Zhuang Zi

Though there were never exact dates on Zhuang Zi's birthdate or the time he composed his works, it is believed that he was around during the forth century. There was never a central idea in his writings;  his works ranges from direct arguments to strange stories. "The Way" of Zhuang Zi is to be "still", relating back to non-action. The essence of Zhuang Zi is restoring one to natural state; the state of a new-born child. Zhuang Zi argued that education and self-cultivation divert one from the natural flow of the cosmos and the Heaven (tian).

Children in general are free from complications and pressure from society; therefore this brings them closer to the natural flow of order. However, this way of life can only provide short term relief since it is impossible for humans to live in a care-free society. Ideally, everyone lives a life that they can act according to their desires and submerge into life's flow. Though in the short run society may achieve a stress-free state, this cannot provide a sustainable society. Eventually, there will be no social order within society. If no one will like to work in the fields, how can a society feed themselves? Resources and food do not just pop out as part of nature's flow. Hence, "the Way" of Zhuang Zi cannot provide a sustainable lifestyle for one. It can act as a short-term reminder that reliefs stress from society.

Another important aspect of Zhuang Zi's philosophy is "change". Zhuang Zi view death as a transition in life. When a person dies, he/she is born into the world once more but in a different form; it may be a butterfly or other life forms. This idea is still present today in Chinese culture. As some believed that the daughter was the father's lover in their past life. Furthermore extending on the idea of transition in life, the idea ties to the mandate of Heaven as one's new life after death depends on one's action during his/her life time (karma). The act of kindness and righteousness mean that one will born into a better life in the next life-time. It is up to Heaven to decide whether or not one deserves a good or bad life.