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Glite Dictionary
Lao-tse

Lao-tse

9.5
A Chinese teacher from long ago who taught living simply and following the natural way called the Tao
  • proper noun
  • /ˈlaʊˌtsi/
translation icon : Lao-tse
  • Many of Lao-Tse's ideas have profoundly influenced Chinese culture and philosophy.

Examples

  • As the philosopher Lao Tse famously put it, a leader is most effective when people barely know he exists; when his work is done, "the people all remark, 'We have done it ourselves.'" 97 #

    Academic text (2017)

  • Lao-Tse taught that Tao is the first cause of the universe and that our goal is to become one with the Lao-tse.

  • The writings of Lao-Tse are considered essential reading for anyone interested in Taoism.

Synonyms

Laozi
vsLao-tse
8.8

A Chinese thinker from long ago who founded Taoism and wrote the Tao Te Ching

is the hyphenated older variant rather than the one-word form
Lao-zi
vsLao-tse
9.5

An ancient Chinese thinker who started Taoism and wrote the Dao De Jing

is the modern one-word form rather than that hyphenated spelling
Lao-tzu
vsLao-tse
9.9

A Chinese thinker who many people see as the founder of Taoism and the author of the Tao Te Ching

is the more common modern or alternative spelling instead of the older form

Surface Forms

Lao-tse main

Etymology

The name Lao-tse comes from the Chinese name Laozi and breaks into Lao 'old' and zi 'master'. So Lao-tse means 'Old Master', which helps you remember him as a wise teacher and the founder of Taoism.