<P> The first reliable reference to Laozi is his `` biography '' in Shiji ( 63 , tr . Chan 1963 : 35 -- 37 ) , by Chinese historian Sima Qian ( ca . 145 -- 86 BCE ) , which combines three stories . First , Lao Tzu was a contemporary of Confucius ( 551 -- 479 BCE ) . His surname was Li ( 李 `` plum '' ) , and his personal name was Er ( 耳 `` ear '' ) or Dan ( 聃 `` long ear '' ) . He was an official in the imperial archives , and wrote a book in two parts before departing to the West . Second , Laozi was Lao Laizi ( 老 來 子 `` Old Come Master '' ) , also a contemporary of Confucius , who wrote a book in 15 parts . Third , Laozi was the Grand Historian and astrologer Lao Dan ( 老 聃 `` Old Long - ears '' ) , who lived during the reign ( 384 -- 362 BCE ) of Duke Xian ( 獻 公 ) of Qin ) . </P>
<P> The first reliable reference to Laozi is his `` biography '' in Shiji ( 63 , tr . Chan 1963 : 35 -- 37 ) , by Chinese historian Sima Qian ( ca . 145 -- 86 BCE ) , which combines three stories . First , Lao Tzu was a contemporary of Confucius ( 551 -- 479 BCE ) . His surname was Li ( 李 `` plum '' ) , and his personal name was Er ( 耳 `` ear '' ) or Dan ( 聃 `` long ear '' ) . He was an official in the imperial archives , and wrote a book in two parts before departing to the West . Second , Laozi was Lao Laizi ( 老 來 子 `` Old Come Master '' ) , also a contemporary of Confucius , who wrote a book in 15 parts . Third , Laozi was the Grand Historian and astrologer Lao Dan ( 老 聃 `` Old Long - ears '' ) , who lived during the reign ( 384 -- 362 BCE ) of Duke Xian ( 獻 公 ) of Qin ) . </P>
which book records three possible authors of the tao te ching with similar names
which book records three possible authors of the tao te ching with similar names
Shiji
Shiji