Statue of Laozi (Changyang Taizun), Shanxi Ancient Architecture Museum

What it is

This is a large grey stone statue of Laozi, also called Changyang Taizun or Tianzun, in the Shanxi Ancient Architecture Museum. The museum sits on the site of the Taiyuan Chunyang Temple, in Anyi Town, Yanhu District, Yuncheng. The statue shows a seated, elderly bearded man holding a staff topped with a curled ornament. A small 'Do not touch' sign is at its base, and an information panel stands to the right. The facts do not give the date the statue was carved.

Why it matters

Laozi is a semi-legendary figure, traditionally linked to the founding of Taoism. Statues like this one were made to honour him long after his lifetime, so they show how later followers pictured him. The temple setting connects the statue to Taoist religious practice. The statue tells us more about the people who made and visited it than about Laozi himself.

Look closer

• What does the staff and the figure's pose suggest about how he was viewed?
• Why might a museum display a religious statue, and how does that change the way visitors see it?
• What information does the info panel give, and what would you need to check it?