What does the old man mean?
According to Records of the Historian, Laozi was a historian of the Zhou Dynasty. He founded a unique Taoist theory, was one of the founders of the Taoist school, and was regarded as the ancestor of Taoism by later generations. This is Laozi in history.
Laozi's Tao Te Ching contains the strategy of governing the country and a lot of practical guidance. The Huang-Lao School with both political ideal and self-cultivation theory was formed in the Han Dynasty, which had a great influence in the ruling and opposition circles. Huang Lao Xue is not only a political idea, but also has some religious implications.
For example, the story of Liu Ying, the son of Guangwudi, was recorded in the Biography of Ten Kings of Guangwudi in the later Han Dynasty, saying that "Huang Lao prefers New Year's Day and learns to fast and sacrifice for the pagoda", also known as "Wang Chu recited Huang Lao's quip, worshipped the pagoda's benevolence shrine and made a wish to God in March", indicating that Huang Lao's learning is already a theory with religious functions at this time. In this process, there may be a deification of Laozi.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Daoling founded Taoism. In The Legend of the Immortal, he talked about Zhang Daoling's learning Taoism, saying that "suddenly there are heaven and man, riding thousands of horses and riding golden tigers, and there are countless people, or calling themselves the history of the column, or calling themselves the children of the East China Sea, which is the way to form an alliance for Ling Xin." Since I claim to be the history under the column, it must be Laozi.
The classic Tao Te Ching handed down by Laozi was reinterpreted by Zhang Daoling and written into Laozi's notes on his thoughts. In the old Xiangzi Jules, Lao Tzu has become the throne of an old gentleman, which is the embodiment of the avenue. He said: "One is also ... an old gentleman who scattered into the Qi State and gathered in the throne is always regarded as Kun Hua, or nothingness, or nature, or nameless, all of which are one ear. Today, we preach and teach to solve doubts. If we don't break the precepts, we will keep one. "
If you don't obey the precepts, you are a husband. "This statement was inherited by later Taoism. For example, in the Old Book of Tang Dynasty, Chapter 17 is explained, "Too high, I know it from below", and it is said that "too high is that the leader is too high on the road. It is very common to say that you are in the golden pass above Yujing and concentrate on daydreaming. "
At the same time, Chapter 18, "Abandoned Avenue, Benevolence and Righteousness", is abbreviated as "Abandoning Taishang Education". In this way, Tao is the teaching of Tai Shang, and Tao, teaching and Tai Shang are integrated into one. I said and taught the road here. I'm so sure.
From this, the relationship between Lao Zi and Taishang Laojun is inseparable, and the name of Taishang Laojun officially appeared on Lao Zi. In this sense, Laozi has evolved into a gentleman, and the gentleman is a deified Laozi.