Lao-tzu Chin., lit. “Old Master,” also known as Lao Tan or Li Erh; traditionally considered to be the author of the Tao-te ching and a contemporary of Confucius (6th century B.C.E. K’ung-tzu). The biography of Lao-tzu in the Historical Records (Shih-chi), dating from the 2d/ 1 st century B.C.E., mentions that he was born in Hu-hsien in the state of Ch’u (now Honan Province). His family name was Li, his first name Erh, and his majority name Tan. Most philosophical texts refer to him as either Laotzu or Lao Tan.
According to the Shih-chi Lao-tzu was keeper of archives at the court of the king of Chou when he first met Confucius. This encounter has frequently been described but cannot be considered historical. Disputes at the royal court prompted Lao-tzu to resign from his post. He traveled west and at the mountain pass of Hsien-ku met Yin Hsi, the Guardian of the Pass, at whose request he wrote the Tao-te ching, consisting of five thousand pictograms. After that his traces vanish.
Although tradition considered Lao-tzu to be the author of the Tao-te ching, scholars have established that this work cannot have been written before the 4th or 3d century B.C.E. And thus did not originate with Lao-tzu.
The author of the Shih-chi tells us that “Laotzu lived in accordance with the Tao and the te. He taught that one should live anonymously and in obscurity” (trans. from Kaltenmark, und der Taoismus; see Kaltenmark 1969). His simple view of life also is reflected in a dialogue between him and Confucius: “When Confucius went to the land of Chou, he questioned Lao-tzu about the observance of the rites. Lao-tzu replied, ‘The bones of those of whom you speak have long since turned to dust; only their words have been preserved for us. In any case, if time and fortune favor a person, he will travel to court in a carriage. If they do not favor him, he will roam about in unpretentious attire. I have heard it said that a good merchant will conceal his wealth and act as if he were poor. A noble person with sufficient inner virtue may give the appearance of a fool. Therefore, give up your high-handed manner, your desires, your vanity, and your zeal for they are of no use to you.’
Confucius then withdrew and said to his pupils, ‘I know that birds can fly, that fish can swim, and that quadrupeds can roam about on the earth. Roaming animals may be caught in a pit or cage, fish with a net or rod, and birds can be shot down with an arrow. The dragon however cannot be caught by such cleverness. It wings towards Heaven on wind and clouds. Today I have seen Lao-tzu. He is like a dragon!” (trans. From Kaltenmark, Lao-tzu und der Taoismus; see Kaltenmark 1969).
Religious Taoism (tao-chiao) has admitted Laotzu to the Taoist pantheon. He is venerated as either, T’ai-shang lao-chün, Tao-te t’ien-tsun (Celestial Noble of the Tao and Te), or Lao-chün and is considered to be the founder of religious Taoism. He is, moreover, the subject of numerous legends. His disappearance after traveling west is explained by his having allegedly traveled to India, where he met the Buddha, who became his pupil a claim Taoists are wont to make in their disputes with Buddhists (Hua-hu ching).
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
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