Lao-Tzu riding upon a water buffalo by Zhang Lu; Ming Dynasty (1368-1664) (Source: Wikipedia)

Lao-Tzu, ‘The Old Master’ was an enigmatic Chinese sage whose wisdom has come down to us in the work entitled, The Tao Te Ching or ‘The Book of the Way and of Virtue’. His ideas, as expressed in this work of short poetic aphorisms, are elusive but contain profound insights about the nature of the universe and how to live in it. 

Who exactly Lao-Tzu was, like many of the other enigmatic founders of religion, is shrouded in myth and legend. This has obviously led many modern scholars to doubt his existence. Indeed many consider him to be merely a legendary figure and the Tao Te Ching, the work of many rather than a single author. Nevertheless, it is to myth and legend we must turn to find out the few details of his life. 

The Lao-Tzu of Legend and History

Henan Province, China (Source: See Below)

According to the Chinese Historian Sima Qian (145/135-86 BC), Lao-Tzu lived in the land of Chu (modern Henan province in China) in the 6th Century BC and was an elderly contemporary of Confucius (551-479 BC). He worked as curator of the royal archives in the city of Luoyang. 

Scholarly Doubt A Modern Fad? 

While many modern scholars consider the above account to be more legend than history, the existence of a myth or legend doesn’t preclude the existence of a historical individual. Myths and legends are made up of complex historical and cultural layers, and often contain, if not the entire truth, at least the germ of it. 

In any case, remarkable people such as Lao-Tzu undoubtedly existed in ancient times even if the documentation to attest their presence is scarce. More generally, scholarly opinion might just be part of a modern fad as Alan Watts notes:

Modern scholarship has questioned both the date and historicity of Lao-Tzu, but it is hard to say whether this is really more than a manifestation of fashion, since there are periodic tendencies to cast doubts on the existence of great sages or to question the hoariness of their antiquity. One recalls similar doubts in connection with Jesus and the Buddha. (Alan Watts, The Way of Zen, p. 13, footnote) 

 

Lao-Tzu’s Tao or Way

Manuscript of Tao Te Ching 2nd century BC (Source: Wikipedia)

The foundational idea in the Tao Te Ching is what Lao-Tzu calls Tao, which is usually translated as ‘Way’ in English. In its simplest form it is defined as meaning a road, path or way. The Chinese character consists of a head that represents ‘knowing’ and another part which mainly denotes “the process of walking” (Blakney). 

In its wider meaning, Tao refers to the way of nature; by nature it includes the natural world — trees, animals, mountains and rivers, but also the earth and the entire universe. It also refers to the way of ultimate Reality or the Absolute. But even for Lao-Tzu, the name Tao is not its real name. He describes the Tao as:

Something mysteriously formed,

Born before heaven and earth.

In the silence and the void,

Standing alone and unchanging,

Ever present and in motion.

Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things.

I do not know its name.

Call it Tao.

For lack of a better word, I call it great. (Ch. 25) 

(Source: Tao Te Ching/Lao-Tsu, translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English, p. 27)

 

According to Lao-Tzu, this Tao operates by the principle of naturalness or spontaneity. In Chinese thought this concept is known as Tzu-Jan meaning;“Naturaly, of itself…what happens of itself.” (See Blakney p.40) 

This may best be exemplified in nature. We see how new buds appear on a plant or tree — seemingly from nowhere — and grow into a new branch or leaf. This process is spontaneous as it occurs without any planning or prompting, and instead simply ‘happens of itself’. In this way, Tao might be thought to ‘happen’ or grow life. 

Lao-Tzu’s Te or Virtue 

The other equally important idea contained in the Tao Te Ching is known as Te, pronounced “deh”. This is usually translated in English as ‘virtue’. The modern meaning this word conveys in English is misleading. Despite Te having a moral dimension, a more accurate meaning would be ‘power’ or ‘excellence’, in the sense of how action is done. To quote Alan Watts:

This is not virtue in the current sense of moral rectitude but in the older sense of effectiveness, as when one speaks of the healing powers of a plant. (Watts, Way of Zen, p. 25)

Confucius Meets The Old-Master

Confucius’ meeting with Lao-Tzu by Shih Kang, Yuan Dynasty. (Source: Wikipedia)

Recorded in the Zhuangzi and other older Chinese sources is an account of a meeting between a young Confucius and an elderly Lao-Tzu. This may be more legend than history, nonetheless, it conveys the  profound sense of awe that Confucius had for ‘The Old Master’ whoever he was. It is recorded thus: 

 

I know a bird can fly, a fish can swim, an animal can run. For that which runs a net can be made; for that which swims a line can be made; for that which flies a corded arrow can be made. But the dragon’s ascent into heaven on the wind and the clouds is something which is beyond my knowledge. Today I have seen Lao Tsu who is perhaps like a dragon.

 

(Source: Quoted in D. C. Lau, Tao Te Ching (Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books, 1963), 8)

Sources:

https://www.ancient.eu/Lao-Tzu/

Blakney, R.B, The Way Of Life – Lao-Tzu: Wisdom of Ancient China, Mentor Book, 1955.

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/laozi/

Tao Te Ching/Lao-Tsu, translated by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English, with introduction and notes by Jacob Needleman, 2nd Ed. Vintage Books Ed. New York, 2012

Watts, Alan, The Way of Zen, New York: Vintage Books, 1989

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi

Henan Province Pic: https://www.britannica.com/place/Henan/Soils