Laozi

Who is Laozi?

Laozi (also romanized Lao Tzu, meaning 'Old Master') was a semi-legendary Chinese philosopher traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism (Daoism) and the author of the Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing). According to Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, he was a keeper of archives at the Zhou court and may have been an older contemporary of Confucius. Historical details of his life are uncertain, and some scholars consider him a composite or legendary figure. The Tao Te Ching, attributed to him, is a foundational text of Chinese philosophy that teaches living in harmony with the Tao (the Way), advocating simplicity, spontaneity, humility, and non-action (wu wei). Taoism grew into one of China's major philosophical and religious traditions, deeply influencing Chinese art, medicine, statecraft, and spiritual life for over two millennia.

Sources: Laozi, Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing), circa 4th century BCE · Sima Qian, Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), biography of Laozi, circa 91 BCE