Laotzu

Laotzu, also rendered Laozi or Lao-tzu, is the name traditionally given to the sage associated with Daoist philosophy. The epithet Laozi means “Old Master.” He is most closely linked to the Daodejing, the foundational text of Daoism, though the historicity of a single author is debated and the figure may represent a composite or legendary tradition.

Biographical traditions place Laozi in the late Zhou dynasty, around the 6th century BCE, and describe him as an archivist or keeper of records at the Zhou court. According to legend, he left China as an old man at the western border after meeting a gatekeeper, who urged him to record his teachings. He is said to have composed the Daodejing before departing. Modern scholarship frequently treats Laozi as a possibly legendary emblem or as a symbolic representation of Daoist wisdom rather than a verifiable historical person.

The Daodejing comprises about 81 short chapters and presents Dao (the Way) as the ultimate, ineffable principle of reality, and De (virtue) as the quality that follows from living in accordance with the Dao. Core themes include wu wei (non-action or effortless action), simplicity, humility, and naturalness (ziran). The text also offers political and social guidance that favors non-coercive rule and alignment with the Dao over forceful intervention.

Influence of Laozi and the Daodejing has been profound in Chinese philosophy and religion, shaping Daoist thought, Chinese literature, and various schools of governance and ethics. It has been translated into numerous languages and studied worldwide, with scholarly debate ongoing about its dating, authorship, and the scope of its philosophical and religious dimensions.