Lao Tse
Ancient Chinese sage
Lao Tse is an alternate spelling of Laozi, the ancient Chinese philosopher traditionally credited as the founder of Taoism and author of the *Tao Te Ching*.
The name means "Old Master." Whether Laozi was a historical figure or a legendary composite remains debated.
Various romanizations exist: Lao Tzu, Lao-Tze, Laotse.
Ancient wisdom text on virtue
- yin and yangOpposing yet interdependent principles
- Three TreasuresTaoist vital essences trio
- naturalnessUnaffected, uncontrived quality
- emptinessAbsence of substance
spontaneity · simplicity · humility · softness · water · valley · immortality
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
- aphorismTerse general truth
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
metaphysics · cosmology · duality · harmony · balance · unity · opposites · relativism
East Asian historical civilization
- Warring StatesEra of competing Chinese kingdoms
- ConfuciusAncient Chinese ethical teacher
- legendaryFamous beyond ordinary measure
- archivistKeeper of historical documents
court · scrolls · oral tradition · Laozi
Meditative Buddhist school
- BuddhismEnlightenment-seeking Eastern religion
- feng shuiChinese placement philosophy
- martial artsCodified fighting systems
- Chinese medicineTraditional Asian healing system
acupuncture · tai chi · qigong · meditation · monasticism · temple · hermit · recluse
Tao Te Ching
Ancient wisdom text on virtue
- yin and yangOpposing yet interdependent principles
- Three TreasuresTaoist vital essences trio
- naturalnessUnaffected, uncontrived quality
emptiness · spontaneity · simplicity · humility · softness · water · valley · immortality
sage
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
ethics · metaphysics · cosmology · duality · harmony · balance · unity · opposites · relativism · mysticism
ancient China
East Asian historical civilization
- Warring StatesEra of competing Chinese kingdoms
- ConfuciusAncient Chinese ethical teacher
- legendaryFamous beyond ordinary measure
archivist · court · scrolls · oral tradition · Laozi
Zen
Meditative Buddhist school
- BuddhismEnlightenment-seeking Eastern religion
- feng shuiChinese placement philosophy
- martial artsCodified fighting systems
Chinese medicine · acupuncture · tai chi · qigong · meditation · monasticism · temple · hermit · recluse · counterculture
Lao TseAristotle
Greek founder of formal logic
Aquinas · Descartes · Hegel · Francis Bacon · rationalist
Lao TseMachiavelli
Political realism's founding theorist
Genghis Khan · Alexander the Great · Napoleon · Thomas Hobbes