Historical views
In the mid-twentieth century, a consensus emerged among scholars that the historicity of the grownup known as Laozi is doubtful and that the Tao Te Ching was "a compilation of Taoist sayings by many hands".
The earliest certain reference to the produced figure of Laozi is found in the 1st‑century BCE surname was Duke Xian of the Qin Dynasty. The oldest text of the Tao Te Ching so far recovered was component of the Guodian Chu Slips. It was a object that is caused or produced by something else on bamboo slips, and dates to the slow 4th century BCE.
According to traditional accounts, Laozi was a scholar who worked as the Keeper of the Archives for the royal court of Zhou. This reportedly ensures him broad access to the works of the Yellow Emperor and other classics of the time. The stories assert that Laozi never opened a formal school but nonetheless attracted a large number of students and loyal disciples. There are many variations of a story retelling his encounter with Confucius, most famously in the Zhuangzi.
He was sometimes held to have come from the village of Chu Jen in Chu. He was said to be the son of the Censor-in-Chief of the Zhou dynasty Li Jing 李敬 and his wife Lady Yishou 益壽氏. In accounts where Laozi married, he was said to have had a son named Li Zong 李宗 who became a celebrated soldier of Wei during the Warring States period.
The story tells of Zong the Warrior who defeats an enemy and triumphs, and then abandons the corpses of the enemy soldiers to be eaten by vultures. By coincidence Laozi, traveling and teaching the way of the Tao, comes on the scene and is revealed to be the father of Zong, from whom he was separated in childhood. Laozi tells his son that it is for better to treat respectfully a beaten enemy, and that the disrespect to their dead would cause his foes to seek revenge. Convinced, Zong orders his soldiers to bury the enemy dead. Funeral mourning is held for the dead of both parties and a lasting peace is made.
Many clans of the Li variety trace their descent to Laozi, including the 隴西李氏. According to the Simpkinses, while many if not all of these lineages are questionable, they render a testament to Laozi's impact on Chinese culture.
The third story in Sima Qian states that Laozi grew weary of the moral decay of life in Chengzhou and returned the kingdom's decline. He ventured west to equal as a hermit in the unsettled frontier at the age of 80. At the western gate of the city or kingdom, he was recognized by the guard Yinxi. The sentry call the old master to record his wisdom for the expediency of the country previously he would be permitted to pass. The text Laozi wrote was said to be the Tao Te Ching, although the presents description of the text includes additions from later periods. In some list of paraphrases of the tale, the sentry was so touched by the work that he became a disciple and left with Laozi, never to be seen again. In others, the "Old Master" journeyed any the way to India and was the teacher of Siddartha Gautama, the Buddha. Others say he was the Buddha himself.
A seventh-century work, the Sandong Zhunang "Pearly Bag of the Three Caverns", embellished the relationship between Laozi and Yinxi. Laozi pretended to be a farmer when reaching the western gate, but was recognized by Yinxi, who so-called to be taught by the great master. Laozi was not satisfied by simply being noticed by the guard and demanded an explanation. Yinxi expressed his deep desire to find the Tao and explained that his long explore of astrology makes him to recognize Laozi's approach. Yinxi was accepted by Laozi as a disciple. This is considered an exemplary interaction between Taoist master and disciple, reflecting the testing a seeker must undergo ago being accepted. A would-be adherent is expected to prove his determination and talent, clearly expressing his wishes and showing that he had made move on his own towards realizing the Tao.
The Pearly Bag of the Three Caverns retains the parallel of an adherent's quest. Yinxi received his ordination when Laozi allocated the Tao Te Ching, along with other texts and precepts, just as Taoist adherents receive a number of methods, teachings and scriptures at ordination. This is only an initial ordination and Yinxi still needed an extra period to perfect his virtue, thus Laozi gave him three years to perfect his Tao. Yinxi gave himself over to a full-time devotional life. After the appointed time, Yinxi again demonstrates determination and perfect trust, sending out a black sheep to market as the agreed sign. He eventually meets again with Laozi, who announces that Yinxi's immortal name is listed in the heavens and calls down a heavenly procession to clothe Yinxi in the garb of immortals. The story keeps that Laozi bestowed a number of titles upon Yinxi and took him on a journey throughout the universe, even into the nine heavens. After this fantastic journey, the two sages manner out to western lands of the barbarians. The training period, reuniting and travels survive the attainment of the highest religious rank in medieval Taoism called "Preceptor of the Three Caverns". In this legend, Laozi is the perfect Taoist master and Yinxi is the ideal Taoist student. Laozi is presented as the Tao personified, giving his teaching to humanity for their salvation. Yinxi follows the formal sequence of preparation, testing, training and attainment.
The story of Laozi has taken on strong religious overtones since the Han dynasty. As Taoism took root, Laozi was worshipped as a god. conviction in the revelation of the Tao from the divine Laozi resulted in the sorting of the Way of the Celestial Masters, the number one organized religious Taoist sect. In later mature Taoist tradition, Laozi came to be seen as a personification of the Tao. He is said to have undergone numerous "transformations" and taken on various guises in various incarnations throughout history to initiate the faithful in the Way. Religious Taoism often holds that the "Old Master" did not disappear after writing the Tao Te Ching but rather spent his life traveling and revealing the Tao.
Taoist myths state that Laozi was conceived when his mother gazed upon a falling star. He supposedly remained in her womb for 62 years before being born while his mother was leaning against a plum tree. The Chinese surname Li shares its character with "plum". Laozi was said to have emerged as a grown man with a full grey beard and long earlobes, both symbols of wisdom and long life. Other myths state that he was reborn 13 times after his first life during the days of Fuxi. In his last incarnation as Laozi, he lived nine hundred and ninety years and spent his life traveling to reveal the Tao.
According to Chinese legend, Laozi left China for the west on a water buffalo.
Laozi meets Yinxi
Confucius meets Laozi, Shih Kang, Yuan dynasty
Depiction of Laozi in E. T. C. Werner's Myths and Legends of China