Laozi (from 6 BC to 47 BC), whose surname is Li Ming 'er and the word is Bo Yang, is said to have white eyebrows and a beard when he was born, so he was called Laozi by later generations.
China, a thinker in the Spring and Autumn Period, was born in Qurenli, Lixiang, Kuxian, Chu. He was a great philosopher and thinker in ancient China and a founder of the Taoist school. He was later named an old gentleman in the Tang Dynasty, a world cultural celebrity, and one of the world's 1 historical celebrities. He has the Classic of Tao Te Ching (also known as Lao Zi). The essence of his works is simple dialectical method, which advocates inaction, and his theory has a profound influence on the development of China's philosophy.
In Taoism, Laozi is the 18th incarnation of the Taishang Laojun, one of the deities in Sanqing, and is honored as the Taoist ancestor.
Introduction to Laozi
Laozi, also known as Lao Dan and Li Er, was a great philosopher and thinker in ancient China and the founder of Taoism. He was later named an old gentleman in the Imperial Palace by Emperor Wu of the Tang Dynasty, a world cultural celebrity, and one of the world's 1 historical celebrities. He has the Classic of Tao Te Ching (also known as Laozi). The essence of his works is simple dialectical method, which advocates inaction and governance. His theory has a profound impact on the development of China's philosophy. In Taoism, Laozi is revered as the Taoist ancestor.
Lao Dan (dān) (about 571-471), the word Bo Yang, posthumous title Yong. Also known as Li Er (in ancient times, "Lao" and "Li" were homonyms; "Stigma" and "ear" are synonymous). Qu Renli, Lixiang Township, Kuxian County, Chu State (this place was originally the state of Chen, which was sealed in the Western Zhou Dynasty, but now it is disputed in Luyi, Henan Province and Guoyang, Anhui Province). One of the greatest philosophers and homesicks in China, he is respected by Taoism as the ancestor and a world cultural celebrity.
Historical Records: The Third Biography of Lao Zi and Han Fei: "Lao Zi was born in Qurenli, Lixiang, Chuku County. The surname is Li, the first name is Er, and the word is Bo Yang. The history of Zhou Shouzang's room is also. " Press: Inscription of Laozi by Bian Shao in the Eastern Han Dynasty: "Laozi, surnamed Li, whose name is Bo Yang, is also from Chuxiang County. ..... Xiangxian County is empty and barren, and now it is bitter, so the old city is still there. It is in the east of Laixiang, and the vortex is in the sun. " Notes on Water Classics (Volume 23): "Vortex water bends to the east again, and Jingxiang County is therefore south of the city." In the first year of Yongxing, Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he ordered the monument erected by Fu Wang in Changsha to say, "I was born in the vortex." Cao Pi's "Ode to the Vortex" mentioned the curved vortex: "The shade is high and the trees are facing the curved vortex, and the breeze rises and the water increases the waves." Jin Gehong's Biography of Immortals contains "(Lao Zi) is pregnant with a big meteor." "Ming Yi Tong Zhi" contains: "Meteor Garden, in the south of Tianjing Palace in Bozhou, inscribed with a cloud: A star suddenly flows in the garden, so I was born, and that's it. There is the Temple of Notre Dame in Yuan Dynasty, and the site still exists. Laozi lived in the Spring and Autumn Period, and once served as a Tibetan room in Luoyi, the capital of Zhou Dynasty. He was knowledgeable and versatile, and Confucius asked Laozi when he traveled around the world. In his later years, Lao Zi traveled to the west by a green ox, and wrote a 5,-word Tao Te Ching (also known as the True Classic of Morality or Lao Zi or Lao Zi's 5, Articles) in Hanguguan. According to legend, Lao Tzu attuned Yin Xi, the company commander of Hanguguan. After the first road, I went west to Kun-wo, where I saw the mountains and rivers (Tianyu River in Zhongnanshan) and the peaks and hills rolling, so I stopped here and made grass for the building to practice and say the scriptures. It has been known as Louguantai since it was passed down to this day. It is the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units, a national AAAA-level tourist scenic spot, and contains more than 3 ink tablets of literati and poets in past dynasties. History is called the birthplace of Taoism. After his death, Lao Tzu was buried in Xilouguan, eight kilometers away from here, and the existing Lao Tzu's tomb.
