China is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world and the only one that has remained unbroken up to the present time. Moreover, China’s written language, which dates back more than three thousand years, can still be read today. Over two thousand years ago one of the great heroes of ancient China made a written record of all knowledge as it was then known. His name was Sima Qian (died 86 BCE) and he was the Royal Astrologer at the court of Emperor Wu. It is from his Book of History that we first hear the story of Laozi (which means Old Master) and how the philosophy known as Daoism came to be written down.