LAO-JUN

[Chinese] The name of Lao-zi (author of the Dao-de jing and contemporary of Confucius, 6th century BCE) in his deified form. Together with Yuan-shi tian-zong he is one of the highest deities of religious Taoism. The deification began in the 2nd century BCE when he already was a legendary figure, reported to have lived to an unusually high age. He became one of the most important deities during the Late Han Dynasty. Some followers of the Tao considered him to be an emaciation of the primordial chaos. Other followers have gone as far as to question his divinity altogether. His name means "Master Lao" and is also known as Tai-shang lao-jun ("Supreme Master Lao").