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

The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao.

Daodejing 1, translated by James Legge

The journey of a thousand li commenced with a single step.

Daodejing 64, translated by James Legge

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.

Key ideas

The Dao (the Way): The constant Dao cannot be defined or described. It has no name, shape or form and lies beyond the senses, yet it is the inexhaustible source from which heaven and earth are born.
Wu (nonbeing): Because Dao has no form or limits, it cannot be reduced to any particular thing or captured by names. It can only be described as wu, “not having” any of the characteristics of things.
Ziran (naturalness): Literally “self so”. Dao is modelled on nothing but itself, and the ways of nature express it. People, born of heaven and earth, should live and act in accord with nature.
Wuwei (nonaction): Not doing nothing, but acting without self-serving desire. The Laozi traces political disorder to excessive desire, and recommends simplicity and quietude instead.

Tradition: Chinese
Schools: Daoism
Period: Classical Chinese
Themes: What is ultimately real; The good life

Influences

Laozifl. 600–500 BCE

Influenced

Laozifl. 600–500 BCE

Influenced

Where these links come from

Han Fei drew on Laozi. Source: Yuri Pines, Legalism in Chinese Philosophy, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Wang Chong drew on and argued against Laozi. Source: Alexus McLeod, Wang Chong (Wang Ch’ung), Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Wang Bi drew on Laozi. Source: Ronnie Littlejohn, Wang Bi (Wang Pi), Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Key works

Daodejing (Laozi)
- Read free at Standard Ebooks (translated by James Legge)

Sources

Alan Chan, Laozi, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy