Translations : Meaning of "取" in context

Chinese Text Project

Discussion -> Translations -> Meaning of "取" in context

This thread relates to:

Zhuangzi - The Adjustment of Controversies #3

2024-12-30 03:56:23Meaning of "取" in context
Posted by: yeyuan98	Current translation of "非我無所取" is "if there were not I (with my views), his would be uncalled for". This may be inaccurate due to misunderstanding of "取" in context. The same character is used in #1 "... 咸其自取，怒者其誰邪". In that context, it is clear that "自取" means "self-selecting" or "self-determination" and "取" takes meaning of "selecting" or "determination". Here (#3), "取" shall take the same meaning. Therefore, the whole sentence "非彼無我，非我無所取。" means "If there were not 'others', there should not be 'me'; If there was not 'me', there should not be any (self-)determination." This interpretation fits the context better imo because: #1 sets up the question of "who is it that stirs it all up (i.e., existence of omnipresence/creator)"; #2 explores the idea of "此" (i.e., here/present) to interpret the creator with kind of a circular argument; #3 (with the new translation) then expands to theorize that "彼" ('others') as the creator who cannot be known fully (see "是亦近矣，而不知其所為使。")
Reply

2024-12-30 03:56:23Meaning of "取" in context

Posted by: yeyuan98

Current translation of "非我無所取" is "if there were not I (with my views), his would be uncalled for".

This may be inaccurate due to misunderstanding of "取" in context. The same character is used in #1 "... 咸其自取，怒者其誰邪". In that context, it is clear that "自取" means "self-selecting" or "self-determination" and "取" takes meaning of "selecting" or "determination".

Here (#3), "取" shall take the same meaning. Therefore, the whole sentence "非彼無我，非我無所取。" means "If there were not 'others', there should not be 'me'; If there was not 'me', there should not be any (self-)determination."

This interpretation fits the context better imo because: #1 sets up the question of "who is it that stirs it all up (i.e., existence of omnipresence/creator)"; #2 explores the idea of "此" (i.e., here/present) to interpret the creator with kind of a circular argument; #3 (with the new translation) then expands to theorize that "彼" ('others') as the creator who cannot be known fully (see "是亦近矣，而不知其所為使。")

To participate in the discussion, please log in to your CTP account using the form below. If you don't yet have an account, click here to set one up.

Enjoy this site? Please help.

Site design and content copyright 2006-2025. When quoting or citing information from this site, please link to the corresponding page or to https://ctext.org. Please note that the use of automatic download software on this site is strictly prohibited, and that users of such software are automatically banned without warning to save bandwidth. 沪ICP备09015720号-3

Comments? Suggestions? Please raise them here.