Laozi in the interpretations of the Old Man by the riverbank.

Hexian-gong (II century BC), or the Old Man by the river, is one of the earliest and most revered commentators of the famous treatise "Laozi". His real name is unknown. According to legends, this sage lived in a hut on the banks of the Huanghe river, and due to his deep understanding of Laozi's teachings, he became so famous for his wisdom that the emperor of the Western Han dynasty, Wen-di, personally paid him a visit.

In the comments of Hexian-gong, one can find teachings on the preservation of vital energy, the foundation of which is care for breathing-qi, as well as the nurturing of the seed-jing and the spirit-shen. Hexian-gong contains one of the earliest mentions of meditative practices, where breathing plays a central role.

Thus, the interpreter attempts to give a practical purpose to the multifaceted text of "Laozi", namely the achievement of longevity. It is worth noting that the book "Laozi" with Hexian-gong's comments is published in Russian for the first time. For the convenience of researchers, this edition presents a parallel Chinese text.

The publication is aimed at sinologists, students, followers of traditional Chinese health practices, as well as anyone interested in Chinese thought and literature.