heshang gong (also ho-shang kung) is the reputed author of one of the earliest commentaries on the "tao te ching" of laozi to survive to modern times, which is dated to the latter part of the han dynasty. he was reputedly a reclusive chinese hermit from the 1st century ce. other early commentaries include the xiang'er written between ad 190 and 220, and one written by the philosopher wang bi.