What dynasty was Laozi from?

Answer 1

Laozi is not an entirely historical figure in the sense that Confucius was, though by all accounts they were approximately simultaneous and are reputed to have met one another. Laozi (also Lao Tzu, Lao Tsu, Laodan) lived in the 6th century during the Zhou Dynasty (1122 BCE - 256 BCE) of Chinese history. Laozi's writings and teachings, collected in the Tao Te Ching, a volume of 81 very short chapters of verse, became popular during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 9 AD). The ensuing religious tradition, known as Taoism or Daoism, consists primarily of the teachings of Lao Tzu (Laozi) and Chuang Tzu (Chuangtze), who lived during the 4th century BCE, and whose works of philosophy, critique and commentary to the Tao Te Ching combined with those of Lao Tzu to form a balanced philosophy of life and religious view.