Laozi (Lao Dan / Li Er) – Structured Biography
Laozi (Lao Dan / Li Er) – Structured Biography
老子（老聃 / 李耳）简历
1. 核心身份 / Core Identity
- 中文：道家学派创始人，《道德经》作者
- English: Founder of Dao(Taoism), Author of Tao Te Ching
- 尊称：太上老君、道教始祖
- Titles: “Supreme Lao Jun” (in Taoist religion), “Father of Daoist Philosophy”
2. 生平背景 / Historical Background
- 生卒年：约公元前6世纪（春秋末期）
- Lifespan: c. 6th century BCE (Late Spring & Autumn Period)
- 出生地：楚国苦县（今河南鹿邑）
- Birthplace: Ku County, Chu State (Modern Luyi, Henan, China)
- 职业：周朝守藏室之史（国家图书馆馆长）
- Occupation: Archivist of the Zhou Dynasty Royal Library
3. 主要著作 / Key Work
- 《道德经》（Tao Te Ching）
- 字数：约5,000字
- Length: ~5,000 Chinese characters
- 结构：81章（道经37章 + 德经44章）
- Structure: 81 Chapters (Dao: 37, De: 44)
- 核心思想：道（Dao）、德（De）、无为（Wu Wei）、自然（Ziran）
- Core Concepts: Dao (Way), De (Virtue), Wu Wei (Non-Action), Naturalness
4. 哲学贡献 / Philosophical Contributions
| 领域 / Category | 中文 | English |
|---|---|---|
| 宇宙观 | “道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物” | “Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things” |
| 政治哲学 | “治大国若烹小鲜” | “Governing a large state is like cooking a small fish” |
| 处世智慧 | “上善若水，水善利万物而不争” | “The highest virtue is like water—it benefits all yet competes with none” |
| 辩证法 | “祸兮福之所倚，福兮祸之所伏” | “Disaster is where fortune depends; fortune is where disaster lurks” |
5. 历史影响 / Legacy
- 对中国文化：
- 后世的道教之道与儒家、佛学并称”儒释道”三大传统
- The doctrines of Taoism in later generations are regarded as one of the three major traditions along with Confucianism and Buddhism, collectively known as “Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism（Dao）”.
- 对世界影响：
- 全球译本数量仅次于《圣经》
- Second most translated book after the Bible
- 影响海德格尔、托尔斯泰等西方思想家
- Influenced Heidegger, Tolstoy, and Western philosophers
6. 现代关联 / Modern Relevance
- 应用领域：
- 企业管理（如”无为而治”与领导力）
- Business Management (e.g., Wu Wei in leadership)
- 环境保护（”道法自然”与生态观）
- Environmentalism (“Dao follows Nature” as ecology principle)
- 心理学（正念与道家冥想）
- Psychology (Mindfulness & Taoist meditation)