Showing posts with label Tao Te Ching translation. Show all posts

2022/05/17

Tao Te Ching: With Over 150 Photographs by Jane English : Tsu, Lao: GIA-FU FENG

Tao Te Ching, G. Feng and J. English

Full description

Jump to Page

You are on page 1o

Tao Te Ching: With Over 150 Photographs by Jane English : Tsu, Lao: Amazon.com.au: Books

See this image

Tao Te Ching: With Over 150 Photographs by Jane English Paperback – 1 January 1998

by Lao Tsu (Author)

4.8 out of 5 stars 279 ratings

See all formats and editions

Paperback

$29.80

1 Used from $28.18

16 New from $29.27

For nearly two generations, this 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 refreshed and revised the translation, so that it more faithfully reflects the Classical Chinese in which it was first written, while taking into account changes in our own language and eliminating any lingering infelicities. This beautiful oversized edition features over a hundred new photographs by Jane English that help express the vast spirit of the Tao. Also included is an introduction by the well-known writer and scholar of philosophy and comparative religion, Jacob Needleman.

Lao Tsu's philosophy is simple- Accept what is in front of you without wanting the situation to be other than it is. Study the natural order of things and work with it rather than against it, for to try to change what is only sets up resistance. Nature provides everything without requiring payment or thanks. It does so without discrimination. So let us present the same face to everyone and treat them all as equals, however they may behave. If we watch carefully, we will see that work proceeds more quickly and easily if we stop "trying," if we stop putting in so much extra effort, if we stop looking for results. In the clarity of a still and open mind, truth will be reflected. Te-which may be translated as "virtue" or "strength"-lies always in Tao meaning "the way" or "natural law." In other words- Simply be.

Read less

Print length

184 pages

Language

English

Publisher

RANDOM HOUSE DIVERSIFIED

Publication date

1 January 1998

Dimensions

21.51 x 0.91 x 27.81 cm

ISBN-10

0307949303

Frequently bought together

Tao Te Ching: With Over 150 Photographs by Jane English+Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching+Tao Te Ching: A New English Version

Total Price:$74.57

Add all three to Cart

These items are dispatched from and sold by different sellers.

Show details

This item: Tao Te Ching: With Over 150 Photographs by Jane English

by Lao Tsu

Paperback

$29.80

FREE Delivery

Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching

by Ursula K. Le Guin

Paperback

$21.36

FREE One-Day

Get it Tomorrow, May 18

Tao Te Ching: A New English Version

by Reader in Classics Stephen Mitchell

Paperback

$23.41

FREE Delivery

Products related to this item

Tao Te Ching Trans. Lin, Derek

Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations) eBook : SkyLight Paths, Das, Lama Surya, Lin, Derek: Amazon.com.au: Books

Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations) 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

by SkyLight Paths (Author), Lama Surya Das (Foreword), Derek Lin (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 out of 5 stars 489 ratings

See all formats and editions

Kindle

$15.84

Read with Our Free App

Hardcover

$29.64

1 Used from $26.72

10 New from $28.55

Paperback

$20.58

7 New from $20.58

=====

The enduring wisdom of the Tao Te Ching can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.

Reportedly written by a sage named Lao Tzu over 2,500 years ago, the Tao Te Ching is one of the most succinct—and yet among the most profound—spiritual texts ever written. Short enough to read in an afternoon, subtle enough to study for a lifetime, the Tao Te Ching distills into razor-sharp poetry centuries of spiritual inquiry into the Tao—the "Way" of the natural world around us that reveals the ultimate organizing principle of the universe.

Derek Lin's insightful commentary, along with his new translation from the original Chinese—a translation that sets a whole new standard for accuracy—will inspire your spiritual journey and enrich your everyday life. It highlights the Tao Te Ching’s insights on simplicity, balance, and learning from the paradoxical truths you can see all around you: finding strength through flexibility (because bamboo bends, it is tough to break); achieving goals by transcending obstacles (water simply flows around rocks on its way to the sea); believing that small changes bring powerful results (a sapling, in time, grows into a towering tree).

