Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s9.t1.3

v1.c7.s9.t1.3

Based on Collected Biographies of Laozi and Han Fei of the Historical Records by Sima Qian, Laozi was a native of Qurenli of the town of Lixiang, the Ku County, the State of Chu (presnt-day Taiqinggong Town, Luyi County, He’nan Province). It is said that at his birth date his hair was snow-white, and hence the cognomen of Laozi, an old man. He was once the head of imperial archive and library of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, in charge of state-collected books, maps, archive and documents. Confucius is known to ask him for advice on the rites of the Zhou Dynasty. Laozi had these to say to him: What you asked about the man and the rites initiated by him no longer exist, even his bones are decaying, only his words still ring in our ears. If a man of honour's fortune turns, he could get on cart to accept official appointment, but if he lives at the wrong time, then his lot is like a piece of fluffy grass that would be gone with the wind. I’m told that a good businessman will stash and hide away his stock of goods, and only present to the outsiders the facade of seemingly empty warehouse, so is the man of honour’s way of doing things, who possesses noble and gracious moral character with modest appearance as if the dull and stupid. To cast away your conceit and excessive desire, and abandon your affected look and outgrown ambition which would bring nothing good to yourself .That's all for what I can offer you as an advice. These words reveal Laozi’s attainment of virtue, that is, an advocate of being ready to make change for adaptability and conservatively receding to have fewer desires. Confucius highly admires nobility of Laozi as he comments: Today I have a chance to see Laozi, isn’t he a loong (means: king-size gentleman)