Laozi (老子) | 24 Histories

Overview

Laozi was an Ancient Chinese philosopher traditionally credited with the Dao De Jing.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Old Dan	老聃	Lǎo Dān
Courtesy name	Dan	耼	Dan
Alternate name	the Old Master	老氏	Lǎo shì

Life and dates

Age

more than one hundred sixty years; some say more than two hundred 百有六十餘歲，或言二百餘歲
Mode named-source-report
Uncertain · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 20

Attested activity

老子書
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 110
legendary antiquity
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 87, passage 7; Book of Han 55, passage 126; Book of Han 98, passage 56; Book of Later Han 30, passage 252; Book of Later Han 32, passage 35; Book of Later Han 92, passage 276; Book of Later Han 94, passages 283, 335; Book of Jin 128, passage 123; Book of Liang 25, passages 126, 256; History of Song 357, passage 242; History of Yuan 202, passages 238, 246
legendary antiquity
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 109, passages 2, 64
legendary antiquity
Uncertain · Book of Southern Qi 48, passage 100
BC 600 to BC 500 《老子》曰
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 280
BC 520 to BC 479 孔子適周，將問禮於老子
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passages 1-2

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c. BC 600 to c. BC 400 老子
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 32
c. BC 500 老子
Uncertain · Book of Han 22, passage 20
BC 570 to BC 470 老子（春秋晚期傳統年代）
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 21, passage 312
BC 600 to BC 500 老子之術
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 243
BC 500 老子曰
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 1
BC 600 to BC 500 老子玄默，仲尼所師
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 20, passage 19
BC 520 to BC 480 老子者…周守藏室之史
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 1
BC 600 to BC 500 老子言
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 87
BC 571 to BC 470 老氏
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 33, passage 15
BC 500 老聃有遺言
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passage 150
BC 571 to BC 471 莊老貴無為
Directly stated · Book of Wei 96, passage 220
BC 500 黃帝、老子之言
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 80, passage 118

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Ancestor of Gaozong (高宗)
descendant 之後 · paternal line · AD 649 to AD 683 高宗自以李氏老子之後也
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 312
Parent of Zong (宗)
son 子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 24

Key source chapters

Career and standing

keeper of the archives 守藏室之史
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 1
reclusive gentleman 隱君子
Recluse
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 23

Places and affiliations

Polity Zhou 周 · Relation Associated with
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 21, passage 312
At Quren Village, Li Township, Ku County, Chu 楚苦縣厲鄉曲仁里
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 1
At Ku county in Chen 陈国苦县 · Relation Cult site
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 64
At Zhuolong 濯龙 · Relation Cult site
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 65

Learning and skills

Belief Daoism 道家 · Relation Founder of
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 243
Belief Huang-Lao teachings 黃老 · Relation Source of
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 126
Belief the Way and virtue 道德 · Relation Adherent of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 15

Works and attributed material

Laozi 老子
Relation Attributed author
Strongly inferred · History of Yuan 202, passage 246
teachings of Laozi 老子之術
Relation Attributed author
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 243
Daodejing (upper and lower chapters, five thousand-plus words) 書上下篇…道德之意五千餘言
Relation Author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 18
Laozi (quoted maxims) 老子
Relation Author
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 87, passages 7-8
Laozi / Daodejing teachings 老子
Relation Author
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 34, passage 32
Laozi saying on giving before taking 將欲取之，必先與之
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Jin 128, passage 123

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Laozi 老子
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 280; Book of Sui 74, passage 7
teachings of Laozi 老子言
Relation Author
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 87
two chapters on emptiness 虛無之言兩篇
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passage 216
writings of Laozi 老子書
Relation Author
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 110
Quotation · Attributed author · Direct quotation · Mode named-source-report Speaker Zhang Hua (張華)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 128, passage 123
Quotation · Attributed author · Mode quotation Speaker Sima Jizhu (司馬季主) Source Person Id Laozi (老子)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passages 69-70
Quotation · Attributed author · Mode quotation Speaker Song Zhong (宋忠) Source Person Id Laozi (老子)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 127, passage 99
Quotation · Attributed speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Cheng Zhen (程振)
Directly stated · History of Song 357, passage 242
Laozi 老子
Quotation · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Sui 74, passages 7-8
法令滋章，盗賊多有。
Saying · Author · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Source Work Laozi 老子
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 280
Put yourself last and you will be first. 後其身而身先。
Saying · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Laozi (老子)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 25, passage 256
Saying · Speaker · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 15
其政察察，其人缺缺。
Saying · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 87, passage 7
法令滋章，盜賊多有。
Saying · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 87, passage 8
Speech · Speaker · With Confucius (孔子)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passages 3-7
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 1