Now you can experience the wisdom and power of Lao Tzu’s words even if you have no previous knowledge of the Tao Te Ching. SkyLight Illuminations provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that describes helpful historical background, explains the Tao Te Ching’s poetic imagery, and elucidates the ancient Taoist wisdom that will speak to your life today and energize your spiritual quest.

Read less

ISBN-13

978-1683363279

Edition

1st

Publisher

SkyLight Paths

Publication date

19 October 2012

Product description

Review

"Hits the mark! A native speaker of both Chinese and English, Lin adeptly bridges the gap between translation and interpretation ... applying [2,500-year-old teachings] to our modern world. Don't miss this book if you want ancient knowledge that can change life for the better today."

--Edward Monaghan, UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center

"A magnificent presentation of arguably the most perfect and complete spiritual teaching ever published, the Tao Te Ching. An absolute must in any home library, no matter what tradition one follows."

--Rabbi David A. Cooper, author of God is a Verb

"Lin's unique rendering captures the spiritual wisdom, poetic grace and immense practicality of this classic text. Will illuminate your way regardless of the path you follow."

--Philip Goldberg, author of Roadsigns: On the Spiritual Path--Living at the Heart of Paradox

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Derek Lin is director of Tao Studies at the Great Tao Foundation of America and is an active speaker and educator on the Tao Te Ching and Tao spirituality. He also serves as webmaster of www.taoism.net, a leading resource for the Tao on the Internet.

Lama Surya Das, one of the foremost Western Buddhist leaders and teachers, is author of the best-selling Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World and other books. Founder of the Dzogchen Meditation Centers in America, he also organizes the Western Buddhist Teachers Conferences with the Dalai Lama.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

Print length ‏ : ‎ 206 pages

Customer Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars 489 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Derek Lin

Derek Lin is the award-winning author of The Tao of Daily Life, The Tao of Success, The Tao of Joy Every Day, The Tao of Happiness, The Tao of Wisdom, and The Tao of Tranquility.

He was born in Taiwan and grew up with native fluency in both Chinese and English. This background lets him convey Eastern teachings to Western readers in a way that is clear, simple and authentic.

Lin has utilized his linguistic skills to create a Tao Te Ching translation that has been lauded by critics as setting a new standard for accuracy and faithfully capturing the lyrical beauty of the original. He is an active speaker and educator on the Tao Te Ching and the Tao in general. More information about his work is available at www.DerekLin.com.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars

Top reviews from Australia

There are 0 reviews and 1 rating from Australia

Top reviews from other countries

Gallery Hakon

3.0 out of 5 stars Alright, but misleading to think of as the literal translation as it claims to be.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2021

Verified Purchase

I wanted to read the Tao-Te Ching again after many years, and I couldn't find my old copy, and so I decided to buy a new one, finding there was suddenly a lot more to choose from than there was 30 years ago when I was limited to my local bookshops.

In the end, based on good reviews, descriptions, comments on forums, and a look inside those books that had that feature on Amazon, I went with this one.

Unlike many others, this one translates the book as literally as possible – at least so it claims – avoiding the common problem of the translator also interpreting the text in their choice of words for the translation. But does it, really?

Now, a literal translation has its own issues. In order for it to be comprehensive, especially for what is, in essence, a book of poetry, it needs to explain all possible double meanings and nuances of meaning that can thus all be valid at the same time. It needs to relate to us the intended effect of poetic devices that don't translate into English.

The problem with this volume is that the parallel notes that, for a purely literal translation, should have that single purpose: to elaborate on double meanings, and to clarify the meaning of idioms, metaphors, historical connotations and aphorisms, and to tell us about the poetic devices of the original, in the context of other poetry of the time period.

Derek Lin does that too, very sparingly, but mostly he does something else: he provides us with what a literal translation should leave up to the reader, an interpretation of the meaning of the text. You may give him some leeway and call it an explanation, but in explaining it, he also, inevitably, offers us the solution (but his, not ours) rather than just showing us the mystery.

Most of the time, his interpretations are good, harmless, and even clarify the meaning of the literal words as they should, but on a few occasions, he displays a complete lack of understanding of the text (usually in how it ties together using poetical devices, missing intended juxtapositions and contrasts, for instance), and a few times he even brings in what I can only presume are his own fanciful notions that have no connection neither with the Tao, this book, or with the real world. They are easy to ignore, of course, even if they stick out quite jarringly.

