朱熹是新安理學的創立者。朱熹視界中的老子既是道家之祖，又是禮學大師；老子之學既源出三代文化，又得益于「方外」之士」的價值取向；老子的清虛無為、柔弱處下既是個人的處世之術，又是統治者的治世之道；老子哲學既影響了儒釋道三教的發展，又影響了漢、晉政治。因此，「朱熹視界中的老子」折射了中國傳統哲學的發展面貌，以及南宋時期的儒道關係。

　　　　　As the creator of Neo-Confucianism in Xinan, Zhu Xi thought that Lao Tzi was a founder of Taoism and famous Ritualist. Lao Tzi's theory, which came out of the cultures of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties and values of the arecluses, included the main ideas of nihility-wuwei and softness-modesty that became the individual philosophy of life and the political philosophy of the ruling class. Lao Tzi's thoughts had influence on Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and the political behaviour in the Han and Jin dynasties. Therefore, "Lao Tzi in the visions of Zhu Xi" reflected the development of Chinese tradition philosophy and the relationship between Confucianism and Taoism.