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Lao Tzu, Lao Tse, Laozi
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|
Lao Zi's names |
| Chinese name: |
老子 |
| Pinyin: |
Lǎo Zi, Laozi |
| Wade-Giles: |
Lao Tzu |
| Other
spellings: |
Lao Tse, Laotse,
Lao Tze, Laotze |
| Actual name: |
李耳, Lǐ Ěr |
| Courtesy name: |
伯陽, Bó Yáng |
| Posthumous
name: |
聃, Dān |
Lao Zi leaves China on his
water buffalo.
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Lao Tzu (also spelled Laozi, Lao Tze, Lao
Tse,
or Laozu) is a major figure in Chinese philosophy
whose historical existence is debated. Chinese tradition states that he
lived in the 6th century BC but many modern scholars claim that he may
have lived in approximately the 4th century BC, during the Hundred
Schools of Thought and Warring States Periods. He is credited with
writing the seminal Taoist (Daoist)
work, the Tao Te Ching,
and became a popular deity in the Taoist religion's
pantheon.
Little is known about LaoTzu's life. His historical existence is
strongly debated, as is his authorship of the Tao Te Ching, the
most important book in
Taoism
(Daoism).
Nevertheless, he has become an important culture hero to subsequent
generations of Chinese people. Tradition says he was born in Ku
Prefecture (苦縣 Kǔ Xiàn) of the state of Chǔ (楚), which today is Lùyì
County (鹿邑) of Henan province, in the later years of Spring and Autumn
Period. Some legends say he was born with white hair, having spent eight
or eighty years in his mother's womb, which is given as an explanation
for his title, which can be both read as "the old master" and "the old
child".
According to the tradition, and a biography included
in Sima Qian's work, Lao Zi was an older contemporary of Confucius and
worked as an archivist in the Imperial Library of the Zhou Dynasty
court. Confucius intentionally or accidentally met him in Zhou, near the
location of modern Luoyang, where Confucius was going to browse the
library scrolls. According to these stories, Confucius, over the
following months, discussed ritual and propriety, cornerstones of
Confucianism, with Lao Tzu. The latter strongly opposed what he felt to
be hollow practices. Taoist legend claims that these discussions proved
more educational for Confucius than the contents of the libraries.
Afterwards, Lao Tse resigned from his post, perhaps
because the authority of Zhou's court was diminishing. Some accounts
claim he travelled west on his water buffalo through the state of Qin
and from there disappeared into the vast desert. These accounts have a
guard at the western-most gate convincing Lao Tse to write down his
wisdom before heading out into the desert. Until this time, Lao Tse had
shared his philosophy in spoken words only, as was also
the case with Socrates, Jesus, the Buddha
and Confucius (whose Analects were most likely compiled by
disciples). Lao Tse's response to the soldier's request was the Tao
Te Ching.
Some of the modern controversies concerning Laozi's
life include:
 | The discussion with Confucius might have been
fabricated by Taoists to make their school of philosophy sound
superior to Confucianism. |
| The actual author(s) of the Tao Te Ching
might have created a fictitious character so the origin of the text
would look more mysterious, thus making it easier to popularize.
|
| Arguments have been put forth that Laozi was a
pseudonym of Dan, Prefect of the Grand Scribes (Tài Shǐ Dàn, 太史儋); or
of an old man from Lai, a prefecture in the state of Qí (齊); or of
some other historical person. |
Lao Zi, from Myths and
Legends of China, 1922 by E. T. C. Werner
Lao Tzu's famous work, the Tao Te Ching, has
been widely influential in China. The book is a
mystical treatise covering many areas of philosophy, from
individual spirituality to techniques for governing
societies.
If
we refer to this book, we can draw in a few lines what and how Lao Tzu
was thinking. He emphasized a specific "Tao", which
often translates as "the Way," and widened its meaning
to an unnameable inherent order or property of the universe: " The way
Nature is." (Compare this concept with the concept of
Dharma
in Buddhism
and Hinduism.)
He highlighted the concept of wei-wu-wei, or
"action through inaction." This does not mean that one should sit around
and do nothing, but that one should avoid explicit intentions, strong
will, and proactive action; one can reach real efficiency by following
the way things spontaneously increase or decrease. Actions taken in
accordance with Tao (Nature) are easier and more productive than
actively attempting to counter it. Lao Tzu believed that violence should
be avoided when possible, and that military victory was an occasion to
mourn the necessity of using force against another living thing, rather
than an occasion for triumphant celebrations. Lao Tzu also indicated
that codified laws and rules result in society becoming more difficult
to manage.
As
with most other ancient Chinese thinkers, his way of explaining his
ideas often uses paradox, analogy, appropriation of ancient sayings,
repetition, symmetry, rhyme, and rhythm. The writings attributed to Lao
Tse are poetical, dense and often obscure. They served as a starting
point for cosmological or introspective
meditations.
Many of the aesthetic theories of Chinese art are
widely grounded in his ideas and those of his most famous follower :
Zhuang
Zi (Chuang Tzu).
Although Lao Tse does not have as deep an influence as
Confucius does in China, he is still widely respected by the Chinese and
his thoughts are studied in many places all around the world.
Lao Tzu's most famous follower, Zhuang
Zi, (Chuang Tzu), wrote a book that had a great deal of influence on Chinese Literati,
through the ideas of individualism, freedom, carefreeness, and, even if
the author never speaks about it, art, which may well
be the cornerstone of Chinese aesthetic.
The name Lao Zi is an honorific title. Lao (老)
means "venerable" or "old." Zi (子) translates literally as "boy,"
but it was also a term for a rank of nobleman equivalent to viscount, as
well as a term of respect attached to the names of revered masters.
Thus, "Lao Zi" can be translated roughly as "the old master."
Lao Zi's personal name may have been Li Er (李耳, Lǐ Ěr
or Li Ehr), his courtesy name may have been Boyang (伯陽), and his
posthumous name was Dān, (聃) which means "Mysterious."
Lao Zi is also known as:
| Elder Dan (老聃)
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| Senior Lord (老君)
 | Senior Lord Li (李老君)
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| Senior Lord Taishang (太上老君 Tàishàng Lǎojūn)
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| Taoist Lord Lao Zi (老子道君)
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In the Li Tang Dynasty, in order to create a
connection to Laozi as the ancestor of the imperial family, he was given
a posthumous name of Emperor Xuanyuan (玄元皇帝), meaning "Profoundly
Elementary;" and a temple name of Shengzu (聖祖), meaning "Saintly/Sagely
Progenitor." |
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