Taoist tradition preserves a striking legend about Laozi in his later years. Having served as an archivist under the Zhou dynasty and witnessing what he perceived as deep moral and political decay, he chose to withdraw from the world of official life. He mounted a water buffalo, sometimes described simply as an ox, and set out toward the western frontier, turning his back on the turmoil of the court. The image of the sage riding this humble animal already suggests a deliberate return to simplicity and a life aligned with the rhythms of nature rather than the demands of power.

As the story continues, Laozi arrived at the western border pass, where a gatekeeper named Yin Xi recognized him as no ordinary traveler. Sensing that a great reservoir of wisdom was about to vanish beyond the bounds of civilization, Yin Xi implored him to set down his teachings before leaving. Responding to this earnest request, Laozi paused in his journey and composed a concise work, later known as the Daodejing or Tao Te Ching, a foundational text of Taoist thought. In many tellings, this text is described as brief yet profound, capturing the essence of the Way and its virtue in a remarkably compact form.

After completing this writing, Laozi handed the text to Yin Xi and once more mounted his water buffalo to continue westward. From that point, legend holds that he disappeared beyond the frontier, never to re-enter the historical record. Some versions simply say that he vanished into the wilderness, suggesting a final merging with the Dao beyond the reach of ordinary human affairs. The story thus leaves Laozi at the threshold between the known world and an undefined, mysterious beyond.

The enduring image of Laozi riding a water buffalo gathers several Taoist themes into a single, evocative scene. The water buffalo, associated with humility, simplicity, tranquility, and closeness to the earth, mirrors the values that Taoism extols: a life unburdened by ambition, in harmony with the natural order. Laozi’s westward departure signifies a conscious turning away from corrupt institutions and a return to what is elemental and unadorned. At the same time, his brief halt at the border to transmit the Daodejing suggests that true wisdom does not cling to the world, yet leaves behind a subtle trace for those still walking within it.