Lao Tzu (Chinese: è€å, Pinyin: LÇŽozÇ; also transliterated as Laozi, Lao Tse, Laotze, and in other ways) was an ancient Chinese philosopher. According to Chinese tradition, Lao Tzu lived in the 6th century BC, however many historians contend that Laozi actually lived in the 4th century BC, which was the period of Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period.Kohn (2000), p. 4. Lao Tsu was credited with writing the seminal Taoist work, the Tao Te Ching (also known simply as the Laozi).