Events and relationships

Departed unknown end
Personal · Subject · With Yin Xi (尹喜)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passages 17-18
Departed
Travel · Subject · At Zhou 周
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 16
Instructed
Meeting · Teacher · With Confucius (孔子) · At Zhou 周
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passages 2-3
Received personal sacrifice
AD 166 九年 · Ritual · Recipient · At Zhuolong 濯龙
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 65
Received sacrifice
AD 165 延熹八年 · Ritual · Recipient · At Ku in Chen 陈国苦县
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 64
Relation Teacher of · Person Confucius (孔子) · Mode commentator-judgment Speaker Zhang Yan (張晏)
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 20

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Relation Teacher of · Person Confucius (孔子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 19
Relation Teacher of · Person Zhi Buyi (直不疑)
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 103, passage 119

Assessments and attributes

Assessment great-worthy-though-not-sage · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Zhang Yan (張晏)
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 19
Assessment profound, reserved, great worthy though not a sage · Mode commentator-judgment Speaker Zhang Yan (張晏)
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 20
Assessment through non-action the people transform themselves; through pure quiet they correct themselves · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 29
profound and reticent (玄默)
Character
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 19
玄默 / deep and reserved
Character
Directly stated · Book of Han 22, passage 20

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 87, passage 7; Book of Later Han 30, passage 252; Book of Later Han 92, passage 276; Book of Later Han 109, passage 2; Book of Jin 128, passage 123; Book of Liang 25, passage 126; Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 110
Historicity legendary
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 25, passage 256; History of Yuan 202, passage 246
Historicity uncertain
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 81; Book of Later Han 33, passage 15; Book of Later Han 96, passage 280; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 243
Historicity uncertain
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 121, passage 87; New Book of Tang 21, passage 312
Historicity uncertain
Uncertain · Book of Sui 74, passage 7

References in the histories

Search passages

History

58 passages

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 87Volume 87 Biographies 75: Cruel Officials · 1 passage

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老子曰：「其政察察，其人缺缺。」 Laozi said, "When government is excessively exacting, the people grow impoverished in spirit."

Book of Han, Chapter 20Table of Ancient and Modern Persons · 1 passage

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張晏曰：「老子玄默，仲尼所師，雖不在聖，要為大賢，文伯之母達於禮典，動為聖人所歎，言為後世所則，而在第四。田單以即墨孤城復強齊之大，魯連之博通，忽於榮利，藺子申威秦王，退讓廉頗，乃在第五。大姬巫怪，好祭鬼神，陳人化之，國多淫祀，寺人孟子違於大雅，以保其身，旣被宮刑，怨刺而作，乃在第三。嫪毐上烝，昬亂禮度，惡不忍聞，乃在第七。其餘差違紛錯不少，略舉揚較，以起失謬。獨馳騖於數千歲之中，旁觀諸子，事業未究，而尋遇竇氏之難，使之然乎？」 Zhang Yan said, "Laozi was deep and silent, and Confucius regarded him as a teacher. Though not ranked among sages, he surely counts as a great worthy. Wenbo's mother mastered the ritual classics; the sage praised her conduct and later ages took her words as a model—yet she appears in the fourth grade. Tian Dan restored great Qi from the isolated city of Jimo; Lu Lian was broadly learned yet disdained fame and profit; Lord Lin awed the King of Qin and yielded to Lian Po—yet they are placed in the fifth grade. Great Ji practiced sorcery and loved sacrificing to ghosts and spirits; the people of Chen were transformed by her and the state was full of improper cults. The eunuch Mengzi, turning from the great elegant style to preserve himself—after castration, wrote in resentment—yet is placed in the third grade. Lao Ai committed incest at court and threw ritual order into chaos, in deeds too foul to bear hearing—yet he is placed in the seventh grade. Discrepancies and errors are many; I have cited a few to expose the faults. Did he gallop alone across thousands of years, looking on at the various masters while his work remained unfinished, then soon meet the Dou family's disaster—and did that make it turn out this way?"

