Ancient China · Philosopher

Laozi 老子

Attested BC 500

Passages: 2
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Laozi was a Philosopher.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 500 老聃有遺言
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passage 150

Works and attributed material

two chapters on emptiness 虛無之言兩篇
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passage 216

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 2 passages

老聃有遺言，貴知我者希，此非其操與！」 Laozi said those who understand you are few—was he not describing the same calling?"

昔老聃著虛無之言兩篇，薄仁義，非禮學，然後世好之者尚以為過於《五經》，自漢文、景之君及司馬遷皆有是言。 Laozi wrote two brief texts that spurned benevolence, right, and ritual learning—yet later admirers ranked them above the Five Classics. Emperors Wen and Jing of Han, and Sima Qian, said as much.