Lao Tzu Page
  • Biography

Lao Tzu - Biographical Note

Lao Tzu is a mysterious character if we consider the persisting uncertainties concerning his real existence, the period of his life, the virtues which the mystical Taoists endowed him with.

Not even Ssu'ma Ch'ien, who was writing his Historical Records around 100 BCE, had any precise information about the biography of the famous philosopher. He noted laconically:

    Lao Tzu was a man from the Qu Ren village, Li district, Ku Prefecture from Chu Land. His family surname was Li, his first name was Er, his nickname was Dan.

Confucius met Lao Tzu
As Max Kaltenmark shows with good reason, even the names the philosopher wore are not certain. The two of them, Er and Tan, which mean "ears" and, respectively, "long ears", are related to longevity and wisdom, the wise old men being represented with long years. More, in the ancient writings, these names are not found, but the name Lao Tzu which means the old or venerable wise man.

According to some traditions, Lao Tzu would have lived for about 160 - 200 years, the nickname he was given being caused by this.

  • Career

Lao Tzu's career, as it results from Ssu'ma Ch'ien's records, could be restricted at three significant moments:

- He seemed to be an archivist at the Royal Court of Chou dynasty;
- He was supposed to be visited by Confucius with whom he discussed about the rites;
- Disgusted at the Court's life he would have left to West, and he would have dictated  his book - Tao Te Ching - and would have disappeared without a trace.

  • Philosophy

The philosophy of Lao Tzu seems very encrypted if we read his book. It is based on his concept of the Tao, which is the creator and sustainer of all things in the Universe, and the practice of nondoing (wu-wei) that enables the disciple to unite with the Tao. As Ssu'ma Ch'ien would have say: Lao Tzu preached the retreat from this world, a life without any interest for the achievements of the world.

  • Lao Tzu and Western Culture

It is difficult to translate the philosophical concepts of Lao Tzu in our familiar concepts and idea. The reason is that nothing in our Western culture fits the Taoist view on the Universe and man. This is why one finds many interpretations and explanations of his concepts that basically resembles the Christian philosophy and ethics.

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