So, while this purports to be a literal translation, the main purpose of which should be allowing the readers to make up their own minds, that does require ignoring all but the notes clarifying the meaning of the text. Still, the inconsistency in the notes makes me question the validity of the translation itself, and how much has been missed.

Is there a better translation out there?

I think the best way to read the Tao-Te-Ching is to read several translations, comparing with the original Chinese text and with each other. Somewhere, in the similarities and differences between them, one might eventually find the true reading of the text.

When it comes to literal translations, I found a far superior one in "Dao De Jing - In Clear English" by Jeff Pepper and Xiao Hui Wang. While it makes no claim to be a proper academic edition, it provides both the academically minded and the truth-seeking reader with the essentials: a clear literal translation in English, but also the original (in simplified Chinese, and like other good translations based on a combination of extant versions, including the Goudian slips) a character by character translation, and essential notes on meaning.

Read less

Report abuse

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Very articulate commentary

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2021

Verified Purchase

Derek Lin's explanation of the text is very informative and therefore essential.

Report abuse

Charissti

5.0 out of 5 stars Best version of the Tao Te Ching I have found for non-Chinese speakers

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2013

Verified Purchase

Each chapter contains a thoughtful explanation of the thinking behind the words. This book makes more sense than other versions I have read which leave the reader to interpret some odd sounding phrases, possibly because the 'translator' is first having to interpret the Chinese symbols with the aid of a dictionary and no working knowledge of Chinese. I don't speak Chinese but I am aware of the possibility of things being lost in translation between the two languages.

4 people found this helpful

Report abuse

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Taotastic!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2019

Verified Purchase

An excellent rendering of my favourite book ever ... ! Derek's eludications on the text added so much to what is already an excellent text!

One person found this helpful

Report abuse

Chris Oldfield

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good explanation of verses

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 July 2021

Verified Purchase

Very good explanation and translation of the original text.

Written in a way is easy to understand

Report abuse

Want to Read

Rate this book
1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained

by
Derek Lin,
Surya Das (Goodreads Author)
4.29 · Rating details · 45 ratings · 7 reviews
The enduring wisdom of the Tao Te Ching can become a companion for your own spiritual journey.Reportedly written by a sage named Lao Tzu over 2,500 years ago, the Tao Te Ching is one of the most succinct - and yet among the most profound - spiritual texts ever written. Short enough to read in an afternoon, subtle enough to study for a lifetime, the Tao Te Ching distills in ...more

GET A COPYKobo
Online Stores ▾
Book Links ▾

Paperback, Large Print Edition, 336 pages
Published May 8th 2014 by ReadHowYouWant
ISBN
0369305019 (ISBN13: 9780369305015)

Other Editions
None found
All Editions | Add a New Edition | Combine ...Less Detail Edit Details

Edit MY ACTIVITY

Review of ISBN 9780369305015
Rating
1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Shelves to-read
edit
( 1511th )
Format Paperback edit
Status

May 16, 2022 – Shelved as: to-read

May 16, 2022 – Shelved
Review Write a review

comment

FRIEND REVIEWS
Recommend This Book None of your friends have reviewed this book yet.

READER Q&A
Ask the Goodreads community a question about Tao Te Ching

Be the first to ask a question about Tao Te Ching

LISTS WITH THIS BOOK
This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

COMMUNITY REVIEWS
Showing 1-30
Average rating4.29 ·
Rating details
· 45 ratings · 7 reviews

More filters
|
Sort order

Sejin, start your review of Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained
Write a review

Aug 16, 2019 Dennis Littrell rated it it was amazing
Fine commentary, natural translation

Lin’s translation is natural, even lyrical, but the main strength of this book, at least for the serious student, is in his line by line commentary. The layout, with the commentary on the left (even numbered) pages and the text on the right (odd numbered) pages, makes for easy reading and study.

