Lao Zi, whose real name is Li Minger, whose name is Bo Yang, or Shu Bo Yang, was born in the late Spring and Autumn Period, and his date of birth and death is unknown. According to "Historical Records" and many other ancient books, Laozi was a native of Guxian in the Spring and Autumn Period, but after his death, Guxian belonged to Chu in the Warring States Period and Chu in the Han Dynasty. China, an ancient thinker, philosopher, writer, historian, founder and main representative of Taoist school, was later revered as the ancestor of Taoism, and was called "Mr. Throne". In the Tang Dynasty, he was regarded as the ancestor of Li.

Laozi served as a Tibetan shepherd in the Zhou Dynasty and was famous for his erudition. Once, Confucius went to see Zhou and asked him for a gift. At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, the world was in chaos, and Lao Tzu wanted to abandon his official position and retire, so he rode a green cow westward. When I arrived at Hangu Pass, I was invited by Yin, the Commissioner of Customs, to write the Tao Te Ching.

Laozi's thought has a far-reaching influence on the development of China's philosophy, and its ideological core is simple dialectics. Politically, it advocates teaching by doing nothing and teaching without words. Politically, pay attention to the truth that extremes meet. In the aspect of self-cultivation, paying attention to the practice of modesty and sincerity without competing with others is the ancestor of Taoist double cultivation.

Laozi's influence on the world

Laozi's works and thoughts have become the precious wealth of the world historical and cultural heritage. The influence of Laozi's thought is unparalleled not only in Taoism, but also far-reaching outside Taoism. Its influence not only includes philosophy, religion, politics, economics, sociology, aesthetics, ethics, literature and art, psychology, education, logic and rhetoric, but also involves many fields such as medicine, health preservation, qigong, military affairs, management, architecture and gardening.

As early as18th century, some western countries had many versions of Laozi. By the forties and fifties of the 20th century, there were more than 60 translations of Tao Te Ching in Europe, and world-renowned scholars such as German philosopher Hegel, Nietzsche and Russian great writer Tolstoy had made in-depth research on Tao Te Ching, and all of them had monographs or monographs.

Laozi is one of the three great saints in the East in the eyes of westerners. After Jaspers put forward the theory of "axial period", Socrates, Buddha, Confucius and Jesus were listed as "creators of thought paradigm" and Laozi as "original metaphysics" in the book The Great Philosopher. Laozi's thought has already broken through national boundaries and become the spiritual wealth of all mankind.

Reference to the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-Laozi