Who Was Lao Tzu?

Jrcf
3 min readOct 28, 2022

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Who Was Lao Tzu?

Lao Tzu was a Chinese philosopher and poet who is traditionally credited with being the author of the Tao Te Ching, the foundational work of philosophical Taoism. He is also revered as a god in many religious forms of Taoism but beyond these basic facts, very little is known about Lao Tzu’s life.

His historicity is uncertain, and the only information available about him comes from conflicting and often legendary sources. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what little is known about Lao Tzu and try to piece together a picture of the man behind one of history’s most important works of philosophy.

Lao Tzu’s Life

The first hurdle in trying to learn about Lao Tzu’s life is that there is no agreement on when he actually lived. The dates given by various sources range from 604 BCE to 531 BCE. Some historians believe that he was born into a noble family in Chu during the reign of Duke Huan of Qi, while others believe that he was actually born in 571 BCE during the reign of Duke Zhuang of Liang. The confusion stems largely from the fact that there were two different men named Lao Tzu who were active during this period; one was a historian named Lao Tan, while the other was an honorary title given to shamans and spiritual masters. It’s possible that the two were confused at some point, which has led to the discrepancy in dates.

What is known for certain is that, at some point, Lao Tzu became an official in the royal court of Chou. Legend has it that he resigned from his position in disgust after witnessing firsthand the moral decline of the Chou dynasty. Supposedly, he then traveled westward on a water buffalo until he reached the gatekeeper at the westernmost point of China. The gatekeeper refused to let him pass unless he wrote down his wisdom for posterity; thus, the Tao Te Ching came into existence. After finishing his writing, Lao Tzu continued on his journey and was never seen again.

The Philosophy of Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu’s philosophy centres around the idea of Wu Wei, or “non-action.” This does not mean inaction in the sense of laziness or apathy, but rather an action that is free from striving or desire. According to Lao Tzu, if one can act without attachment to the results of their actions — acting for acting’s sake — then they will be able to align themselves with the Tao, or “the way.” The result will be a life characterized by harmony and balance. In essence, what Lao Tzu is advocating for is a life lived in accordance with nature; when we follow our natural inclinations instead of forcing our will upon reality, everything will fall into place as it should.

Some Sayings

  1. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

2. To lead people — follow them.

3. If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.

4. When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

5. True words are not pleasant, pleasant words are not true.

6. Live for the praise of others and you will become their prisoner.

Conclusion

Lao Tzu was a Chinese philosopher and poet who lived sometime between 604 and 531 BCE (though this date range is by no means certain). What is certain is that he wrote the Tao Te Ching, one of history’s most important works of philosophy. In it, he advocates for a life lived in accordance with nature — a life characterized by non-action, or action is undertaken without attachment to desired outcomes. Though little else is known about him due to conflicting and often legendary accounts, his impact on philosophy — and on world culture more broadly — cannot be overstated.

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