Who is Lao Tse

Lao Tse, literally translated, means "Venerable Master". It can also be traslated "Old Boy" or "Old Master".

Other spelling variations are Laozi, Lao Tsu, Laotze, Lao Zi, and Lão Tzu.

This term is a honorary title, not the actual birth name of the renowned philosopher.

Lao Tse is traditionally known as the author of the Tao Te Ching.

Tao means "The way"
Te means "virtue"
Ching means "text" or "classic"

Lao Tse is considered a god in the Taoist religion, but it is unlikely that he actually established Taoism. It probably was created later, based on the book, the Tao Te Ching, which is attributed to Lao Tse.

According to some, Lao Tse lived in central China in the 5th century BC. He is said to have been about twenty years older than Confucious, and 100 years older than Socrates.

Unfortunately there's no proof Lao Tse ever lived. Though some say he wrote the Tao Te Ching's 5000 characters in only a few days during a burst of inspiration, others say the verses were compiled from the wisdom-sayings of many different authors.

In "The Records of the Grand Historian" there are three stories about Lao Tse. The Grand Historian was Sima Quian (145-86 BC).

Story #1: Lao Tse was a contemporary of Confucious (551-479 BC). He worked in the imperial archives and wrote a book in two parts before leaving to travel west. His given name was Li Er (Plum Ear). After death he was called Li Dan (Plum Long Ear).

Story #2: Called "Old Come Master," Lao Tse wrote a book in 15 parts. Same time period.

Story #3: Lao Tse was identified as Lao Dan (Old Long Ear) a historian and astrologer who lived from 384-362 BC.

1. He was conceived when his mother saw a falling star.

2. He was in his mother's womb for sixty-two, sixty-six, or eighty-one years (legends vary a lot).

3. He was born when his mother leaned against a plum tree.

4. When he was born he was already a fully grown man with a full gray beard and long earlobes (a symbol of wisdom and long life.)

5. He's been reborn in thirteen incarnations.

6. He lived to be either 200 or 990 years old depending on who you want to believe.

1. He worked as an archivist in the royal court of Chou in Loyang, Honan province.

2. He had a following of disciples.

3. Confucious consulted Lao Tse about rituals. Lao Tse was twenty years older than Confucious. Chuangtse, said to be the most prominent of Lao Tse's disciples, wrote about these meetings. (Others say Chuangtse lived 200 years after Lao Tse and made him up.) There is also an obscure reference in a Confucian text called the Liki.

4. Lao Tse was married and had a son.

5. His son, Zong, became a soldier.

6. Lao Tse was unhappy with the decline of his civilization and moral decay in the city, so he left to travel west and become a hermit. When he tried to leave the city the sentry asked him to write down his wisdom and this is the origin of the Tao Te Ching.

7. He traveled to India to reveal the Tao.

8. Lao Tse was the teacher of The Buddha.

Yes, besides "Venerable Master"...

During the Tang Dynasty Lao Tse was given the title of Taishang xuanyuan huangdi which means "Supreme Mysterious and Primordial Emperor".

Taoists call him Taishang Laojun meaning "One of the three pure ones."

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