说“老子”

On “LAO Zi”

老子既不以“老”为姓氏 ,又不以“老”为名字 ,但却以“老子”见称于后世 ,这是很值得研究的。在先秦文献中 ,老子本来称作“老聃”。“老子”是战国中期黄老学派的发明 ,与诸子蜂起和稷下学宫“列大夫”的出现有密切关系。“老子”的意思和“老师”有些相似。师中资格最老水平最高者为“老师” ,子中资格最老水平最高者为“老子”。黄老学派借这个名字来推尊他们的学术先师 ,以便压倒其他诸子。从文献来看 ,“老子”这个名称的广泛流行 ,是从汉朝才开始的。至于《史记》中所载老子的籍贯和家世 。

LAO Zi had long been called as“LAO Zi”, but LAO is neither LAO Zi's surname nor his given name. This question merits attention. In the documents of pre-qin dynasty, LAO Zi had be called “LAO Dan” at first. “LAO Zi” was the invention by Huanglao school in the Warring States, but it wasn't very popular until Han dynasty.