Laozi

Biography

Laozi (also written Lao Tzu or Lao-Tze, traditionally 6th century BCE) is the legendary Chinese philosopher credited as the author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of Taoism. According to tradition, Laozi was an older contemporary of Confucius who served as keeper of the archives at the royal court of Zhou. Disillusioned with the corruption of the court, he departed for the western frontier, where a gatekeeper persuaded him to write down his wisdom before leaving civilization. The resulting text, the Tao Te Ching (also Daodejing), became one of the most translated and influential books in world history. Whether Laozi was a single historical figure, a composite of several sages, or entirely legendary remains debated by scholars. What is certain is that the text attributed to him—with its paradoxical wisdom about the Tao (the Way), non-action (wu wei), and the relationship between opposites—has profoundly influenced Chinese philosophy, religion, art, and governance for over two millennia, and continues to inspire millions worldwide.