Zhuangzi | China

The Butterfly Dream

Wise man Zhuangzi dreamed of being a butterfly and pondered the nature of reality, embracing life's beauty in any form.

The Butterfly Dream
Text Version

Once upon a time, there was a wise man named Zhuangzi. One night, Zhuangzi had a very strange dream. In his dream, he turned into a beautiful butterfly.

As a butterfly, Zhuangzi flew around in the garden. He floated on the breeze and danced among the flowers. He felt light and happy. The flowers were very pretty, and the air was fresh. He liked being a butterfly and exploring the world in a new way.

Zhuangzi was so happy as a butterfly that he forgot he was ever a man. He only knew the life of a butterfly, tasting sweet nectar and flying on the soft wind.

Then, suddenly, Zhuangzi woke up. He found himself in his bed, back in his human body. He looked at his hands, felt his body, and thought, "Was I a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly dreaming I am a man?"

He sat and thought about this question. He couldn't tell which was the dream and which was real. He wondered if he, as a man, had dreamed of being a butterfly, or if he, as a butterfly, was now dreaming of being a man.

After a while, Zhuangzi realized that whether he was a man or a butterfly didn't matter. What was important was to enjoy and appreciate each moment, to live fully whether as a man or a butterfly.

And so, Zhuangzi decided to enjoy every moment, appreciating the beauty and variety of life, no matter what form he might take.

Copyright© 2025 FableReads, All Rights Reserved
The Butterfly Dream