People on the Journey, Sanmenxia

People on the Journey, Sanmenxia
Hangu Pass Taichu Palace
According to Sima Qian's "Records of the Grand Historian," Laozi, also known as Lao Shi, with the surname Zi and given name Dan, styled Boyang, was called Lao Dan because men were referred to by their clan name and women by their surname. He once served as a historian managing the royal archives of the Zhou dynasty but later retired from official duties. After riding a green ox westward out of Hangu Pass, "no one knew his final destination."
Laozi was an ancient Chinese philosopher, thinker, and the founder of the Daoist school. His greatest achievement was founding Daoism and leaving behind the "Tao Te Ching," a work of over five thousand characters.
Hangu Pass is famous as the place where Laozi wrote the "Tao Te Ching" and has become one of the birthplaces of Daoist culture.
Figure 7 shows the Wangqi Platform, where Yin Xi saw the "Purple Qi coming from the East." Figure 8 shows the Jiming Platform, where Lord Mengchang’s retainer Tian Wen escaped Qin with the help of his guests' "cock crowing and dog thievery" to flee from the Qin capital and Hangu Pass. Figure 9 marks the place where peach wood charms were discovered in Yin Xi’s former residence.
According to the "Zizhi Tongjian," in the 29th year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang dynasty, Chen Wanggui’s military advisor Tian Tongxiu reported to Emperor Xuanzong that Laozi appeared in a dream. Subsequently, peach wood charms were found in Yin Xi’s former residence at Hangu Pass, and the era name was changed to "Tianbao," meaning "following the Dao treasure to establish the new era."

Post by InfinityExplorer_567 | Oct 14, 2025