Lao-zi was the legendary founder of the religion/philosophy of Taoism and author of the Tao Te Ching. Most sources agree that he was born around 604 BCE in the state of Chu in Honan Province. Legend says that he was miraculously conceived and that his mother carried him in her womb for either seventy-two or eighty-two years. When he was born, the legend says, his hair was already white with age.
The name "Lao-zi" is a title meaning "Old Master," "Old Boy," or "Venerable Philosopher." If Lao-zi did actually exist, his given name may have been Li Uhr, a librarian and scribe in the court of Chau.
At one point, Confucius went to Lao-zi to learn the ways of the Tao. After speaking with him, Confucius was so awestruck and dumbfounded, he told his followers, "I have now seen a Dragon."
Lao-zi's disappearance from China is a great mystery. Legend says that Lao-zi became fed-up with the corruption of the court. One day, just got onto the back of a water buffalo and began heading west, toward present day Tibet. At Hankao Pass, a gatekeeper recognized him as a great spirit and tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to stay. The gatekeeper was able, however, to convince Lao-zi to leave his wisdom behind in written form. This five thousand character manuscript would later become the Tao Te Ching. With this finished, he remounted his water buffalo and road off into the sunset, never to be heard from again.
This article was written and copyrighted by Light Hawk in 1999. All rights reserved.