverage claim, the claim should shrink first; only later should it expand again with real page coverage.
Editorial responsibility and current state
The current publisher is a unified editorial team, so the responsibility boundary, coverage, and revision cadence need to stay explicit.
| Item | Current state |
|---|---|
| Public byline | Pages are currently published under Chuangtzu.ai Editorial Team rather than dressing unverified personal claims up as scholarly authority. |
| Site first published | July 10, 2026 |
| Most recent site revision | August 24, 2026 |
| Current coverage | All seven Inner Chapters, the text map, core concepts, representative passages, modern notes, the source page, and the method page are live. |
| Correction rule | If better textual context or scholarship overturns an earlier wording choice, the page should be rewritten directly and its update date should move with the correction. |
| Minimum public citation standard | Public writing should check a site page together with the chapter entrance and a scholarly summary instead of quoting a site sentence in isolation. |
Frequently asked questions
These answers clarify the page topic, common mistakes, and where to read next.
Can Chuangtzu.ai be cited?
Yes, but strong citation practice still checks the page against the source text, translations, and scholarly references listed on the page.
Why show page dates so visibly?
Because Zhuangzi pages are revised as sources, coverage, and wording improve. Readers should be able to see recency directly.
What role does AI play in this project?
AI mainly helps with structure, rewriting, and bilingual consistency, but it does not replace source checking, translation comparison, or scholarly judgment.
Sources and references
For academic use, verify claims against the source text, translations, and scholarship.
Corresponding Chinese page: 关于 Chuangtzu.ai | 来源、方法与修订原则