This paper seeks to interpret the often enigmatic ideas of Andō Shōeki安藤昌益(1703-1762) in relation to an interpretive field broader than that of Japanese traditions. Simply put, this paper attempts to contextualize Shōeki's thinking within East Asian philosophical contexts. The paper suggests that three classical Chinese philosophical texts are exceptionally pertinent for understanding the theoretical foundations of Shōeki's ideas. These texts also shed light on why Shōeki's thought achieved some cultural broadcast, greater or lesser, in his day and thereafter. The three texts, fairly well known throughout Japanese history among the educated elite, are: 1). a Daoist classic, the Zhuangzi莊子(J: Sōshi), especially its ”Yangist” and ”primitivists” writings; 2). the masterwork of the Mohist tradition, the Mozi墨子 (J: Bokushi); and 3). an important Confucian text, the Mencius孟子 (C: Mengzi J: Mōshi).