How did Zhuang Zhou explain death through the changing forms of life?

Zhuang Zhou viewed death not as an end, but as a natural phase in the ongoing transformation of the Dao. He explained that life and death are part of a continuous cycle, much like the rotation of the four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter.1

According to Zhuang Zhou, existence begins in a state of nonbeing, where there is neither life, form, nor life force (qi). Through a process of transformation, life force emerges, takes on form, and eventually manifests as life. Death is simply the next step in this progression, where life transforms back into another state. Because this process is a natural part of the cosmos, Zhuang Zhou argued that mourning or fearing death shows an ignorance of destiny.1

He famously illustrated the fluidity of existence through his dream of being a butterfly, noting that the distinction between himself and the butterfly was merely a manifestation of the "transformation of things." Ultimately, he viewed the universe as a "great house" where all beings return, advocating for an acceptance of these changes without attachment or prejudice.21