How did Laozi become worshipped as a god in religious Taoism?

Laozi’s transition from a legendary philosopher to a worshipped deity in religious Taoism was a complex process that evolved significantly from the 2nd century CE onward.12

Initially viewed as a historical sage, Laozi became a mythical figure through the development of hagiographies that elevated him to the status of "Lord Lao" (Lao Jun)—a savior of mankind and the revealer of sacred texts. Several factors contributed to this deification:1

• Cosmic Perspective: Religious texts, such as the Book of the Transformations of Laozi, portrayed him as an omnipresent and omnipotent being, the origin of all life, and an emanation of the Dao.12
• Messianic Legends: He was believed to have adopted various personalities throughout history, appearing repeatedly to instruct rulers. Some traditions even identified him as the true identity of the Buddha, a narrative used to frame Buddhism as an inferior form of Taoism.1
• Imperial and Popular Veneration: By the Tang dynasty, he was worshipped as an imperial ancestor. Popular religion embraced him as a saint or god, often attributing to him miraculous birth stories and extraordinary longevity.1

Through these narratives, Laozi became central to Taoist practice, which combined hagiography, the recitation of the Daodejing, and visionary meditation on his divine attributes.12