This translation presents Daoism’s basic text in highly readable contemporary English. Incorporating the latest scholarship in the field (including the most recent discoveries of ancient manuscripts in the 1970s and '90s), the book explains Daodejing's often cryptic verses in a clear and concise way. The introduction interprets the Daodejing's poetic imagery in the context of ancient Chinese symbolism, and a brief philosophical analysis accompanies each of the 81 translated chapters of the Daodejing.
The Dao De Jing is one of the richest, most suggestive, and most popular works of philosophy and literature. Composed in China between the sixth and fourth centuries B.C., its enigmatic verses have inspired artists, philosophers, poets, religious thinkers, and general readers past and present. This new translation captures the beauty and nuance of the original work. In addition, the extensive and accessible commentary by Moss Roberts sheds light on the work’s historical and philosophical contexts and shows how the Dao De Jing addresses topics of relevance to our own times, such as politics, statecraft, cosmology, aesthetics, and ethics.
The most accessible and authoritative modern English translation of this esoteric but infinitely practical bestselling book. "No one has done better in conveying Lao Tsu's simple and laconic style of writing, so as to produce an English version almost as suggestive of the many meanings intended." —Alan Watts For nearly two generations, Gia-fu Feng and Jane English's bestselling translation of the Tao Te Ching has been the standard for those seeking access to the wisdom of Taoist thought. Now Jane English and her long-time editor, Toinette Lippe, have revised and refreshed the translation so that it more faithfully reflects the Classical Chinese in which it was first written, taking into account changes in our own language and eliminating any lingering infelicities. They have retained the simple clarity of the original rendering of a sometimes seemingly obtuse spiritual text, a clarity that has made this version a classic in itself, selling over a million copies. Written most probably in the sixth century B.C. by Lao Tsu, this esoteric but infintely practical book has been translated into English more frequently than any other work except the Bible. Gia-fu Feng and Jane English's superb translation offers the essence of each word and makes Lao Tsu's teaching immediate and alive. This edition includes an introduction and notes by the well-known writer and scholar of philosophy and comparative religion, Jacob Needleman.
A new translation of the "Tao Te Ching" merges ancient Eastern philosophy with contemporary Western sensibilities to provide a philosophical strategy for enhancing personal growth
In what may be the most faithful translation of the Tao Te Ching, the translators have captured the terse, enigmatic beauty of the original masterpiece without embellishing it with personal interpretation or bogging it down with explanatory notes. By stepping out of the way and letting the original text speak for itself, they deliver a powerfully direct experience of the Tao Te Ching that is a joy to come back to again and again.
In this new translation and commentary, LaFargue interprets the concept of Tao in the Tao Te Ching as a spiritual state of mind cultivated in a particular school in ancient China a state of mind which also expressed itself in a simple but satisfying life-style, and in a low-key but effective style of political leadership. The interpretation offered here is not only historically accurate, but also conveys the spiritual depth of the Tao Te Ching and its contemporary relevance. The translation is made transparent by a design that presents all of the commentary on the page facing the relevant text.
The Tao Te Ching is one of the world’s oldest and most influential documents. Its view of the mind and its place in the world, paradoxically simple and profound, continue to perplex, excite and inspire today. The Tao Te Ching, also known as The Tao and its Characteristics or The Book of Tao, has traditionally been attributed to Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher of the 6th century BC. The ancient book’s exact origins and authorship are still subject to debate, including some wondering if it was written by a single author or is the accumulated wisdom of many. The text seeks a peeling away of artificial constraints of society and the mind in order to return to the natural balance of the Tao, the essence of all things. This is described as ‘the way’, an immersion in the present moment and a freedom from desire that liberates the self from purely selfish motivations, creating a balanced state of humble simplicity and peace of mind. Poetic and shot through with thought provoking paradox, the text invites absorption, consideration and interpretation. Ceaselessly influential across cultures and centuries, The Tao Te Ching has, at one time or another, impacted religious thought, political theory, philosophy and an array of artists working in everything from poetry to painting to music. Thousands of years old, the text and its message are truly timeless. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Tao Te Ching is both modern and readable.
Arthur Waley's brilliant and definitive translation of one of the foremost of all mystical books, Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, has become a modern classic in its own right. Unlike previous translations, it is founded not on the medieval commentaries but on a close study of all the early Chinese literature, and it provides a singular example of authoritative scholarship skillfully blended with brilliant, precise writing. In his introduction, Dr. Waley gives an extensive scholarly account of Chinese thought down to the end of the third century B.C. Here, the author presents a full picture of Chinese prehistory, early philosophy, and literature, showing the original, lofty conception of Taoism before the gradual corruption through the course of centuries, tracing this conflict of philosophies and its background of politics.
The TAO-TE-CHING, the ancient Taoist text written by philospher Lao-Tzu in the sixth century B.C., has inspired millions of people from all different backgrounds. This beautiful edition contains Chinese characters alongside the English text and is illustrated with black and white drawings. Commentary from the translators helps to illuminate the ideas discussed in the text so that modern-day readers can fully appreciate the meaning.
An accessible translation of the key sacred book of Taoism, updated and featuring an added commentary. The inspirational teachings of Lao-Tzu consist of 81 short chapters; the first 37 form The Book of the Way (the Tao), and the remaining 44 form The Book of Virtue or Power (the Te).
Philip J. Ivanhoe's richly annotated translation of this classic work is accompanied by his engaging interpretation and commentary, a lucid introduction, and a Language Appendix that compares eight classic translations of the opening passage of the work and invites the reader to consider the principles upon which each was rendered.
The “Daodejing” (“Tao Te Ching”) was originally compiled over 2500 years ago in what is now northwestern central China. This new translation of Laozi's “Daodejing” attempts to present a fairly literal rendering of the short, ancient Classical Chinese text. The version of the “Daodejing” used here is the standard “received” text included in the young scholar Wang Bi's third century commentary. The entire Classical Chinese text is presented line by line, from right to left, on pages facing the lines of English translation. This translation differs from the dozens of previous translations (and hundreds of adaptations) of the “Daodejing” in that it doesn't project later cultural or religious beliefs back onto the text. It doesn't omit or add words in order to ignore or explain away those portions of the text that don't reflect a modern, enlightened worldview. Instead, footnotes are provided where necessary to explain how the book's 81 poems reflect the ancient customs and religious practices of Ancient China during what is known as the Warring States Period.All of the book's poems are concerned with the mystical life force Laozi calls the “Way” or a related, resonating personal force he calls “Virtue.” The poems have an intimate, knowing tone to them and touch on many of the concerns of Laozi's day. There are myriad universal deities to be honored and spirits in nature to be considered. There are the friendly spirits of ancestors to be cared for and the unfriendly ghosts of ancestors to be avoided. There are farmers, craftsman, soldiers, and aristocrats to be dealt with, and robbers, madmen, and itinerant philosophers to be on the alert for. There are treaties to be made and battles to be fought. Laozi good-naturedly instructs the reader on how the Way gives rise to Heaven, Earth, mankind, and the “ten thousand things.” Through the poems, he attempts to describe the indescribable: the Way's mysterious action-without-action and its effect on those who trust in it enough to let it guide their lives.
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