The Long ConversationA timeline of world philosophy

Philosopher

Laozi

fl. 600–500 BCE

Also known as Lao-tzu, Lao Dan

Semi-legendary sage traditionally credited with the Daodejing, the founding text of Daoism, which counsels living in harmony with the dao through simplicity and non-action.

Ink painting of an old man riding a water buffalo
Zhang Lu, Laozi Riding an Ox, Ming dynasty (1368–1644), illustrating the legend of his journey west. National Palace Museum, Taipei.Zhang Lu · Public domain · See the original

According to Chinese tradition, Laozi was an archivist at the Zhou court and an older contemporary of Confucius who, leaving China through a western pass, wrote down his teachings at the request of the gatekeeper. Many scholars doubt that he was a single historical person, and the Daodejing that bears his name is generally thought to have taken shape over time.

The Daodejing presents the dao, or “way”, as the nameless source of all things, and recommends wuwei (acting without forcing) together with simplicity and humility, for individuals and rulers alike. The dates given here are the traditional ones.

Tradition
Chinese
Schools
Daoism

Key works

  • Daodejing (Laozi)

Sources

  1. Alan Chan, Laozi, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy