Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu (also known as Laozi or Lao-Tze) was a legendary Chinese philosopher credited with founding Taoism and authoring the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing), a foundational text of the philosophical and spiritual tradition. He is said to have served as a keeper of archival records at the Zhou court in the 6th century BCE before retiring to seclusion, though modern scholarship suggests his biographical details are likely later inventions and the Tao Te Ching was likely a collaborative work.