Some dialectical materialists think that Tao Te Ching contains rich dialectical thoughts. Laozi's philosophy and ancient Greek philosophy together constitute the two sources of human philosophy, and Laozi is honored as the "father of China's philosophy" because of his profound philosophical thoughts. Laozi's thought was passed down by Zhuangzi, and together with Confucianism and later Buddhism, it constituted the core of China's traditional thought and culture. After the appearance of Taoism, Laozi was honored as "the old gentleman on the throne", and Taoism called him the eighteenth incarnation of the old gentleman on the throne; Since the biography of the immortals, Laozi has been honored as a fairy. There are more than 1 foreign versions of Tao Te Ching, which is the most translated book in China.
Laozi's ideological proposition is "inaction", and his ideal political realm is "neighboring countries face each other, and the voices of chickens and dogs hear each other, and the people will not interact with each other until they die." Laozi explains the evolution of everything in the universe with Tao, which is an objective natural law, and at the same time has the eternal significance of "independence without change < P >, walking around without danger". The book Laozi contains a lot of simple dialectical viewpoints, such as thinking that everything has two sides, "the movement of the Tao" and can be transformed from opposition, "the positive is strange, the good is evil" and "the misfortune is blessed, and the misfortune is hidden". He also thinks that everything in the world is the unity of "existence" and "nothingness", and "existence and nothingness" is the basis, and "everything in the world is born of existence and born of nothingness". "The way of heaven, the loss is more than enough to make up for it, but the way of man is not, and the loss is not enough to make up for it"; "The hunger of the people is as much as the food tax"; "The people die lightly, but they survive on it"; "people fear not death, why are you afraid of death?" . His theory has a profound influence on the development of China's philosophy, and its content is mainly seen in the book Laozi. His philosophical thoughts and the Taoist school founded by him not only made important contributions to the development of ancient Chinese ideology and culture, but also had a far-reaching impact on the development of Chinese ideology and culture for more than 2, years. Some people think that Lao Laizi is also a native of Chu. At the same time as Confucius, he wrote 15 books to promote Taoism. Others believe that it was Zhou Taishi (dān), who lived more than 1 years after the death of Confucius. Sima Qian, a famous historian, explained in his Biographies of Laozi and Han Fei in Historical Records that there were two kinds of speculations about Laozi at that time. "Or: Lao Laizi is also Lao Laizi, writing 15 books, which are used by Taoism and are at the same time as Confucius." At that time, Sima Qian also suspected that Lao Tzu was Lao Laizi.
major works
Lao Zi wrote a book of Lao Zi with 5, words, also known as Tao Te Ching or Moral Truth Ching, before going out to Hangu Pass. Tao Te Ching, The Book of Changes and The Analects of Confucius are considered to be the three masterpieces with the most profound influence on China people. Tao Te Ching is divided into two volumes, 81 chapters, the first 37 chapters are the first one, and the next 38 chapters are the next one. The ideological structure of the book is: Tao is the "body" of virtue, and virtue is the "use" of Tao. The full text is about 5, words.
Tao Te Ching was later named. At first, this book was called Laozi without the name of Tao Te Ching. The date of its completion was controversial in the past, and it is still uncertain. However, according to the "Laozi" date of Guodian Chu bamboo slips unearthed in 1993, the date of its completion was at least in the middle and early Warring States period. For the collation of Laozi on Chu bamboo slips, see Sixin Ding's Collation of Laozi on Bamboo Slips in Guodian.
Laozi explains the evolution of all things in the universe with Tao, thinking that "Tao gives birth to one, two, three and three things", and "Tao" is "the husband's life (command) is always natural", so "man should follow the earth, the earth should follow the heaven, the heaven should follow the Tao, and the Tao should be natural". In addition to the simple materialistic viewpoint, the book Laozi also includes a lot of simple dialectical viewpoints, such as thinking that everything has two sides, "opposing the movement of Tao" and can be transformed from opposition. In addition, there are a lot of people-oriented thoughts in the book: "The Tao of heaven is more than enough to make up for it, while the Tao of man is not, and the loss is not enough to serve it"; "The hunger of the people is as much as the food tax"; "The people die lightly, but they survive on it"; "people fear not death, why fear death". His theory has a profound influence on the development of China's philosophy.
classic sayings
1. Tao can be Tao, but it is extraordinary. The name can be named, very famous. The beginning of the nameless world; Famous mother of all things.
