Zhuangzi

Zhuangzi (c.369-286 BCE), second perhaps only to Laozi, is considered one of the main founders of the Daoist tradition. Unlike Laozi, scholars are more certain Zhuangzi was a real historical figure. While the Daodejing was composed in poetry, Zhuangzi’s work, simply called the Zhuangzi, offers much more prose and philosophical narrative advocating a simple, spiritual life far removed from intellectual and political disputes (although it appears that the work is a compilation produced by several offers, making it difficult to pinpoint what was written by the “real” Zhuangzi).