Laozi's surname was Li and his given name was Er, courtesy name Boyang. He was a native of Chen. He was born during the Yin dynasty and at that time served as a historian under the Zhou dynasty. He liked cultivating vital energy, valuing receptivity without giving. He was later transferred to become the Keeper of Records. He held this position for more than eighty years. The Records of the Grand Historian states: "After more than two hundred years, he was known as a reclusive gentleman and posthumously honored with the title Dan." Zhongni went to Zhou to meet Laozi. Recognizing him as a sage, he took him as his teacher. Later, when the virtue of the Zhou dynasty declined, he rode in a blue ox cart and departed, entering Daqin. Passing through Hangu Pass, the pass commander Yin Xi received and welcomed him. Knowing he was a true sage, Yin Xi strongly requested that he write a book, resulting in the composition of two volumes of the Tao Te Ching.

Laozi practiced non-action (wuwei), yet there was nothing he did not accomplish. The Dao gives rise to life and death; its manifestations enter the realm of the spiritual and wondrous. Seal the orifices, cultivate inner clarity; transcend mortal limits by submerging one's spirit. When virtue unites with primordial energy, longevity is equal to that of Heaven and Earth.