What is "zhuangzi"

The Zhuangzi (pronounced ) is an ancient Chinese text from the late Warring States period (476221) which contains stories and anecdotes that exemplify the carefree nature of the ideal Daoist sage. Named for its traditional author, "Master Zhuang" ( Zhuangzi), the Zhuangzi is one of the two foundational texts of Daoismalong with the Dao De Jing (Laozi)and is generally considered the most important of all Daoist writings.

The Zhuangzi consists of a large collection of anecdotes, allegories, parables, and fables, which are often humorous or irreverent in nature. Its main themes are of spontaneity in action and of freedom from the human world and its conventions. The fables and anecdotes in the text attempt to illustrate the falseness of human distinctions between good and bad, large and small, life and death, and human and nature. While other philosophers wrote of moral and personal duty, Zhuangzi promoted carefree wandering and becoming one with "the Way" (Dào 道) by following nature.

Though primarily known as a philosophical work, the Zhuangzi is regarded as one of the greatest literary works in all of Chinese history, and has been called "the most important pre- Qin text for the study of Chinese literature." A masterpiece of both philosophical and literary skill, it has significantly influenced writers for more than 2000 years from the Han dynasty to the present. Many major Chinese writers and poets in history—such as Sima Xiangru and Sima Qian during the Han dynasty (206AD220), Ruan Ji and Tao Yuanming during the Six Dynasties (222589), Li Bai during the Tang dynasty (618907), and Su Shi and Lu You in the Song dynasty (9601279)—were influenced by the Zhuangzi.

Zhuangzi may refer to:

• The Zhuangzi (book) , an ancient Chinese collection of anecdotes and fables, one of the foundational texts of Daoism
• Zhuang Zhou , the historical figure known as "Master Zhuang" ("Zhuangzi") and traditional author of the above work