A Cure for Chaos

by Mencius, C. C. Tsai (Illustrator), Christine Gross-Loh (Foreword by)

Overview

From bestselling cartoonist C. C. Tsai, a delightful graphic version of the stories and teachings of the important Chinese philosopher Mencius

C. C. Tsai is one of Asia’s most popular cartoonists, and his graphic editions of the Chinese classics have sold more than 40 million copies in over twenty languages. In A Cure for Chaos, he uses his virtuosic artistic skill and sly humor to create an entertaining and enlightening illustrated version of key selections from the Mencius, a profoundly influential work of Chinese philosophy.

You cannot understand Chinese philosophy without understanding Mencius (fourth century BCE), who is known as the Second Sage, after Confucius, and whose ideas were for many centuries part of the standard Confucian curriculum. A Cure for Chaos is a playful and accessible comic that brings alive the clever stories and thought experiments that Mencius uses to convey his ideas. Through conversations with potentates and colorful episodes involving tigers, chicken thieves, and bear paws, this vivid graphic narrative shows Mencius arguing for a government that puts the people first, for morality over fame or fortune, and for the need of each person to cultivate their innate goodness—all of which is a prescription to cure chaos in the world.

Translated and introduced by Tsai’s longtime collaborator Brian Bruya, a philosopher and scholar of ancient Chinese thought, A Cure for Chaos also features the original Chinese text on the margins of each page, enriching the book for readers and students of Chinese without distracting from the English-language cartoons.

Filled with unforgettable stories and shrewd insights, A Cure for Chaos is a marvelous and inviting edition of a timeless classic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691179810
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	04/01/2025
Series:	The Illustrated Library of Chinese Classics , #24
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

C. C. Tsai is one of Asia’s most beloved illustrators. His work has been featured in the New York Times Magazine and his bestselling editions of the Chinese classics have introduced generations of readers to the wisdom of such luminaries as Confucius, Sunzi, and Zhuangzi. Brian Bruya is professor of philosophy at Eastern Michigan University, where he teaches Chinese and comparative philosophy. His books include Ziran: The Philosophy of Spontaneous Self-Causation, and he has translated many of Tsai’s books into English. Christine Gross-Loh is the coauthor, with Michael Puett, of the international bestseller The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us about the Good Life. She has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, and the Guardian.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise for C. C. Tsai

“Tsai’s characters are drawn to entertain.”—John Ismay, New York Times Magazine

“Tsai's books are awe-inspiring. His line is elegant; his characters are sharply drawn; his humor is sly and appropriate; and his subject is profound. This is cartooning of the highest order.”—Larry Gonick, author of The Cartoon History of the Universe

“C. C. Tsai’s introductions to the world of Chinese thought and spirituality are masterpieces. His drawings are charming, clever, and engaging; his texts are clear and faithful to the spirit of the originals; and Brian Bruya's translations are fluid and accurate.”—Stephen C. Angle, Wesleyan University