# Chuang Tzŭ — Tao Te Ching character guide

> Chuang Tzŭ in Tao Te Ching by Laozi.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Chuang, Chuang - tzŭ, Chuang - Tzŭ Shu, Shu, Chuang - chou

**First appearance:** 0002-the-texts-of-the-tao-te-ching-and-chuang-tz-shu-as-regards-their-authenticity-and-genuineness-and-the-arrangement-of-them

## Who they are

A brilliant, irreverent storyteller who took Laozi's spare verses and spun them into wild parables, arguing with Confucius's ghost and mocking the earnest.

## Relationships

### [Laozi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters/laozi)

_friendship_

Chuang Tzŭ is a devoted follower and philosophical successor who frequently engages with Laozi's ideas, often expanding on them with playful parables.

### [Shang Ti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters/shang_ti)

_psychological_

Chuang Tzŭ uses Shang Ti as a literary device to question the nature of divinity and authority, often with ironic or skeptical intent.

### [Ssŭ - ma Chʽien](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters/ssu_ma_chien)

_social_

Ssŭ-ma Chʽien includes Chuang Tzŭ in his historical records, treating him as a key figure in the Daoist tradition alongside Laozi.

### [Shang Ti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters/shang_ti)

_psychological_

Chuang Tzŭ uses Shang Ti as a literary device to question the nature of divinity and authority, often with ironic or skeptical intent.

### [Laozi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters/laozi)

_friendship_

Chuang Tzŭ is a devoted follower and philosophical successor who frequently engages with Laozi's ideas, often expanding on them with playful parables.

### [Ssŭ - ma Chʽien](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters/ssu_ma_chien)

_social_

Ssŭ-ma Chʽien includes Chuang Tzŭ in his historical records, treating him as a key figure in the Daoist tradition alongside Laozi.

### [Shang Ti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters/shang_ti)

_psychological_

Chuang Tzŭ uses Shang Ti as a literary device to question the nature of divinity and authority, often with ironic or skeptical intent.

## In the story

### [Preface by James Legge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/preface-by-james-legge)

Major Taoist philosopher whose writings are translated in this volume.

### [Was Taoism Older Than Laozi?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/was-taoism-older-than-laozi)

Greatest follower of Laozi, wrote fictional narratives about early Taoist sages and a paradisiacal state.

### [What Is the Meaning of the Name Tao? And the Chief Points of the Belief in Taoism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-name-tao-and-the-chief-points-of-the-belief-in-taoism)

Quoted extensively on the distinction between the Way of heaven and the Way of man, and on the paradisiacal state of 'perfect virtue.'

### [Accounts of Laozi and Chuang-Tzŭ Given by Ssŭ-Ma Chʽien](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/accounts-of-laozi-and-chuang-tz-given-by-ss-ma-ch-ien)

Native of Mêng in Liang/Wei; held office in Chʽi-yüan; contemporary of Mencius; well-versed in literature; preferred Laozi's views; wrote satirical works; refused high office from King Wei of Chʽu; died with a natural burial.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mentioned as containing parts of chapter 48 and as a source where the teaching of chapter 63 is not found.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters/chuang_tzu
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tao_te_ching_se/characters