Tao Te Ching

Originally titled *Laozi*, the text known as the *Tao Te Ching* was organized into its current form by Heshang Gong of the Han Dynasty, who divided it into 37 chapters of the *Tao Ching* and 44 chapters of the *Te Ching*. The work is attributed to Laozi—also called Lao Dan, with the personal name Li Er—a native of the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period. A renowned thinker of ancient China, Laozi is regarded as the founder of the Taoist school. He lived in the same era as Confucius but was older. Laozi once held the position of keeper of the Zhou royal library. According to tradition, he composed the *Tao Te Ching* while retiring into seclusion; at Hangu Pass, the guard Yin Xi requested his teachings, prompting Laozi to leave behind the text. The *Tao Te Ching* is a foundational work in Chinese traditional culture and the first complete philosophical treatise in China. Though it consists of only about five thousand characters, its meaning is dense, with precise wording and insight in every line. Its content spans fields such as politics, military strategy, ethics, science, and religion.