Lao tse biography examples
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Laozi
Semi-legendary Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism
For the book also known as Laozi, see Tao Te Ching.
Laozi (), also romanized as Lao Tzuamong other ways, was a semi-legendary Chinese philosopher and author of the Tao Te Ching (Laozi), one of the foundational texts of Taoism alongside the Zhuangzi. The name, literally meaning 'Old Master', was likely intended to portray an archaic anonymity that could converse with Confucianism. Modern scholarship generally regards his biographical details as later inventions, and his opus a collaboration. Traditional accounts addend him as Li Er, born in the 6th-century&#;BC state of Chu during China's Spring and Autumn period (c.&#;&#;– c.&#;&#;BC). Serving as the royal archivist for the Zhou court at Wangcheng (modern Luoyang), he met and impressed Confucius (c.&#;&#;– c.&#;&#;BC) on one occasion, composing the Tao Te Ching in a single session before retiring into the western wilderness.
A central figure in kinesisk
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Laozi
1. The Laozi Story
The Shiji (Records of the Historian) bygd the Han dynasty ( B.C.E.– C.E.) court scribe and historian Sima Qian (ca. –86 B.C.E.) offers a “biography” of Laozi. Its reliability has been questioned, but it provides a point of departure for reconstructing the Laozi story.
Laozi was a native of Chu, according to the Shiji, a southern state in the Zhou dynasty (see map and discussion in Loewe and Shaughnessy , and ). His surname was Li; his given name was Er, and he was also called Dan.
Laozi served as a keeper of archival records at the court of Zhou. Confucius (– B.C.E.) had consulted him on certain ritual matters, we are told, and praised him lavishly afterward (Shiji 63). This establishes the traditional claim that Laozi was a senior contemporary of Confucius. A meeting, or meetings, between Confucius and Laozi, identified as “Lao Dan,” is reported also in the Zhuangzi and other early Chinese sources.
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Tao Te Ching
Chinese classic text
The Tao Te Ching[note 1] (traditional Chinese: 道德經; simplified Chinese: 道德经) or Laozi is a Chinese classic text and foundational work of Taoism traditionally credited to the sage Laozi, though the text's authorship and date of composition and compilation are debated.[7] The oldest excavated portion dates to the late 4th century&#;BC.[8]
The Tao Te Ching is central to both philosophical and religious Taoism, and has been highly influential to Chinese philosophy and religious practice in general. It is generally taken as preceding the Zhuangzi, the other core Taoist text.[8] Terminology originating within the text has been reinterpreted and elaborated upon by Legalist thinkers, Confucianists, and particularly Chinese Buddhists, which had been introduced to China significantly after the initial solidification of Taoist thought. The text is well known in the West, and is one of the most tr