Laozi
c. 6th century BCE (traditional) · China · Daoism
Laozi, “the Old Master”, is honoured as the founder of Daoism. The Daodejing, a short book of verses on the Dao — the Way that underlies all things — and on wu wei, effortless action in harmony with nature, is attributed to him. Historians debate whether he was a single historical person. Tradition says that as he left China through the western pass, the gatekeeper asked him to write down his wisdom, and so the book was born.
Daoism · Daodejing · Wu wei