In Search of the Supernatural, Illustrated and Supplemented, Volume [...]

The Classic of Virtue original: "De Jing," referring to the second part of the Tao Te Ching or a related commentary. says: The body of Laozi is the "Spontaneity of Nature" original: "Ziran er ran." In Taoist philosophy, this describes the self-originating nature of the Way (Tao).. He was born before the Great Nothingness Taiwu: The absolute void that predates the formation of the universe. and transcends all cause and effect. He has witnessed the beginning and end of Heaven and Earth, a span of time that cannot be recorded in writing.

The text also says: Common people believe that Laozi only descended during the Yin Dynasty The Yin (or Shang) Dynasty, roughly 1600–1045 BCE., but his title actually began countless eons ago—it is utterly profound, dark, vast, and ancient.

Before the opening of the world, he repeatedly descended to serve as the Imperial Preceptor Dishhi: A divine teacher who guides the earthly emperor., a lineage that has never been broken, though no person can fully comprehend it. According to the Biographies of Laozi, from the time before the world opened down to the era of Yin, he served as the teacher of kings in every generation, descending into the world through various incarnations.

In the 47th year of King Tang of Yin The legendary founder of the Shang/Yin dynasty., a year of the Metal Dragon original: "Gengshen," the 57th year of the sexagenary cycle., he first manifested the signs of his earthly birth. From the Realm of Eternal Way in Supreme Purity, he rode the solar essence of the sun, transforming into a five-colored globule of primordial light original: "Xuanhuang," literally "dark and yellow," representing the colors of Heaven and Earth. the size of a small pill. At that time, a Jade Maiden The "Jade Maiden of Mysterious Wonder," who would become his earthly mother. was napping during the day; the light flowed into her mouth, and by swallowing it, she became pregnant.

She carried the child for eighty-one years. In the 9th year of King Wu Ding A powerful King of the Yin dynasty., a year of the Metal Dragon original: "Gengchen," the 17th year of the sexagenary cycle., he was born by emerging from the Jade Maiden’s left armpit. At birth, his hair was already white, and so he was called Laozi Literally "Old Master" or "Old Child.". He was born beneath a plum tree, and pointing to the tree, he said: "This shall be my surname." His given name was Er Meaning "Ear." and his courtesy name was Boyang.

From the 9th year of Wu Ding of the Yin Dynasty down to the time of King Zhao of the Qin...