The Liezi and Daoism

Abstract

This chapter is a brief account on the philosophical claims represented in the Liezi, a Daoist classic which seldom has been within the scope of interest for the scholars of Daoism. Although the author is not able to discuss much about the historicity of the mysterious figure whose name the text is bearing, as it has been for any research into other great names of Daoism such as Laozi and Zhuangzi, he successfully unravels its metaphysical discourses and related issues explicated or implied in its mostly anecdotal contents based on the conviction that the text is a 4th century forgery reflecting the philosophical concerns of the time. It must not be omitted for any future researcher, intending to pursue early Chinese metaphysical discourses, to take the Liezi into consideration and this chapter will be a useful source.