How Lao Tzu was born: the intertwining of myth and history
Lao Tzu, as the founder of the Taoist school, his birth story is full of mythology. Regarding the birth of Laozi, historical records and folklore are intertwined, forming a unique cultural phenomenon. This article will explore the birth story of Lao Tzu based on hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days, and present relevant information in the form of structured data.
1. The birth legend of Lao Tzu

The legend of Lao Tzu's birth is widely circulated among the people. The most representative one is the story of "Lao Tzu riding a green ox". Legend has it that Lao Tzu's mother was pregnant for eighty-one years and finally gave birth to Lao Tzu from under her arm. Lao Tzu was born with a head full of white hair, so he was called "Lao Tzu". This legend not only reflects Laozi's extraordinary identity, but also reflects the ancients' worship of sages.
| legendary version | Main content | Source |
|---|---|---|
| armpit birth | My mother was pregnant for eighty-one years, and I was born from my armpit. | "The Legend of Immortals" |
| Riding a green bull | When Lao Tzu was born, he rode a green bull, symbolizing wisdom and longevity. | folklore |
2. Laozi’s birth in historical records
Unlike myths and legends, Lao Tzu's birth in historical records is relatively ordinary. Sima Qian recorded in "Historical Records" that Laozi, whose surname was Li Ming'er and whose courtesy name was Dan, was a native of Ku County, Chu State (now Luyi, Henan Province). He once served as the keeper of the Tibetan Chamber in the Zhou Dynasty. However, there are no detailed historical records about the specific time and place of Laozi's birth, which also provides space for later generations of myths and legends.
| historical records | content | Source |
|---|---|---|
| name | Li Er, courtesy name Dan | "Historical Records" |
| place of birth | Ku County, Chu State (now Luyi, Henan) | "Historical Records" |
| Career | The history of the Zhou Dynasty's Tibetan Room | "Historical Records" |
3. Hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days and discussions related to Lao Tzu’s birth
Recently, discussions about Laozi’s birth have heated up again on social media and academic forums. The following are the hot topics related to my birth in the past 10 days on the Internet:
| topic | Discussion popularity | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| The cultural significance of the legend of Laozi’s birth | high | Explore the influence of myths and legends on Taoist culture |
| The controversy over Laozi’s historical authenticity | in | Scholars discuss whether Laozi really exists |
| Tourism development of Lao Tzu’s birthplace | high | Tourism promotion of Laozi’s hometown in Luyi, Henan |
4. Modern interpretation of Laozi’s birth story
In modern society, Lao Tzu's birth story has been given new meaning. Many scholars believe that Laozi's myths and legends reflect the ancients' thinking on the origin of life and the laws of the universe. At the same time, Luyi, Henan, where Laozi was born, has also become a popular tourist destination due to its cultural heritage, attracting a large number of tourists.
In addition, Laozi's philosophical thoughts, such as "Tao follows nature" and "governing by inaction", still have important practical significance in today's society. Through the discussion of Lao Tzu's birth story, we can better understand the profound heritage of Taoist culture.
5. Conclusion
The birth story of Lao Tzu is not only an intertwining of myth and history, but also a carrier of cultural inheritance. Whether it is a miraculous birth in legends or an ordinary life experience in historical records, as the founder of the Taoist school, Laozi's thoughts and wisdom still influence the world today. By combing through the hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days, we can see people's interest and concern in the story of Laozi's birth, which also reflects the vitality of traditional culture in modern society.
check the details
check the details