Laozi
Laozi (老子), also romanized as Lao-tzu, is the figure traditionally credited with the Tao Te Ching. His name means "Old Master". He is central to both philosophical and religious Daoism, although his historical identity and the authorship of the text remain disputed.[1]
Traditional biography
Sima Qian's Records of the Historian identifies Laozi as Li Er, also called Dan, and describes him as a keeper of records at the Zhou court. In this account, Confucius consults him on ritual. Leaving Zhou as it declines, Laozi reaches a border crossing, where the official Yin Xi asks him to write down his teachings. These stories form the traditional biography; their historical reliability is uncertain.[1]
Text and religious tradition
The Tao Te Ching addresses the Dao, or Way, and its expression in de, often translated as virtue. Naturalness and nonaction are recurring concerns, interpreted differently across philosophical and religious traditions. In religious Daoism, Laozi is also revered as a divine figure. The Celestial Masters tradition associates its founding with a revelation from him.[1]