Laozi is traditionally regarded as the founder of philosophical Taoism.
Traditional Chinese accounts describe Laozi as an older contemporary of Confucius and identify him as the author of the Tao Te Ching, also called the Daodejing. His name is commonly translated as “Old Master,” although historians debate whether Laozi was one historical person or a figure formed from several traditions.
The Tao Te Ching presents brief, poetic reflections on the Way, virtue, simplicity, governance, and non-coercive action. Its compact style has allowed many translations and interpretations, making it one of the most influential works in Chinese philosophy.
Modern scholarship generally treats the text as layered and compiled over time rather than as a work that can be securely assigned to a single author. Laozi remains the traditional founding figure, while Zhuangzi is another major early thinker associated with philosophical Taoism.