What are the similarities and differences between Lao Zi and Zhuangzi's thoughts?

1. The similarities between Laozi's philosophy and Zhuangzi's philosophy are: advocating nature, having a tendency to question religion, advocating quietness and opposing struggle. This is also the core idea of Taoism.

Second, the differences between Laozi's philosophy and Zhuangzi's philosophy:

In fact, there is only one Tao Te Ching to test, but there are still some differences between the handed down Tao Te Ching and the ancient Tao Te Ching unearthed in Mawangdui. What is certain is that Laozi's political thought advocates quietism and opposes struggle. His philosophical thought is purely advocating nature, without the supernatural concept of "God", and he has dialectical thinking about objective things and tends to question religion. The same is true of Zhuangzi's thought, which inherits and develops Laozi's thought with its own interpretation. Relatively speaking, the main reason why Zhuangzi's thought is richer is that he has left more historical materials.

Politically, Lao Tzu is more active. Laozi's "inaction" is not aimed at "inaction", but at "promising", while Zhuangzi has the idea of avoiding the world. But apart from politics, their philosophical thoughts are positive, and their world outlook, outlook on life and values have positive significance beyond that era.

Third, add:

Laozi's book is only one Tao Te Ching with 5,000 words, while Zhuangzi wrote a book in the pre-Qin period, and Hanshu Yiwenzhi recorded 52 articles. Today, there are 33 articles, about 65,000 words.