列子

Very little is publicly known about Liezi's life. He is traditionally regarded as a Daoist figure of the Warring States period, and the book bearing his name, Liezi, was attributed to him in older sources, though the received text was largely compiled and edited by later hands. The library holds 5 related works, including Tian Rui (Heaven's Gifts), King Mu of Zhou, Li Ming (Force and Destiny), Shuo Fu (Explaining Conjunctions), and The Complete Works of Liezi: Chinese Classics 39. They are commonly classified under Eastern philosophy and historical readings. These chapters unfold mainly through fables, stories, and dialogues, using myths, legends, and conversations to expound Daoist thought. The style is vivid and concise, with broad imagination, often conveying philosophy through ordinary incidents. King Mu of Zhou explores the interplay of dream and reality, Li Ming discusses the relation between human effort and destiny, and Shuo Fu focuses on the verification of words and actions. Liezi's thought and literary style have influenced later Daoist doctrine, fable literature, and philosophical discussion, and he is often mentioned alongside Laozi and Zhuangzi as an important part of the Daoist tradition.