Lao Tzu was a mystic that worked for a time at the Royal Court of the Chou Dynasty. He held the office of 'Shih' which is sometimes translated as 'archivist' because he was in charge of the sacred scriptures. His true function however was that of an astrologer, historian, diviner, and spiritual councilor to those in power. He grew disillusioned by the corruption and greed that pervaded Chang'an (Xi'an) and the Court. He may have also grown frustrated from people not heeding his advice - "My words are very easy to understand and very easy to put into practice. Yet no one under heaven understands them; no one puts them into practice." (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 70) He is often depicted riding on the back of a water buffalo which carried him West when he decided to leave human civilization behind. Before he disappeared he passed through the mountains of Louguantai (pictured above) and was asked by the guardian of the pass to write down his teachings for posterity. Although he had always avoided writing down his beliefs because he didn't want them to become ridgid dogma, he agreed and wrote 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching. In it he calls man to observe 'Wu Wei' or 'non-interference.' " The best charioteers do not rush ahead; The best fighters do not make displays of wrath. The greatest conqueror wins without joining issue; The best user of men acts as though he were their inferior. This is called the power that comes of not contending...' (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 68)
Lao Tzu was a mystic that worked for a time at the Royal Court of the Chou Dynasty. He held the office of 'Shih' which is sometimes translated as 'archivist' because he was in charge of the sacred scriptures. His true function however was that of an astrologer, historian, diviner, and spiritual councilor to those in power. He grew disillusioned by the corruption and greed that pervaded Chang'an (Xi'an) and the Court. He may have also grown frustrated from people not heeding his advice - "My words are very easy to understand and very easy to put into practice. Yet no one under heaven understands them; no one puts them into practice." (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 70) He is often depicted riding on the back of a water buffalo which carried him West when he decided to leave human civilization behind. Before he disappeared he passed through the mountains of Louguantai (pictured above) and was asked by the guardian of the pass to write down his teachings for posterity. Although he had always avoided writing down his beliefs because he didn't want them to become ridgid dogma, he agreed and wrote 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching. In it he calls man to observe 'Wu Wei' or 'non-interference.' " The best charioteers do not rush ahead; The best fighters do not make displays of wrath. The greatest conqueror wins without joining issue; The best user of men acts as though he were their inferior. This is called the power that comes of not contending...' (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 68)
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