The emTAO TEH KINGem, Tao Te Ching, Daodejing, Dao De Jing, or Daode jing simplified Chinese 369472450332463 traditional Chinese 369472450332147 pinyin Daodej299ng, also simply referred to as the Laozi Chinese 3276923376 pinyin L462oz464, is a Chinese classic text. According to tradition, it was written around 6th century BC by the sage Laozi or Lao Tzu, Chinese 3276923376 pinyin L462oz464, literally meaning Old Master, a record-keeper at the Zhou dynasty court, by whose name the text is known in China. The text's true authorship and date of composition or compilation are still debated, although the oldest excavated text dates back to the late 4th century BC.