Translated to Arabic by Iraqi thinker Hadi al-Alawi (1933-1998), 'Tao Te Ching' ('Dao De Jing') or 'The Book of Tao' by Lao-Tsu. Alawi had an interest in Chinese politics and culture. He was attracted to Taoism and its 'communal' spirit. He resided for many years in China where he taught Arabic and immersed in the study of the culture. 'Tao Te Ching' is a classic Chinese text from around the 6th century BC. Most of the text is attributed to Lao-Tzu ('Old Master'), who was a court record keeper during the Zhou Dynasty. The text is considered an essential element of Taoist philosophy as well as having significant influences on Chinese religions, including Buddhism.