Lao-Zi Xiang-Er Commentary is the first work in the history of Taoism to annotate Lao-Zi from the perspective of religious theology, which shifted Lao-Zi from the philosophic thoughts to the belief of immortality and is a pioneering work in the history of religion. It has its high status as a patriarch in the history of the development of Taoism. It is a valuable documentary source for the study of early Taoism.
However, Lao-Zi Xiang-Er Commentary is not included in the official history and Zhengtong Daozang. Its author, the era of its publication, and the reasons for its loss are always controversial. It’s blamed for its shallow commentary, or a miscellany of involvement in witchcraft, immortal practice, and sexual therapy. Hence, due to a lack of so-called ethereal tranquility, it is classified as a forged book with negative comments. Furthermore, on account of the practice of changing the words to explain Lao-Zi in Lao-Zi Xiang-Er Commentary, it is considered a misinterpretation of the original meaning of Lao-Zi. Its ideas have been misinterpreted and even replaced by other scriptures, resulting in its loss, thus reducing the significance, value, status, and influence of Lao-Zi Xiang-Er Commentary in the history of Lao-Zi’s thoughts and the development of Taoism. In view of this, this paper further examines and discerns the research of the former sages through the methods of historical research, literature review, and inductive analysis, in order to clear up the controversies and correct the concepts.
The focus of the paper is to determine the controversies and to clarify the value of Lao-Zi Xiang-Er Commentary. In addition, the paper is to explore the absorption and transformation of Taoism, Huang and Lao, the road to immortality, the culture of wizardry and divination, etc. from the philosophical theory of breakthrough, showing its creativity and breakthrough. Furthermore, from the perspective of creative hermeneutics, the paper is also to interpret its religious view of the divine way, the cosmological view of Taoist thoughts and the ideological connotation of longevity into immortality and the comprehensive cultivation. It affirms the uniqueness of its innovative opinion. It is expected to show the significance and meaning of the propositions of Lao-Zi Xiang-Er
Commentary on life, ethics and morality, inner elixir cultivation and Supreme Venerable Lord (Tai Shang Lao Jun) to the theological system of Taoism and to give the Lao-zi Xiang’er Commentary the historical position it deserves in the history of Laozi’s thoughts and the development of Taoism.