《莊子》詮釋的原因與方法：明末內丹家程以寧的答案（英文稿）

Why and How to Read the Zhuangzi? Late Ming Neidan Master Cheng Yining’s Answer

《南華真經注疏》是一部明末時以內丹角度去研讀《莊子》的註解。其作者程以寧闡述了一種罕見於莊子詮釋歷史中的原創詮釋學方法：他將《莊子》看作內丹經典，而他的註解目的則在於揭示其內丹精義。為了支持他的解釋，程以寧必須創造一個新的作者莊子的形象，讓他不但成為了太上老君的化身，還為了給世人揭露一條藉由寓言走向成仙的道路而著了一部《南華經》。因此程以寧的目的在於解釋這些寓言和象徵，從而提出他認為唯一能讀懂莊子本意的方式。程以寧的註解作為一個功德所為，除了為提出《莊子》的真義，也為了獲得太上老君的幫助以完成他自己的內丹實踐。

The Commentary and Sub-commentary to the True Classic of Southern Splendor is a late Ming commentary on the Zhuangzi, which interprets it from a Neidan perspective. The author Cheng Yining develops an original hermeneutical strategy, seldom seen in the history of Zhuangzi exegesis: he reads the Zhuangzi as an inner alchemy classic, and his commentary aims to uncover its alchemical meaning. To support his reading, Cheng Yining creates a new figure for the author Zhuangzi, who becomes a transformation body of the Most High Lord Lao, and writes the Southern Splendor to reveal to the world the road to immortality using “symbolic words.” Cheng Yining’s goal is to decipher those symbols, thus offering what he sees as the sole way of reading the Zhuangzi that remains true to its original intent. His commentary stands as a meritorious deed, accomplished by Cheng Yining to provide the real meaning of the Zhuangzi, and to gain the Most High Lord Lao’s help to complete his own inner alchemical practice.