Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi (Simplified: 桩子; Traditional: 樁子) originally Zhuang Zhou, was a Chinese philosopher of the Daoist school. It is also the name of the book of philosophy he wrote.
Life
Traditional lore holds that Zhuangzi was born the same day the Laozi died; however, records suggest that he was likely born several years later. As the son of a potter and tradesman, he was expected to join his father's business but he had a youthful interest in philosophy. He started with the Analects and the works of Mencius, but quickly wrote off the Confucian philosophy as impractical. Around the age of 15, he began writing poetry and studying nature. During this time, he drifted toward the more naturalist philosophy of Daoism. After reading the Dao De Jing, he departed his home to study exclusively with the Daoists.
The events of Zhuangzi's life after he left home are uncertain. He was a minor figure in Daoist circles until many years later, after finishing his text. He founded a small school of philosophy in modern-day Jiangsu around 330 BC which was attended briefly by the famous ascetic Zhang Daoling. Later in life, he retired to Mount Liang to meditate and never came down.
Book
Zhuangzi produced a book by the same name. It was more poetic than the Dao De Jing, made to appeal to a broader audience. The book was compiled from thousands of poems and stories, and as a result it took Zhuangzi more than twenty years to finish it. It is believed that he began writing it when he was 16 or 17 years old.
Dreaming of a butterfly
The most famous portion of the book is a story usually called "Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly."
Formerly, I, Zhuang Zhou, dreamt that I was a butterfly, a butterfly flying about, feeling that it was enjoying itself. I did not know that it was Zhou. Suddenly I awoke, and was myself again, the veritable Zhou. I did not know whether it had formerly been Zhou dreaming that he was a butterfly, or it was now a butterfly dreaming that it was Zhou. But between Zhou and a butterfly there must be a difference. This is a case of what is called the Transformation of Things.'[1]
This story was based on an experience Zhuangzi had as a child. It was one of his earliest stories, written when he was 18 or 19 years old.