西游记中的太上老君就是宗教化和神话化了的老聃。其实历史上的老聃(即老子)并非神仙,而是中国古代杰出的哲学家、政治家和教育家。他生于春秋末期,楚国苦县(河南鹿邑)历乡曲仁里人。大约与孔子同时。曾任过“周守藏室之史”。是东周王朝管理图书的小官吏。孔子曾拜他为师,向他问礼。在他老年的时候,失去官职,西去秦国。当走到函谷关的时候,守关的长官令尹喜请他著书。出关前留下一部《道德经》,也叫《老子》。老子所处的春秋末期,铁制农具逐步推广,水利灌溉已被利用,开始使用了耕牛和粪肥,有的地区推行了两熟制。社会生产力有了新的发展,从而促使旧的生产关系的瓦解和新的生产关系的成长。当时 Journey to the Lao Zi in the Journey to the West is a religious and mythical old man. Actually, Lao Tzu in history (ie Lao Tzu) is not a god but an outstanding philosopher, statesman and educator in ancient China. He was born in the late Spring and Autumn, Chu bitter county (Henan Luyi) calendar Township Qu Renli. About the same time with Confucius. Served as “the history of Zhou Shou Cang Room.” Eastern Zhou Dynasty is the management of the book of small officials. Confucius once worshiped him as a teacher and asked him the ceremony. In his old age, he lost his post and went west to Qin. When he came to Hokguki, Shouko’s governor ordered him to write a book. Leave before leaving a “moral”, also known as “Lao Tzu”. At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period in which Lao Zi was located, the iron tools were gradually popularized, water irrigation was utilized, cattle and manure were started to be used, and the two-crop system was implemented in some areas. There has been a new development in social productivity, which has led to the collapse of old relations of production and the growth of new relations of production. then