Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, was a native of Chu, a southern state during the Zhou dynasty. His birth and death dates are uncertain. He is considered to be the founder of Taoism. According to legend, Lao Tzu set out on a journey to leave China. At the border, he was asked by a border guard to record his teachings. These teachings were compiled into what we know as the Tao-te-Ching, translated as the Classic of the Way and Virtue.

Tao Te Ching, here translated under the title The Way of Life, is ancient China's great contribution to the literature of philosophy, religion, and mysticism.Tao Te Ching contains the time-honored teachings of Taosim and brings a message of living simply, finding contentment with a minimun of comfort, and prizing culture above all else.This is the classic translation of the eighty-one poems constituting an Eastern classic, the mystical and moral teachings of which have profoundly influenced the sacred scriptures of many religions.