Wu Wei
Sun Tzu Lao Tzu
The founder of Taoism is Laozi or Lao- Tzu
Laozi has written: 'Tao te ching' 'Lao tzu tao te ching' -- subject(s): Taoist Philosophy, Taoist literature 'The Tao of wisdom' -- subject(s): Taoism 'Tao te ching' -- subject(s): RELIGION / Taoism (see also PHILOSOPHY / Taoist), PHILOSOPHY / Taoist, PHILOSOPHY / Eastern 'Lao Tzu and Anthroposophy' -- subject(s): Taoism, Relations, Anthroposophy
Jan Tzu has written: 'Zu guo he liu kao cha ji' -- subject(s): Juvenile literature, Rivers
Lao Tzu is deified and called 'Taishang Laojun' in Taoism. He is a divine immortal therefore Tiashang Laojun is part of the Taoist pantheon and worshipped amongst other gods.
Leaders of Taoism are typically referred to as Taoist priests, masters, or simply leaders. They often serve as spiritual guides, teachers of Taoist philosophy, and perform rituals and ceremonies within Taoist temples.
The primary religious figures in Taoism are Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, two scholars who dedicated their lives to balancing their inner spirits. Hsien, in Chinese Taoism, is an immortal who has achieved divinity through devotion to Taoist practices and teachings. other well known figures include: Immortal Lu Dong Bin; the Jade Emperor; the Three Purities; and the also-Buddhist Kuan Yin.
I could only come up with two: Lao-tzu (the first great Taoist sage) and Confucius (the social sage) Does Buddha count?
Primarily a Chinese religion. Chan (Zen in Japanese) Buddhism and Taoism influenced each other, especially transferring some terminology from the older Taoist religion to the newer Chan Buddhist religion. Best known Taoist author would be Lao Tzu, who wrote the Tao Te Ching. Other seminal Taoist works include the much older I Ching and its commentaries, and the somewhat esoteric Cultivating Stillness on internal alchemy.
taoist
Taoism as a philosophy is based on Chinese texts by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu. Taoism as a religious movement consists of several sects. I don't think it can be traced to a single founder.
Chuang Tzu, an influential Taoist philosopher, emphasized the importance of individual freedom and spontaneity in his teachings. He believed that true independence arises from aligning oneself with the natural flow of life, rather than conforming to societal norms and expectations. Through his parables and stories, he illustrated the value of embracing uncertainty and the limitations of rigid thinking. Ultimately, Chuang Tzu's philosophy encourages a life of authenticity and harmony with the universe.