The Beauty of Lingzhi in the Forbidden City︱Laozi, the Green Ox, and Lingzhi—Written on the 2590th Anniversary of Laozi’s Birth

On the 15th day of the second lunar month—corresponding to March 21—the birthdate of Laozi is believed to have fallen. This year marks the 2,590th anniversary of Laozi’s birth. Taking this opportunity, let us revisit Laozi’s iconic image in the hearts of people today through several kesi silk tapestries and paintings from the National Palace Museum in Taipei, as well as explore the relationship between Laozi and lingzhi mushrooms.

Laozi traveled west through the Hangu Pass.

It is said that Laozi, then in his seventies, served as the Keeper of the Imperial Archives during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty—equivalent to today’s director of the National Library. Seeing the court in decline and the feudal lords vying for power, he resolved to resign from his post and retire into seclusion. Thus, he mounted a green ox and headed westward. As he passed through Hangu Pass, an official stationed at the gate recognized his identity based on the unusual celestial phenomenon known as “purple qi coming from the east.” At the official’s earnest plea, Laozi agreed to compose a two-part work containing more than five thousand words on the essence of morality and virtue.

No one knows where Laozi ultimately went, but according to the "Records of the Grand Historian," because Laozi practiced the art of prolonging life, he lived at least 160 or even over 200 years.

Laozi’s influence on later generations has been profound and enduring. Not only is the “Tao Te Ching” revered as the founding scripture of the Daoist school, but Laozi himself is also honored as “Taishang Laojun” or “Tao De Tianzun,” becoming the founding patriarch of Daoism. Moreover, the Daoist and Taoist pursuit of immortality and longevity has sparked ancient people’s exploration into the medicinal properties of lingzhi mushrooms, which are believed to invigorate the body and prolong life.

In his book "An Introduction to Lingzhi" (Taipei, 1993), Professor Hsu Jui-hsiang of the Department of Biochemical Technology at National Taiwan University points out: “The Daoists advocated taking elixirs and divine medicines with the aim of attaining immortality. However, in the process of developing these divine medicines, research on Lingzhi was also spurred forward. Ancient Chinese people’s understanding of Lingzhi almost entirely originated from the philosophical ideas found in Daoist scriptures...”

Laozi, Green Ox, and Reishi Mushroom Illustration

Perhaps it was precisely because they understood this principle of continuity that the weavers of the Song Dynasty’s kesi silk tapestry “The Image of Laozi Riding a Blue Ox” added several lingzhi mushrooms to the ground, alongside Laozi riding his blue ox amid swirling purple aura and auspicious clouds. It seemed as if they were subtly hinting that by cultivating virtue through moral self-cultivation and nourishing the body with lingzhi mushrooms, one could ultimately attain the state of mind and longevity characteristic of Laozi himself.

Song Dynasty Embroidered Silk Painting of the Blue Ox and Laozi (Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei)

A similar scene also appears in the ink painting “Laozi Riding an Ox” by Chao Buzhi (style name Wujiu, 1503–1110), a disciple of Su Shi from the Northern Song dynasty. In comparison with the earlier kesi tapestry, the dark “something” clustered around the ox’s hooves is very likely not just an inconsequential stone or weed—it could well be a lingzhi mushroom, deeply associated with Laozi himself.

Song Dynasty, Chao Buzhi, "Laozi Riding an Ox," hanging scroll (collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei)

The inscription above the ink-and-wash painting reads: “In a fleeting moment, heading westward, I lost my heart yet sought to cultivate it. Who among us could say—riding a cow, searching for a cow? You may nurture your caution; only then can you truly reap what’s yours. Standing erect, eyes wide open, your courage straight as a spine, your spirit deeply entwined. Like a wooden cock, the hen bursts forth in joyful exuberance. I am neither self nor other—time flows on, endlessly and leisurely.” This inscription precisely captures Laozi’s state of mind as he journeyed westward through the Hangu Pass. The author of this inscription was Wang Shan, a poet from the same era as Chao Bu, and moreover, the驸马 (imperial consort) of Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty—the emperor’s own sister’s husband.

The Way of Laozi & the Marvel of Lingzhi

I wonder which passage from the “Tao Te Ching” resonates with you the most. During the craze for “Travel Frog,” someone pointed out that this serene (or Zen-inspired) game—where you simply wait for the frog to return home—is, in fact, teaching people to embody the principle from Laozi’s 5,000-character work: “To give birth without possessing, to act without relying on it, to nurture without dominating.” In other words:

You can create him, but you can’t own him.
You can help him, but you can’t force him.
You can raise him, but you can’t control him.
You can only let go and allow him to be himself, because that’s what true love is all about.

When you think about it carefully, this principle applies not only to parent-child relationships, intimate relationships, and interpersonal relationships—it also seems remarkably similar to the relationship between Lingzhi’s “tonifying the vital essence and strengthening the foundation” and physical health. It helps restore and optimize your body’s basic physiological functions, enabling these functions to operate normally—rather than replacing or overriding your body’s natural physiological processes. That’s precisely why it can treat different diseases with the same approach and has virtually no side effects.

Watching the ebb and flow of all sorts of new gadgets over just a few short years only underscores the timeless wisdom of Laozi and Lingzhi. Let us begin by learning from Laozi’s teachings on how to cultivate ourselves and navigate life—“to give birth without possessing, to act without relying on it, and to nurture without dominating.” And let’s also remember to regularly harness Lingzhi’s power to “regulate vital energy and nourish longevity”—even if your “little frog” often doesn’t come home.

Laozi Holding a Reishi Mushroom and a Ruyi Scepter (Full-Body Portrait of the Sage Ruler and Virtuous Ministers, Album—Laozi, Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei)

The painting does not feature reishi mushrooms, but it does include bats—a symbol of “good fortune.” (Ming Dynasty, Zhang Lu’s “Laozi Riding an Ox,” hanging scroll; collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei)

[About the Author / Wu Tingyao]

Having reported firsthand news about Lingzhi since 1999, he continues to do so to this day and is the author of “Lingzhi: Marvelous Beyond Words” (published by People’s Medical Publishing House in April 2017).

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