Sima Xiangru
Though primarily known as a philosophical work, the "Zhuangzi" is regarded as one of the greatest literary works in all of Chinese history, and has been called "the most important pre-Qin text for the study of Chinese literature". A masterpiece of both philosophical and literary skill, it has significantly influenced writers for more than 2000 years from the Han dynasty (206AD220) to the present. Many major Chinese writers and poets in history—such as Sima Xiangru and Sima Qian during the Han dynasty, Ruan Ji and Tao Yuanming during the Six Dynasties (222589), Li Bai during the Tang dynasty (618907), and Su Shi and Lu You in the Song dynasty (9601279)—were heavily influenced by the "Zhuangzi".