About Lao Tzu
Laozi, also known as Lao Tzu, is a legendary Chinese philosopher traditionally said to have written the Tao Te Ching and to have served as a royal archivist for the Zhou court at Wangcheng. Traditional stories name him Li Er, born in the state of Chu during the 6th‑century BC Spring and Autumn period, and claim he once met Confucius. Modern scholars note that his biography may be later invention and that the name Laozi, meaning ‘Old Master’, could have been used to give an anonymous voice to a group of writers. He is said to have composed the Dào Dé Jīng in a single session before retiring to the western wilderness.