Book of Han, Chapter 22Volume 20: Prominent People from the Past Until the Present · 1 passage

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〈張晏曰：「老子玄默，仲尼所師，雖不在聖，要為大賢，文伯之母達於禮典，動為聖人所歎，言為後世所則，而在第四。〈Zhang Yan comments: "Laozi was deep and reserved, and even Confucius learned from him. Though not classed as a sage, he was certainly a great worthy. Wenbo's mother was thoroughly versed in ritual, praised by sages for her conduct, and imitated by later generations for her words, yet she is only placed in the fourth class.

Book of Han, Chapter 55Volume 46: The Lords of Wan, Wei, Zhi, Zhou and Zhang · 1 passage

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不疑學老子言。 His reading ran to Laozi.

Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 1 passage

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此老子所謂「師之所處，荊棘生之」者也。 This is what Laozi called 'where the army stays, brambles grow.'

Book of Han, Chapter 98Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 · 1 passage

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混漁父之餔歠兮，潔沐浴之振衣，棄由、聃之所珍兮，□庶彭鹹之所遺！ Share the fisherman's coarse fare, then bathe and shake out your robe; leave what Xu You and Laozi held dear—take up the path Peng Xian left behind!

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 2 passages

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老聃有遺言，貴知我者希，此非其操與！」 Laozi said those who understand you are few—was he not describing the same calling?"

昔老聃著虛無之言兩篇，薄仁義，非禮學，然後世好之者尚以為過於《五經》，自漢文、景之君及司馬遷皆有是言。 Laozi wrote two brief texts that spurned benevolence, right, and ritual learning—yet later admirers ranked them above the Five Classics. Emperors Wen and Jing of Han, and Sima Qian, said as much.

Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 1 passage

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老氏稱：「上德不德，是以有德； Laozi wrote, "The highest good does not advertise its goodness; that is why it truly is good;

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage

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嗣雖修儒學，然貴老嚴之術。 Ban Si pursued Confucian texts yet revered the Daoist teachings of Laozi and Yan Junping.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 30Volume 27: Biographies of Xuan, Zang, Two Wangs, Du, Guo, Wu, Cheng, Zheng, Zhao · 1 passage

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少好黃、老書。 In youth he studied the Yellow Emperor and Laozi.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 2 passages

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然後闔門講習道德，觀覽乎孔老之論，庶幾乎松、喬之福，上隴阪，陟高岡，遊精宇宙，流目八纮。 Then I would shut my gate to study moral teaching and read Confucius and Laozi, hoping for something of the blessing of Chisongzi and Wangzi Qiao; I would climb the Long ridges and high hills, send my spirit wandering through heaven and earth, and let my eyes sweep the eight reaches of the world.

嘉孔丘之知命兮，大老聃之貴玄； I honor Kong Qiu's acceptance of fate and Laozi's reverence for the hidden Way;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 33Volume 29: Biographies of Shentu Gang; Bao Yong; Zhi Yun · 1 passage

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損益之際，孔父攸嘆，持滿之戒，老氏所慎。 At the turning between gain and loss Kongzi sighed; holding a full cup—what Laozi warned against.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 92Volume 82a: Biographies of Alchemists 1 · 1 passage

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及服終而歎曰：「老子有言：『名與身孰親？』 When mourning was ended he sighed, saying, "Laozi has a saying, 'Fame and the person—which is dearer?'

Book of Later Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Biographies of Hermits · 3 passages

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少好黄、老，隐遁山谷，因穴为室，仰慕松、乔导引之术。 In youth he loved Huang-Lao, lived in a cave, and studied the breath arts of the immortals Chisong and Wangzi.

盖闻黄、老之言，乘虚入冥，藏身远遁，亦有理国养人，施于为政。 Huang-Lao speak of mounting void and hiding far away—yet their teaching can also order states and nurture the people.

将蹈老氏之高踪，不为玄纁屈也。 He will follow Laozi's high path and spurn imperial silk.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Treatise on the Dongyi · 1 passage

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《老子》曰：“法令滋章，盗賊多有。” Laozi warned: 'More laws breed more outlaws.'