Lin’s introduction gives a bit of the history of the Tao while exploring its accessibility and purpose. In “A Note on the Translation” he recounts some of the difficulties and presents his theory about how the “Lao Tzu” should be rendered into modern English. One of his methods was to

“Start from scratch and create an entirely original work. I could not use existing translations as references because they were not sufficiently accurate.” (p. xxiii)

Lin adds “Existing translations tended to present interpretations as translations.” (p. xxiv)

Of course any translation would be an interpretation to some extent. Lin calls our attention to this distinction:

“A literal translation (also known as formal equivalence) is the nearest linguistic equivalent between the source and the target language, while an interpretation (also known as dynamic equivalence) consists of amplifications and clarifications...” (p. xxiv)

He believes that he has kept his interpretations in the commentary. However whenever choices are made between ambiguous alternatives—and Lin and others all admit that the ancient Chinese they are translating from is full of them—that choice involves an interpretation. Furthermore because the Tao Te Ching is a treatise written in poetic language—actually it can be considered a long poem—interpretation is unavoidable.

We should keep in mind that a real poem is a non-linear extra-denotative expression. There are layers of meaning in poetic words and phrases beyond their denotative meanings. Allusion, sound, rhythm, rhyme, simile, reference—hyperbole even (or in the Tao, especially!)—create a context of meaning that often cannot be directly translated. So something is always lost in translation and something is sometimes gained. That which is gained may not be what was originally meant.

Another thing to remember is that ancient texts get corrupted. D. C. Lau in his Penguin Classics edition of the Lao Tzu from 1963 indicates that sometimes a negative slips in that doesn’t seem to fit. But can we be sure? Sometimes scribes copying the text make mistakes. Sometimes they purposely alert the text to suit their beliefs.

It is also true that the meaning of some of the Chinese calligraphy characters has changed over time. Lin gives the example of the character “shuang” in his commentary for Chapter (or Verse) 12. He translates it as meaning “tasteless” whereas in modern Chinese the character means “refreshing.”

In this context let’s compare the first three lines of Lin’s translation of “12” with the well-known poetic and dynamic translation from Stephen Mitchell. First here’s Lin’s:

“The five colors make one blind in the eyes
The five sounds make one deaf in the ears
The five flavors make one tasteless in the mouth”

Now here is the way Mitchell has it:

“Colours blind the eye.
Sounds deafen the ear.
Flavours numb the taste.
Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires wither the heart.”

It appears that the number “five” is in the original and Lin wants to keep it. However he notes on the facing page that “The five colors, five sounds, and five flavors denote the vast array of sensory stimulations in the material world.” This usage is similar to the “ten thousand things” that the Chinese refer to when addressing something containing large entities. Our word “myriad” comes from the Greek meaning “ten thousand.”

So which translation is better? True to his intent Lin’s is truer to the denotative meaning, but to my sensibilities at least Mitchell’s is the more poetic, and perhaps is more in keeping with the spirit of simplicity in the Tao. Mitchell writes in the Harper Perennial Modern Classic edition of his book from 2006: “With great poetry, the freest translation is sometimes the most faithful.” (p. x)

By the way, notice the lack of punctuation marks in Lin’s translation. Lin purposely eschews punctuation whenever possible. He notes that “punctuation marks did not exist in the ancient Chinese...” and so his lines do not have periods or commas or semi-colons. He says he “wanted to approximate the open, porous feel of ancient Chinese...”

I don’t want to give the impression that I think Mitchell’s translation is superior or even more poetic. Let’s look at the first nine lines of the famous number “56.” Let’s look at Mitchell’s first this time:

“Those who know don't talk.
Those who talk don't know.

Close your mouth,
block off your senses,
blunt your sharpness,
untie your knots,
soften your glare,
settle your dust.
This is the primal identity.”

Now here is Lin’s:

“Those who know do not talk
Those who talk do not know

Close the mouth
Shut the doors
Blunt the sharpness
Unravel the knots
Dim the glare
Mix the dust
This is called Mystic Oneness”

Here I would say that Lin’s rendition is more poetic and more in keeping with the Tao’s simplicity.

