Laozi Writes the Tao Te Ching

Laozi was a weary sage who served as the keeper of the archives for the Zhou Dynasty. Distressed by the moral decay of society and the endless conflicts of men, he decided to leave the kingdom and seek the solitude of the western mountains. Riding a water buffalo, he reached the Hangu Pass, the final outpost of civilization. The gatekeeper, Yin Xi, was a man of great spiritual insight who saw a purple mist approaching from the east, signaling the arrival of a divine being. Recognizing Laozi as a master of profound wisdom, Yin Xi blocked his path and refused to let him pass into the wilderness until he had recorded his teachings for the benefit of future generations. Laozi stayed at the pass for several days, brushing five thousand characters onto bamboo slips. This text became the Tao Te Ching, the foundational classic of Taoism. Once finished, Laozi handed the scrolls to Yin Xi, climbed back onto his buffalo, and rode into the setting sun, never to be seen again.