Laozi: Unraveling the Legend of Daoism's Founder

This video explores the life and legacy of Laozi (Lao Tzu), the legendary founder of Daoism, reputed author of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), teacher of Confucius, and spiritual influence on Zhuangzi. It examines the traditional account from Sima Qian's Shiji (94 BCE) alongside alternative scholarly perspectives from thinkers like A.C. Graham and D.C. Lau. Through these narratives, the video traces the evolution of Laozi’s legend and how he came to be regarded as a philosopher-sage by the early Han dynasty.