Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, was a native of Chu, a southern state during the Zhou dynasty. His birth and death dates are uncertain. He is considered to be the founder of Taoism. According to legend, Lao Tzu set out on a journey to leave China. At the border, he was asked by a border guard to record his teachings. These teachings were compiled into what we know as the Tao-te-Ching, translated as the Classic of the Way and Virtue.