Is Taishang Laojun the Same as Laozi? - The Taishang Laojun Legend
The deity we commonly refer to as "Taishang Laojun" is, in fact, an informal appellation. According to Daoist scriptures, Laojun's full title consists of thirty-two characters: "Yiqi Huasan Qing Taqing Ju Huo Chitian Xian Deng Taiqing Jing Xuanqi Suo Cheng Ri Shenbao Jun Daode Tianzun Hunyuan Shangdi." Daoism has the concept of the "Three Pure Ones," and Taishang Laojun is the third among them.
In the Three Pure Ones Hall, the highest deity in Taoism is enshrined as the "Three Pure Ancestors." The Three Pure Ones are Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun (Yuchen Daoren), and Taiqing Daode Tianzun (Taishang Laojun).
Modern perceptions of Laojun largely stem from the classic novel "Journey to the West." However, it's important to recognize that this novel is a work of fiction and diverges significantly from traditional religious beliefs. In "Journey to the West," the character of Taishang Laojun was humanized by the author Wu Cheng'en and underwent significant modifications.
So, what is the true nature of Laojun?
In Taoist philosophy, Taishang Laojun is the embodiment of the Tao, the ancestor of primordial qi, and the foundation of heaven and earth. Before the creation of heaven and earth, Taishang Laojun initiated the process of creation and divine formation. Laojun is the progenitor of all existence and an incarnation of the Great Tao, dwelling in the realm of Taiqing. Laozi is one of his eighty-one incarnations, known as the Taode Tianzun due to his authorship of the Daoist classic "Tao Te Ching," which consists of over five thousand words. According to historical records in "Records of the Grand Historian," Laozi's surname was "Li," his given name "Er," his style name "Boyang," and his posthumous title "Dan." He lived during the late Spring and Autumn period before the Qin Dynasty, and Confucius is said to have sought his guidance.
When Taoism was in its infancy, Laozi was regarded as its founding ancestor and honored as Taishang Laojun or Taishang Daode Jun. The Huang-Lao school of Taoism gained prominence in the early Western Han period, and the imperial court began to offer sacrifices to Huang-Lao. The reverence for Laozi and the Yellow Emperor by the common people also reached its peak during this period. After Emperor Wu of Han's decree to "dismiss a hundred schools and promote Confucianism," the Huang-Lao school moved into popular culture and formed Huang-Lao Dao.
Laozi's philosophical teachings, combined with the admiration of the populace, had already established him as a deity at this point. In the early Western Han period, Emperor Wu of Han began a grand imperial pilgrimage to the Temple of Laozi, and Laozi's mother's epitaph referred to Taishang Laojun as the embodiment of the Tao.
Laozi naturally became the leader of new religious groups. According to historical accounts, Zhang Ling created the "Taipingjing" under the name of Laozi, establishing the Tian Shi Tao and using Huang-Lao techniques to convert the ethnic minorities in the western Shu region. As a result, Laozi naturally became the leader of this new religious group. It is believed that Zhang Ling, during his missionary activities, authored the "Laozi's Reflections," which stated, "The one is the Tao… One exists outside of heaven and earth, within the space between heaven and earth, traversing human bodies." This marked the first appearance of the name Taishang Laojun in Taoist texts.​
Even during the Northern Wei period, the texts compiled by Yi Ji and others, such as the "Supreme Scripture," claimed to have been transmitted by Laozi, and Zhang Ling established the Heavenly Master Tao, using techniques from Huang-Lao Tao to convert the minority peoples of western Shu. Thus, Laozi naturally became the leader of this new religious group. According to Yi Ji's "Tai Pingjing," he wrote, "One is the Tao... One exists outside of heaven and earth, within the space between heaven and earth, traversing human bodies." This marked the first mention of the name Taishang Laojun in Daoist scriptures.
Since the advent of Buddhism in the Central Plains, this seemingly familiar religion to the Chinese people led them to believe that Laozi had traveled to India and become the Buddha. Buddhism, which was just entering China at the time, was still a minor presence and urgently needed to integrate with Taoism for development. The Buddhist missionaries who came to China also claimed that Laozi was the Buddha's teacher. As a result, the belief that Laozi had converted the Hu people became widely accepted.
By the time of the Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties, the name Taishang Laojun had become even more prominent. Ge Hong's "Biographies of Divine Immortals" mentions that Laozi was born before heaven and earth, or that he was in his mother's womb for seventy-two years before being born, with white hair from birth, hence he was called Laozi. There are also accounts stating that he was born under a plum tree, that he was able to speak upon birth, that he pointed to a tree to signify his surname "Li," and thus became known as Laozi.
Taoist master Tao Hongjing compiled "The True Lineage of Spirits," which holds Yuan Shi Tianzun, Taiqing Daode Jun, Jinqiao Emperor, and others as the highest deities, while the Lingbao school ranks Yuan Shi Tianzun and Taishang Laojun as the highest deities. The Heavenly Master Dao reveres Laozi as the supreme deity.
With the development of Taoism and the amalgamation of various Taoist schools, a unified highest deity emerged, known as the "Three Pure Ones" or "Three Clears," which includes Yuan Shi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, and Daode Tianzun. The appearance of the "Three Clears" marked the final shaping of Daoist celestial genealogy.
​During the Tang Dynasty, with Laozi being of the same surname as the imperial family, he was highly revered, leading to a series of honorific titles. Taoism was established as the state religion. Throughout the country, there are temples and shrines dedicated to Taishang Laojun. Because of his full title, "Taiqing Taishang Laojun," the main temple or hall dedicated to him is called Taqing Temple, Taqing Hall, Laojun Hall, or Laojun Temple. Laojun's birthday is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the second lunar month, which is recognized as an international Taoist festival.