Laozi Laozi (circa 571 BC – circa 470 BC[70], also said to be 571 BC – 471 BC[73]), surname Li, given name Er, courtesy name Daan, also called Boyang (or posthumously named Boyang), was a figure from the Spring and Autumn period. Records such as the "Records of the Grand Historian" and the "Book of the Later Han" state that Laozi was born in the State of Chu[29][66][67] or the State of Chen[1][2][3], from Lixian (now Luyi County, Henan Province), Lixiang[29] (also written Laixiang[2]), from Qurenli (also said to be from Guoyang County, Anhui Province). An ancient Chinese thinker, philosopher, writer, and historian, founder and main representative of Taoism, often paired with Zhuangzi as "Lao Zhuang." During the Tang Dynasty, he was posthumously recognized as the ancestor of the Li surname. He was once listed among the world's cultural celebrities and one of the hundred most famous historical figures in the world. [65][71]

Laozi once served as the historian in charge of the Treasury of the Zhou Dynasty, known for his extensive knowledge. Confucius once visited Zhou to inquire about rites. In the late Spring and Autumn period, chaos engulfed the world. Laozi, wishing to abandon official duties and retreat into seclusion, rode a green ox westward. When he reached Hangu Pass, he was requested by the gatekeeper Yin Xi to compose the "Tao Te Ching."

Laozi's thought has had a profound influence on the development of Chinese philosophy, with its core being a simple dialectic. Politically, he advocated for non-action and governance through non-verbal teachings. In terms of tactics, he emphasized the principle that extreme things tend to reverse. In self-cultivation, he valued humility and contentment, avoiding disputes with others, and was the ancestor of the Taoist practice of dual cultivation of life and destiny. It is said that in his later years, Laozi lectured at Fengtai in Linlitao and ascended to heaven[4].

Laozi's works passed down through the ages include the "Tao Te Ching" (also known as "Laozi"), which is one of the most widely published and distributed texts in the world.