Zhuangzi, << jwahng dzuh, >> also spelled Chuang Tzu, was a Chinese philosopher of the 300’s B.C. He ranks with Laozi (Lao Tzu) as the most important figure in the development of the philosophy called Taoism. Zhuangzi probably wrote parts of a book called the Zhuangzi, which was named after him. The book’s wit and imaginative style make it one of the greatest works of Chinese literature. The Zhuangzi also helped shape the branch of Buddhism called Chan (Zen).
The Zhuangzi teaches the mystical doctrine that all things come together in an indefinable harmony called the Tao (Way). The book urges that people live spontaneously, calmly accepting inevitable changes–even death. One passage asks: “How do I know hating death is not like having strayed from home when a child and not knowing the way back?”