2. The whole world knows that beauty is beauty, and it is evil. It is well known that good is good, but not good.
3. Whether or not they are related to each other, the difficulty and difficulty complement each other, the length and length are in phase, the high and low compete with each other, and the sound and sound are in harmony. Tsuneya
4. No Shang Xian, so that the people do not dispute; Expensive and rare goods, so that people do not steal; If you can't see what you want, you won't be chaotic. It is ruled by saints, which can empty their hearts, strengthen their bellies, weaken their aspirations and strengthen their bones. Often make people ignorant and have no desire. Make a wise man dare not do it. If you do nothing, you will die.
5. Heaven and earth are heartless, taking everything as a straw dog; Saints are heartless and treat the people like pigs.
6. it's better to keep the center than to talk too much and count too little.
7. The immortal Gu Shen is called Xuanzang. The door of Xuanzang is the root of heaven and earth. If it is continuous, it is not used frequently.
8. Forever. If heaven and earth can be long and long, they can live forever because they are not born by themselves. It is based on the sage and the body first; Live outside your body. Not because of its selfless evil? Therefore, it can be private.
9. Good is like water. Water is good for all things without arguing, and it is evil for everyone, so it is a few words.
1. live in a good place, have a good heart, be kind and benevolent, speak with good faith, govern well, do good things with good abilities, and make good use of good times. The husband is only indisputable, so there is nothing special.
11. It is better to be profitable than to have it; If you are sharp, you can't keep it for a long time. Happy ever after, Mo can keep it; Rich and arrogant, self-blame. When you retire, the way of heaven is also.
12. 3 spokes, * * * a hub, when it is not, there is a car. Think of it as a device, when it is nothing, it is useful. Chisel the household as a room, when it has nothing, it has a room. Therefore, it is beneficial to think about it, but useless to think about it.
13. Five colors make people blind; Five tones are deaf; The five flavors are refreshing; Galloping and hunting makes people crazy; Rare goods are a hindrance. It's a saint's stomach, not his eyes, so go to another place to take this.
14. If you are humiliated, you will suffer greatly.
15. Too high, I don't know; Secondly, the pro-reputation; Second, fear it; Secondly, insult it. I don't believe enough, but I don't believe enough.
16. The avenue is abandoned, with benevolence and righteousness; Wisdom comes out with great falsehood; Six parents are not harmonious and have filial piety; The country is in a daze, and there are loyal ministers.
17. Abandoning wisdom and wisdom will benefit the people a hundred times; Desperate to abandon righteousness, the people are filial; Never give up profits, thieves have nothing. These three ideas are not enough. Therefore, the order belongs to you: be simple, think less, and have no worries about learning.
18. people are afraid, so we must not be afraid.
19. laity is obvious, but I am alone. The laity observes, and I am bored alone.
2. Qu is complete, waste is straight, depression is surplus, we are new, less is more, and more is confusing.
21. It's a world style that saints embrace one. Do not see yourself, so be clear; It is not self-evident, so it is obvious; If you don't cut yourself, you have merit; Not proud, so long. The husband is only indisputable, so the world can't compete with it.
22. Hope is natural. Therefore, the wind does not end, and the shower does not last all day.
23. The enterprise is not established; Not across; The person who sees himself is unknown; Naturally, it is not obvious; Self-cutting is reactive; He who is proud of himself is not long.
24. Things are mixed and born naturally. Lonely and lonely, independent but not changed, walking around without danger, can be the mother of heaven and earth I don't know its name. It's a strong word for Tao, and it's a strong name for Da. Great is death, death is far away, and far is opposite.
25. The old road is big, the sky is big, the land is big, and the people are big. There are four big ones in the domain, and one of them is human habitation.
26. Man follows the land, the land follows the heaven, the heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature.
27. Pay attention to the root, and be calm and impetuous. If you are light, you will lose your roots, and if you are impetuous, you will lose your monarch.
28. If things are strong, they will grow old. It is said that there is no way, and there is no way.
29. A soldier is an ominous instrument, a thing or an evil one, so there is no place for someone who has a way.