[ Old Taoist Sage from Mt. Hua that gave Zhang Jue the Way of Peace (太平要術).
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Chuang Tzŭ [Nan Hua]
Simplified Chinese: 莊子[南华]
Pronunciation: Zhuang1 Zi3 [Nan2hua2]
Other Names: Chang Tzu, Zhuang Zhou, The Zhuang Zi Immortal, Zhuang Zi, Meng Official, Meng Zhuang, Meng Elder
Name Notes: Though frequently presented under the proper name, Zhuang Zi (莊子), the literal text presents his name as “The Nanhua Immortal” (南華真人). This is sometimes simplified to ‘Nanhua’ or ‘Nan Hua’ (南華), which is not correct. Zhuang Zi is none other than the famous Taoist sage from the Warring States period, and with this in mind, you may also see him listed, of course, as Chang Tzu (Wade-Giles), Zhuang Zhou (莊周) (his given name), Meng Official (蒙吏), Meng Zhuang (蒙莊), and Meng Elder (蒙叟). He also appears in some Koei games as ‘Nan Hua’.
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1
Biography
Zhuang Zi is none other than the famous Taoist sage and philosopher that lived during the 4th century BC (during the Warring States period). Zhuang Zi is also referenced as Zhuang Zhou, and was named “The Nanhua Immortal” (南華真人) during the Tang dynasty, and has been worshipped as such since by the adherents of folk Taoism. Zhuang Zi is said to have lived during the reign of King Hui of Liang and King Xuan of Qi around 370–301 BC. He hailed from the Town of Meng (蒙城) in the State of Song (modern day Shangqiu 商邱, Henan). His given name was Zhou (周).
In the novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he appears as the Nanhua Immortal, though most English translations simply present his name as Zhuang Zi. Folk Taoism believes that one who has attained the secrets of life (the Tao) may become immortal, and as such, is no longer bound by the confines of space and time. For this reason, he can appear wherever and whenever he wishes, making it possible for him to deliver the book, Essential Arts for the Millennium (太平要術) (commonly known as The Way of Peace) to Zhang Jue.