One of the most famous military strategy books the Six Secret Teachings(六韬) in ancient China was said to be written by Jiang Ziya, so I asked whether Laozi wrote the book. Laozi commented that he was Lu Tai Gong (鲁太公) and that the names “Tai Gong” or “Tai Gong Wang*” (太公望) in the texts referred to him. These names were used by later students to address him, not the actual name used by King Wen of Zhou or King Wu of Zhou to address him at the time. The main teachings were from him but some settings of under what circumstance these words were said were distorted*.
I asked whether Zhou Gong(Duke of Zhou) referred to him. Laozi confirmed that he was one of the sons of King Wen of Zhou and a younger brother of King Wu of Zhou. Zhou Gong(周公) referred to him but some of the stories about Zhou Gong had distortions. Laozi was the teacher of King Cheng of Zhou and worked hard to assist him. Laozi also commented that he can be called Zhou Gong Wang (Duke Wang of Zhou, 周公望).
May 23, 2026
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* The loyal burial site of the capital of Kingdom Lu in Qufu (鲁国故城西区的望父台) has a place named “Wang Fu Tai” (望父台) indicated that the ancestor of Duke of Lu was named “Wang”望.
*From what I read, the teachings in the book of the Six Secret Teachings(六韬) have the same style and the same level of thinking like the Dao De Ching. Obviously, these teachings from both books were from the same person.
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Below are quotes from the Dao De Ching for those who are interested in understanding ancient texts from Laozi. (translated by Wayne Dyer with some words modified by me):
“The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The Dao is both named and nameless.
As nameless it is the Origin of all things.
As named it is the Creator of ten thousand things*.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one sees only the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name,
Equally profound and mysterious.
This is a great mystery,
The Mystery is the doorway to all understanding. ”
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*Ten thousand things is another way to say “countless things” in ancient China;
Below is a quote from the Six Secret Teachings(六韬), the way of war, translated by me.
King Wu of Zhou asked Tai Gong Wang(太公望), “What is the way of war?”
Tai Gong Wang(太公望) replied,
“The way of war is nothing more than unity. Unity means being able to act as one.
The Yellow Emperor had said before, “Unity is the path to the Way/Dao, almost divine. Its usage lies in opportunity, its manifestation in momentum, and its success in the hands of the leader. Therefore, the sage kings called weapons instruments of misfortune, using them only as a last resort.”
Now the King of Shang only knows that his country exists, but he doesn’t know that it is facing imminent destruction; he only knows indulging in pleasure, but he doesn’t know that disaster is imminent. Whether a country can endure depends not on its current existence, but on its ability to be mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace; whether a leader can enjoy pleasure depends not on immediate enjoyment, but on his ability to remain vigilant even in times of joy. Now that you have considered the fundamental issues of destruction and disaster, what other trivial matters are there to worry about?
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