Ai vs AI: Question 3/81

What is the real identity of Laozi (老子)?

Ai Weiwei: To be honest, I don’t know the answer to this question either.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2024: The real identity of Laozi, the ancient Chinese philosopher credited with founding Taoism, is uncertain and shrouded in myth. Many consider Laozi to be a legendary figure, and historical details about him remain elusive.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2025: The real identity of Laozi (老子) remains a mystery. Traditional accounts describe him as a historical figure who lived in the 6th century BCE, working as a record keeper in the Zhou dynasty court before leaving civilization to live in seclusion. However, many scholars debate whether he was a single historical person, a legendary figure, or even a composite of multiple early Daoist thinkers.
Theories About Laozi’s Identity

Traditional View: Laozi’s real name is believed to be Li Er (李耳) or Li Dan (李聃). He allegedly met Confucius, impressing him with his wisdom. Before leaving China, he was asked to write down his teachings, which became the Dao De Jing (道德经).

The Composite Theory: Some historians argue that Laozi was not a single person but a name assigned to a group of early Daoist sages. The Dao De Jing may have been written over time by multiple authors. Laozi as a Mythological Figure.

Some suggest that Laozi never existed as a historical figure but was later deified in Daoism.
The legend that he lived for hundreds of years adds to the idea of him being more myth than man.
Possible Identity with Other Thinkers

Some theories suggest that Laozi and Zhuangzi (庄子) were connected or that Laozi was another name for an unknown philosopher of the Warring States period.

Conclusion
While there may have been a real person behind the Laozi legend, historical evidence is limited. He might have been a historical sage, a symbolic figure representing Daoist ideas, or even a later invention to legitimize the Dao De Jing.

DeepSeek (AI), January 2025: Laozi (老子), also spelled Lao-Tzu or Lao-Tze, is a central figure in Chinese philosophy and the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching (道德经), the foundational text of Taoism. However, the historical identity of Laozi remains shrouded in mystery and debate. Here’s an overview of what is known and speculated about his real identity:

Historical Accounts
Name and Title: “Laozi” translates to “Old Master” or “Old Sage,” which may not be a personal name but rather an honorific title.
According to tradition, his personal name was Li Er (李耳) or Lao Dan (老聃), with “Dan” meaning “Long-Eared,” a possible reference to wisdom or longevity.

Biographical Details: Laozi is said to have lived during the 6th century BCE, around the same time as Confucius (551–479 BCE). Some accounts suggest that Confucius once consulted Laozi on rituals and propriety. He is traditionally believed to have been a record-keeper or archivist in the royal court of the Zhou Dynasty.

Legend holds that, disillusioned with the moral decay of society, Laozi decided to leave China. At the western border, a guard recognized his wisdom and asked him to record his teachings, resulting in the Tao Te Ching.

Myth and Legend: Laozi’s life is heavily mythologized, and many stories about him are likely apocryphal: He is often depicted as an immortal or a divine figure in Taoist tradition.

Some legends claim he was born as an old man with white hair and a long beard, symbolizing wisdom and longevity.

In religious Taoism, Laozi is venerated as a deity and is sometimes considered a manifestation of the Tao itself.

Scholarly Debate
Historical Existence: Some scholars argue that Laozi may not have been a historical figure but rather a composite or symbolic representation of ancient Chinese wisdom. Others believe he was a real person whose life and teachings were later embellished with mythological elements.

Authorship of the Tao Te Ching: The Tao Te Ching is attributed to Laozi, but its exact authorship and date of composition are uncertain. Some scholars suggest that the text may have been compiled over time by multiple authors, reflecting a collective philosophical tradition rather than the work of a single individual.

Cultural and Philosophical Legacy: Regardless of his historical identity, Laozi’s influence is undeniable: The Tao Te Ching is one of the most translated and studied texts in world literature, emphasizing harmony with the Tao (the Way), simplicity, and naturalness. Laozi’s ideas have profoundly shaped Chinese culture, philosophy, and religion, influencing not only Taoism but also Confucianism, Buddhism, and Chinese art and literature.

Conclusion
The real identity of Laozi remains elusive, blending historical possibility with mythological elements. Whether he was a single historical figure, a symbolic representation, or a combination of both, his legacy as the foundational thinker of Taoism and the author of the Tao Te Ching continues to inspire and resonate across cultures and centuries.

To coincide with the exhibition, 81 Questions – a series of 81 hand-signed and embossed screen prints featuring the 81 questions posed by Ai Weiwei – are available exclusively on CIRCA.ART for £500+VAT.

“Each Lego brick pixel represents a person”, says Ai Weiwei, who incorporates the plastic construction toy – a readymade material incorporated into many of his most recent works – into his print design for the first time. The black egalitarian pixel font and embossed baseplate combine technology with artisanal craft to create this thought-provoking and playful reflection on today’s world. Each print in the series of 81 Questions is hand-signed and numbered by the artist in editions of 81.