Book of Later Han, Chapter 109Volume 98: Rituals and Worship Part Two · 3 passages

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北郊明堂辟雍灵臺迎气增祀六宗老子 Northern suburban rites, the Bright Hall, the Biyong academy, the Spirit Terrace, welcoming the seasonal qi, supplemental cults, the Six Honored Powers, and worship of Laozi.

延熹八年，初使中常侍之陈国苦县祠老子。 In Yanxi 8 (165 CE) he first dispatched a Regular Palace Attendant to Ku in the princedom of Chen to sacrifice at Laozi’s shrine.

九年，亲祠老子于濯龙。 The following year he worshipped Laozi in person at the Zhuolong lodge in the palace.

Book of Jin, Chapter 128Volume 128 Records 28: Murong Chao · 1 passage

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故老子曰：'將欲取之，必先與之。 Therefore Laozi says: ‘If you would take, you must first give.’

Book of Liang, Chapter 25Volume 25: Zhou She; Xu Mian · 1 passage

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老生云：「後其身而身先。」 The Old Master said, "Put yourself last and you will be first."

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 48Volume 48 Biographies 29: Yuan Tuan, Kong Zhigui, Liu Hui · 1 passage

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臣又聞老子、仲尼曰：「古之聽獄者，求所以生之； Your servant has also heard that Laozi and Confucius said: "Those who heard cases in antiquity sought means to let men live;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 56House of Chancellor Chen · 1 passage

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太史公曰：陳丞相平少時，本好黃帝、老子之術。 The Grand Historian remarks: Chancellor Chen Ping in his youth was devoted to the teachings of the Yellow Emperor and Laozi.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 63Biographies of Laozi and Han Fei · 16 passages

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老子者，楚苦縣厲鄉曲仁里人也，姓李氏，名耳，字耼，周守藏室之史也。 Laozi was a man of Quren Village in Li Township, Ku County, Chu. His surname was Li, personal name Er, courtesy name Dan. He was the Zhou court's keeper of the archives.

孔子適周，將問禮於老子。 Confucius went to Zhou, intending to ask Laozi about rites.

老子曰：「子所言者，其人與骨皆已朽矣，獨其言在耳。 Laozi said: 'What you speak of—their persons and bones have all rotted away. Only their words remain.

吾今日見老子，其猶龍邪！」 Today I have seen Laozi—he is like a dragon!'

老子修道德，其學以自隱無名為務。 Laozi cultivated the Way and virtue. His learning took self-concealment and namelessness as its task.

於是老子乃著書上下篇，言道德之意五千餘言而去，莫知其所終。 Thereupon Laozi wrote a book in upper and lower chapters, setting forth the meaning of the Way and virtue in more than five thousand words, and departed. None know where he ended.

蓋老子百有六十餘歲，或言二百餘歲，以其修道而養壽也。 Laozi was probably more than one hundred sixty years old; some say he lived more than two hundred years, because he cultivated the Dao and nourished longevity.

或曰儋即老子，或曰非也，世莫知其然否。 Some say Tan was Laozi, some say he was not. The world does not know if it was so or not.

老子，隱君子也。 Laozi was a reclusive gentleman.

老子之子名宗，宗為魏將，封於段干。 Laozi's son was named Zong. Zong was a Wei general and was enfeoffed at Duan Gan.

世之學老子者則絀儒學，儒學亦絀老子。 Those in the world who study Laozi then belittle Confucian learning. Confucian learning also belittles Laozi.

李耳無為自化，清靜自正。 Li Er taught that through non-action the people transform themselves, and through pure quiet they correct themselves.

其學無所不闚，然其要本歸於老子之言。 His learning ranged everywhere, leaving nothing unexamined, yet its essential teaching returned fundamentally to Laozi's words.

作漁父、盜跖、胠篋，以詆訿孔子之徒，以明老子之術。 He wrote 'The Fisherman,' 'Robber Zhi,' and 'Cutting Open Boxes' to mock and ridicule Confucius's followers and to clarify Laozi's techniques.

太史公曰：老子所貴道，虛無，因應變化於無為，故著書辭稱微妙難識。 The Grand Historian says: Laozi valued the Dao—emptiness and nothingness, responding to changes at non-action. Therefore, his book's words speak of subtle mystery difficult to recognize.

