Hidu

            With origins dating back to 600 BC, Taoism is one of the.
             earliest religions of the far east, predating both Buddhism.
             and Confusiascism. It has survived for centuries,.
             withstanding opposition from anti-Taoist dynasties by.
             storing texts in hollowed out walls. Despite its hardships,.
             Taoism has persevered and is still an important part of.
             Eastern though and religion.
             The most well known of all Taoist sages is the fabled.
             Lao-Tzu. He is credited with writing the Tao Te Ching, the.
             first book to capture Taoist beliefs and thoughts. This is.
             often debated, however, on the grounds that Lao-Tzu may have.
             been the pen name of several sages working together to.
             create the Tao Te Ching (2). Little is known about the origins.
             of the Tao, Taoists believe that while passing through the.
             hills of China, a bridge keeper asked Lao-Tzu to write a.
             book containing his thoughts and beliefs. To satisfy this.
             request, Lao-Tzu wrote what he called "The Book of 5000.
             Characters".(3) This later became known as the Tao Te.
             Ching. When translated, Tao Te Ching means "The Classic Way.
             and Virtue", Tao meaning way or path, Te meaning virtue, and.
             Ching meaning classic(1). Li Er is thought to be Lao-Tzu's.
             given name, if this is true, then Lao-Tzu spent time as the.
             head librarian of the imperial archives. While there,.
             Lao-Tzu (then known as Li Er) studied Chinese history,.
             philosophy, and other works of classic Chinese literature. .
             Later in his life, Lao-Tzu is said to have encounter.
             Confucius(5). At this meeting, Confucius asked Lao-Tzu to.
             explain his views on Taoism. Though the actual conversation.
             is not documented, Confucius came away from the meeting in.
             awe of Lao-Tzu's great intellect. After the encounter,.
             Confucius said to his followers, "I know that a bird can.
             fly; that fishes can swim; that animals can run. Things that.
             run can be caught in nets. What can swim can be caught in.
             traps. What can fly can be shot down with arrows. But what.
             to do with the dragon I do not know.