It is noteworthy that in his Forward for this book Lama Surya Das, an American born Tibetan Buddhist master, calls the Tao Te Ching “the wisest book ever written.” Yes, from a Buddhist; but recall that the wisdom of the Tao informs and is compatible with Zen Buddhism.

Bottom line: the fine translation and the informed commentary make this book very much worthwhile.

—Dennis Littrell, author of “Yoga: Sacred and Profane (Beyond Hatha Yoga)”
(less)
flag 4 likes · Like · comment · see review

Nov 06, 2021 Shashi Prakash rated it really liked it
Ayoo, Imma be a monk now. :)))
flag 1 like · Like · comment · see review

Apr 09, 2022 Deepu Shibu rated it really liked it
I was interested in this book for quite some time. I got an e-book and read it finally. Flipping pages to read the explanations to the chapters was a bit tedious but worth the effort. A book that probably transcends time. I think it requires a much more dedicated effort to learn all that it has to offer.
flag Like · comment · see review

Sep 12, 2021 Orogenes rated it it was amazing
Very appreciable dedication to presenting as authentic a translation as possible along with thoughtful and easily digestible explanations of meaning / interpretation. I will refer back to these specific translations as I continue to study!
flag Like · comment · see review

Jun 09, 2021 Dan Gabree rated it it was amazing
Good translation with excellent notes and background. Greta version of this classic.
flag Like · comment · see review

Aug 20, 2021 Cindy Huskey rated it liked it
Shelves: 2021, classics
The annotations are the best part of this text. Clearly, Lin has studied and devoted a great deal of research in translating and annotating Tzu’s work.
flag Like · comment · see review

Dec 12, 2019 Jack Reifenberg rated it really liked it
Shelves: classics, philosophy
Glad I read this and meditations near each other. Will definitely need to revisit when I’m all grown and stuff. I love the complementary aspect of the Tao, how it can still function within other ideologies. The water analogy is perfect

Tao Te Ching Trans. Darrell D. Lau

Tao Te Ching (Classics) eBook : Lao Tzu, Darrell D. Lau: Amazon.com.au: Books

Tao Te Ching (Classics) New Impression Edition, Kindle Edition

by Lao Tzu (Author), Darrell D. Lau (Translator) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 out of 5 stars 589 ratings

See all formats and editions

Kindle

$10.99

Paperback

$15.13

====

'Have little thought of self and as few desires as possible'

Whether or not Lao Tzu was a historical figure is uncertain, but the wisdom gathered under his name in the fourth century BC is central to the understanding and practice of Taoism. One of the three great religions of China, Taoism is based upon a concept of the Tao, or Way, as the universal power through which all life flows. The Tao Te Ching offers a practical model by which both the individual and society can embody this belief, encouraging modesty and self-restraint as the true path to a harmonious and balanced existence.

Translated with an Introduction by D. C. Lau

25 July 1974

Product description

Review

"The power of the -Lao--tzu's imagery and, ultimately, the simplicity of its message seem to be able to overcome the problems of language and of distance in time and place, so that at the end of the twentieth century, this has become one of the most influential of texts, cherished by people in all walks of life throughout the world." -from the Introduction by Sarah Allan --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

The Tao Te Ching is surely the most terse and economical of the world's great religious texts. In a series of short, profound chapters, it elucidates the idea of the Tao, or the Way--an idea that in its ethical, practical and spiritual dimensions has become essential to the life of China's enormously powerful civilization. In the process of this elucidation, its author Laotzu both clarifies and deepens those central religious mysteries around which our life on earth revolves. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Print length ‏ : ‎ 193 pages

Customer Reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars 589 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

Top review from Australia

Brad

3.0 out of 5 stars A reasonable translation, but otherwise hard reading.

Reviewed in Australia on 13 July 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a reasonable translation, but the english used in the book can be quite difficult to parse and tends to obscure the meaning of the original text. You might find yourself spending more time digesting the language than considering the philosophy being presented. More recent translations (such as William Scott Wilson's) retain the meaning and spirit of the text but use a simpler, direct approach to the translation itself.

Still worth picking up as an additional reference on the original text, as D. C. Lau does provide a lot of additional context and insight on the choice and meaning of the terms used in the text.

