Zhuangzi

Zhuangzi, also known as Chuang Tzu, was a Chinese philosopher associated with Daoism, traditionally placed in the 4th century BCE during the Warring States period. The name Zhuang Zhou is used both for the author and as a figure in some texts. The Zhuangzi is a collection of stories, dialogues, and allegories attributed to him and his school; it is one of the foundational Daoist texts, along with the Daodejing.

The work explores Daoist themes such as the limits of human knowledge, the relativity of perspectives, and the value of spontaneity (ziran) and non-action (wu-wei). It often critiques conventional social norms and rigid distinctions between life and death, suggesting a flexible, open approach to existence. Notable episodes include the butterfly dream, in which a man questions the boundary between dreaming and waking, and stories about the carefree wanderer who moves with ease between worlds, transcending judgment and form.

Strengths and influence: The Zhuangzi is known for its imaginative prose, irony, and paradox, blending humor with philosophical argument. Its ideas have profoundly influenced Daoist philosophy and later East Asian thought, as well as Chinese literature. In scholarly tradition, the Inner Chapters (approximately seven) are regarded as the core text, with Outer and Miscellaneous chapters compiled later.