Lao Tzu

Most of Taoist ideas and history are based on this figure, Lao Tzu. He is credited as the founder of Taoism and is said to have written the Tao Te Jing, the main religious text in Taoism. However, it is questionable as to whether he was a real figure in the first place. Historians believe that Lao Tzu may be a fictional character credited with the works of many different wise men from that era. Lao Tzu may simply be an invented character, similar to Hercules in Greek mythology. This is hinted at in his name itself, which directly means "old master," indicating the mass of wisdom gathered over time by many different people. 

Perhaps the reason for his creation was ironically to give Taoism better credibility. He seems to be a supreme wise figure even above Confucius in many texts. Over the years this fictional character was developed further. A biography of Lao Tzu was written in the first century BCE. Later he came to represent all three of a personified representation of the Tao, the founder of Taoism, and the Buddha. 

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Chuang Tzu 

There are other important figures such as Chuang Tzu. He was an actual person in China during the Warring States period of the 5th century BCE. This was a time when many philosophers flourished, as with the Hundred Schools of Thought. He is credited with writing the Chuang Tzu, another collection of important Taoist texts.