Laozi (/ˈlaʊdzə/, Chinese: 老子), also romanized as Lao Tzu and various other ways, was a semi-legendary ancient Chinese philosopher, author of the Tao Te Ching, the foundational text of Taoism along with the Zhuangzi. Laozi is a Chinese honorific, typically translated as "the Old Master". Modern scholarship generally regards his biographical details as invented, and his opus a collaboration. Traditional accounts say he was born as Li Er in the state of Chu in the 6th century BC during China's Spring and Autumn period, served as the royal archivist for the Zhou court at Wangcheng (in modern Luoyang), met and impressed Confucius on one occasion, and composed the Tao Te Ching in a single session before retiring into the western wilderness.
The Tao Te Ching[note 1] (traditional Chinese: 道德經; simplified Chinese: 道德经) is a Chinese classic text and foundational work of Taoism traditionally credited to the sage Laozi,[7][8] though the text's authorship, date of composition and date of compilation are debated.[9] The oldest excavated portion dates to the late 4th century BCE,[10] but modern scholarship dates other parts of the text as having been written—or at least compiled—later than the earliest portions of the Zhuangzi.[11]
The Tao Te Ching is central to both philosophical and religious conceptions of Taoism, and has had great influence beyond Taoism as such on Chinese philosophy and religious practice throughout history. Terminology originating in the Tao Te Ching has been reinterpreted and elaborated upon by Legalist thinkers, Confucianists, and particularly Chinese Buddhists, which had been introduced to China significantly after the initial solidification of Taoist thought. It is comparatively well known in the West, and one of the most translated texts in world literature.[10]
Kong Qiu (孔丘), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages, as well as the first teacher in China to advocate for mass education. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the philosophy and teachings of Confucius.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius#cite_note-1">[1]</a> His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, harmonious social relationships, righteousness,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius#cite_note-:0-2">[2]</a> kindness, sincerity, and a ruler's responsibilities to lead by virtue.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius#cite_note-3">[3]</a>
Which historians do you mean? I've heard cases made both for and against the historicity of both figures, though it is certainly true that the corpus of historical references to Confucius are more extensive and less contradictory.Why do historians think that Confucius was an actual historical person, whereas his alleged contemporary and acquaintance Lao Zi (supposed founder of Taoism) was likely a myth?
Is that a confession?'Those who know do not speak, those who speak do not know'.
Rodin would kick both of their asses.Confucius has the weight and reach, but Lao Zi has a mean left hook and better footwork.
Way back when I was drifting through different things as wee many in the day I interpreted Lao in the context of who the early Taoists were.Is that a confession?'Those who know do not speak, those who speak do not know'.
I'm sure it cheers them up.I have friends who have memorized that.
Shallow pond or super strong lungs. I learned that breathing through a tube is only viable for a depth of a foot or two, back when it seemed like a little length of hose should let me breathe underwater. Of course it just tried to drown me by sucking all the air out of my lungs at about 6’ down.One Taoist lked to get drunk, lay on the bottom of a pand with a stonee on his chest, breathng through a tube.
Sounds like you let the pressure get to you.Shallow pond or super strong lungs. I learned that breathing through a tube is only viable for a depth of a foot or two, back when it seemed like a little length of hose should let me breathe underwater. Of course it just tried to drown me by sucking all the air out of my lungs at about 6’ down.One Taoist lked to get drunk, lay on the bottom of a pand with a stonee on his chest, breathng through a tube.
So Tsu me.Sounds like you let the pressure get to you
Now I don't blame him 'cause he run and hid,So Tsu me.Sounds like you let the pressure get to you
Well, the aforementioned Wikipedia is as a good a place to start as any. It questions the historicity of Laozi, but not of Confucius.Which historians do you mean? I've heard cases made both for and against the historicity of both figures, though it is certainly true that the corpus of historical references to Confucius are more extensive and less contradictory.Why do historians think that Confucius was an actual historical person, whereas his alleged contemporary and acquaintance Lao Zi (supposed founder of Taoism) was likely a myth?
It is not something you can answer for yourself from a web page. Read books on Confucius and Lao by historians. Historians do not always agree, it can take reading multiple books to build an image.Well, the aforementioned Wikipedia is as a good a place to start as any. It questions the historicity of Laozi, but not of Confucius.Which historians do you mean? I've heard cases made both for and against the historicity of both figures, though it is certainly true that the corpus of historical references to Confucius are more extensive and less contradictory.Why do historians think that Confucius was an actual historical person, whereas his alleged contemporary and acquaintance Lao Zi (supposed founder of Taoism) was likely a myth?
Isn't Buddha the one the Roman Catholics accidentally thought was a Christian and made a saint?He left a fo0tprint as did the Greek philosophers. I read a book on Confucius. I read the Tao Te Ching the and the I Ching back in the day.
Why are Plato and Aristotle credible historical figures?
Who Buddha was is not known there are anecdotal stories.