Chuang Tzu is associated with which philosophical tradition?

• A. Confucianism
• B. Taoism
• C. Buddhism
• D. Islam

Answer: (B)

Chuang Tzu is associated with Taoism. This tradition centers on the Dao, the way of the universe that can’t be fully named or controlled. Chuang Tzu’s stories use playful, imaginative parables to show that clinging to rigid categories or forcing outcomes distances us from the natural order. He emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao through spontaneity and non-action (wu wei), letting things unfold rather than trying to dominate them. The dialogues invite readers to question fixed distinctions and to see knowledge as provisional, highlighting a flexible, open way of understanding life. This makes Taoism the best fit, while Confucianism focuses on social roles and ethics, Buddhism on suffering and liberation, and Islam belongs to a different tradition altogether.