The received text of the Taoist classic Zhuangzi contains 33 chapters.
The 33-chapter arrangement is the standard received version associated with the Jin-dynasty scholar Guo Xiang, who produced an influential edition and commentary in the third century CE. The book is traditionally linked to the philosopher Zhuang Zhou, but its contents were compiled and edited over time.
The chapters are conventionally grouped into three sections: seven Inner Chapters, 15 Outer Chapters, and 11 Miscellaneous Chapters. Many scholars regard the Inner Chapters as the material most closely connected with Zhuang Zhou, while the rest reflects contributions from later writers or schools.
The Zhuangzi is famous for stories such as the butterfly dream, the useless tree, and the cook Ding. These stories explore freedom, perspective, language, skill, and harmony with circumstances. The number 33 refers to the received text, not to every early manuscript or reconstructed version.