The Book of Chuang Tzu
The Zhuāngzǐ - 庄子 庄子 by Chuang Zhu is a collection of ancient Chinese philosophical and literary texts attributed to the philosopher Zhuang Zhou (Chuang Tzu). It is considered one of the foundational texts of Taoism and is known for its poetic and metaphorical style.
The book contains a series of anecdotes, dialogues, fables, and parables that explore profound philosophical ideas, such as the nature of reality, the relativity of knowledge, the concept of the Dao (the Way), and the liberation of the self. It promotes a deep understanding of life, wisdom, and the art of living in harmony with the natural world.
"Once, Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering about, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know that he was Zhuang Zhou. Suddenly he woke up, and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuang Zhou. But he didn't know if he were Zhuang Zhou who had dreamt he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming that he was Zhuang Zhou. Between Zhuang Zhou and a butterfly, there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things.”
庄子