This book provides a glimpse into 17th-century Zhungz (; ca. 4th through 3rd century BCE) studies by introducing the works of Hnshn Déqng (; 1546-1623), Wáng Fzh (; 1619-1692), and Lín Yúnmíng (; 1628-1697), which give a sense of diverse approaches to Zhungz during this period.
The three commentators represent three distinct orientations as reflected by their respective roles, with Hnshn Déqng being a Buddhist monk, Wáng Fzh a philosopher, and Lín Yúnmíng a literary critic. Their understanding of "carefree wandering" () is spelled out, followed by a complete translation of the Péng-bird passage through their eyes. The author concludes how this amounts to a conception of human flourishing.
This is the first monograph on Zhungz studies of any of these three thinkers in English. General readers or specialists of ancient Chinese philosophy can gain insight into how Zhungz was read in culturally relevant contexts.