Tse, Lao

Lao Tse (c. 6th century BCE) was a philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi). His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of philosophical Taoism (pronounced as "Daoism"). He is also revered as a deity in most religious forms of Taoist philosophy, which often refers to Laozi as Taishang Laojun, or "One of the Three Pure Ones." According to Chinese traditions, Laozi lived in the 6th century BCE. Some historians contend that he actually lived in the 5th-4th century BCE, concurren...