Laozi is the elusive figure traditionally associated with the origins of Daoism and the Daodejing. What can be known about Laozi is uncertain, and that uncertainty is central to his legacy. The Daodejing resists fixed interpretation, favouring balance, restraint, and attentiveness to the natural order. Its influence extends far beyond ancient China, shaping environmental thought, modern physics, politics, martial arts, music, and twentieth-century counterculture.