皆原於道德之意，而老子深遠矣。 All originated from the intent of the Way and virtue, yet Laozi was profound and far-reaching.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 80Biography of Yue Yi · 2 passages

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樂臣公善修黃帝、老子之言，顯聞於齊，稱賢師。 Yue Chengong was expert in the teachings of Huangdi and Laozi. He became well known in Qi and was regarded as a worthy teacher.

樂臣公學黃帝、老子，其本師號曰河上丈人，不知其所出。 Yue Chengong studied Huangdi and Laozi. His original teacher was known as the Elder on the River, though his origins are unknown.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 103Biographies of Wan Shi and Zhang Shu · 1 passage

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不疑學老子言。 Buyi studied the teachings of Laozi.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 121Biographies of Confucian Scholars · 2 passages

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太皇竇太后好老子言，不說儒術，得趙綰、王臧之過以讓上，上因廢明堂事，盡下趙綰、王臧吏，後皆自殺。 The Grand Empress Dowager Dou was devoted to the teachings of Laozi and had no use for Confucian learning. She seized upon the transgressions of Zhao Wan and Wang Zang to reproach the emperor. The emperor thereupon abandoned the Hall of Light project and turned Zhao Wan and Wang Zang over to the judicial officials. Both later took their own lives.

竇太后好老子書，召轅固生問老子書。 Empress Dowager Dou was fond of the writings of Laozi and summoned Yuan Gusheng to discuss them.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 127Biographies of Soothsayers · 4 passages

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此夫老子所謂『上德不德，是以有德』。 This is what Laozi meant when he said, 'The highest virtue does not regard itself as virtuous—and therefore truly possesses virtue.'

今夫卜筮者利大而謝少，老子之云豈異於是乎？ The diviner provides great benefit in exchange for a small fee. Is this not precisely what Laozi had in mind?

此老子之所謂『無名者萬物之始』也。 This is what Laozi meant when he said, 'The nameless is the beginning of all things.'

夫司馬季主者，楚賢大夫，游學長安，通易經，術黃帝、老子，博聞遠見。 Sima Jizhu was a worthy grandee of Chu who traveled to Chang'an to study. He mastered the Book of Changes, practiced the arts of the Yellow Emperor and Laozi, and was a man of wide learning and far-reaching insight.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 1 passage

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老子曰：「至治之極，鄰國相望，雞狗之聲相聞，民各甘其食，美其服，安其俗，樂其業，至老死，不相往來。」 Laozi said: 'In the most perfectly governed age, neighboring states are within sight of one another, the crowing of roosters and the barking of dogs can be heard across the border, the people savor their own food, take pride in their own clothing, rest content in their own customs, and delight in their own occupations — and they grow old and die without ever setting foot in one another's lands.'

History of Song, Chapter 357Volume 357 Biographies 116: He Guan, Li Xijing, Wang Yun, Tan Shiji, Mei Zhili, Cheng Zhen, Liu Yanqing · 1 passage

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老子亦云：'為之於未有，治之於未亂。 Laozi also said, 'Act when it does not yet exist; govern when disorder has not yet arisen.'

Book of Sui, Chapter 74Volume 74 Biographies 39: Cruel Officials · 1 passage

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《老子》曰：「其政察察，其人缺缺。」 Laozi said, "When government is overly scrutinizing, the people grow defective."

Book of Wei, Chapter 96Volume 90: Retired Officals: Sui Kua, Feng Liang, Li Mi, Zheng Xiu · 1 passage

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乃作神士賦，歌曰：「周孔重儒教，莊老貴無為。 He wrote the Rhapsody of the Divine Scholar, singing: "Zhou and Confucius honor Confucian teaching; Zhuangzi and Laozi prize non-action.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 21Volume 21 Treatises 11: Rites and Music 11 · 1 passage

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高宗自以李氏老子之後也，於是命樂工製道調。 Gaozong, claiming descent from Laozi, ordered musicians to compose Dao mode.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 34Volume 34 Biographies of Recluses 14: Zhen Gao, Shi Ang, Cheng Fuyun, Li Zilun · 1 passage

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少以儒學遊河朔，後去為道士，通老子、莊周之說。 Young he studied Confucianism in Hebei; later he became a Daoist versed in Laozi and Zhuangzi.

History of Yuan, Chapter 202Volume 202 Biographies 89: Buddhists and Taoists · 1 passage

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進講老子推明謙讓之道。 He lectured on Laozi, expounding the way of humility and yielding.