2 people found this helpful

====

Top reviews from other countries

Jared Woods

5.0 out of 5 stars Life-changing.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2021

Verified Purchase

This was D.C. Lau's translation and while his expertise in the field of Chinese to English adaptation offers one of the more direct translations, his introduction/conclusions were borderline unreadable. Regardless, by using his understanding coupled with other adaptations, I fell in love with the core text.

Of every religious teaching I've read, the Tao Te Ching was the best one. It is the most enlightened I've felt after any holy text, and I know I can always fall back on these words for help whenever I need them. Unlike every other faith I've looked into, Taoism is logical, applicable, and not weird whatsoever. The amount of wisdom that these verses can initiate within anyone is infinite, and it has the potential to change your life forever. If you spent the rest of your days chilling within this space, your mental health would gently sway in the wind, and you would be a better person for it in all aspects. I know this will stand true for me.

If someone said to me that the Tao Te Ching was the best book ever written, I would be unable to argue.

13 people found this helpful

Report abuse

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2021

Verified Purchase

What a beautiful book, what beautiful philosophy and what a beautiful religion Taoism is. It’s actually very pleasant reading the Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu) and you learn much about it, besides the actual scripture itself in this book. I would advise you to read about Taoism generally before reading the Tao Te Ching, for example, I read Taoism for Dummies first, which really helped me grasp the way (Tao). I highly recommend the Tao Te Ching and Taoism in general to anyone with a predilection for religions!

5 people found this helpful

Report abuse

Tariki

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor from Penguin

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 September 2020

Verified Purchase

Re the Penguin Edition, by just reading a few pages of the Introduction I was presented with some rogue punctuation and strange spellings. Distracting. Again, what little of it I read seemed rather dry.

Returned for refund.

Report abuse

Sunyi Dean

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2022

Verified Purchase

I read this for research for a novel I am writing but I really enjoyed it. Profound and useful and well annotated.

Report abuse

Den

5.0 out of 5 stars The informative translation

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2016

Verified Purchase

With appendices, glossary, copious notes and an extensive introduction, this is the book to read if you seek an in depth look at the Tao teaching.

7 people found this helpful

Report abuse

===

Dao De Jing: Trans. Ames, Roger, Hall, David

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation eBook :

Ames, Roger, Hall, David

: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation Kindle Edition

by Roger Ames (Author), David Hall (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

See all formats and editions

Kindle

$14.99

Read with Our Free App

Audible Logo Audiobook

1 Credit

Hardcover

$102.80

1 Used from $106.95

1 New from $102.80

Paperback

$22.87

9 New from $22.87

MP3 CD

—

Audio, Cassette

$34.53

1 New from $34.53

In 1993, archaeologists unearthed a set of ancient bamboo scrolls that contained the earliest known version of the Dao de jing. Composed more than two thousand years ago, this life-changing document offers a regimen of self-cultivation to attain personal excellence and revitalize moral behavior. Now in this luminous new translation, renowned China scholars Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall bring the timeless wisdom of the Dao de jing into our contemporary world.

In this elegant volume, Ames and Hall feature the original Chinese texts of the Dao de jing and translate them into crisp, chiseled English that reads like poetry. Each of the eighty-one brief chapters is followed by clear, thought-provoking commentary exploring the layers of meaning in the text. This new version of one of the world’s most influential documents will stand as both a compelling introduction to Daoist thought and as the classic modern English translation.

Read less

12 May 2010

Product description

Book Description

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Review

"A NEW ENGLISH VERSION OF THE CLASSIC CHINESE DAO DE JING . . . Provoke[s] the reader to see the text with fresh eyes.

This is a valuable find for anyone who wants to reengage a foundational work."

--Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Inside Flap

In 1993, archaeologists unearthed a set of ancient bamboo scrolls that contained the earliest known version of the "Dao de jing. Composed more than two thousand years ago, this life-changing document offers a regimen of self-cultivation to attain personal excellence and revitalize moral behavior. Now in this luminous new translation, renowned China scholars Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall bring the timeless wisdom of the "Dao de jing into our contemporary world.

In this elegant volume, Ames and Hall feature the original Chinese texts of the "Dao de jing and translate them into crisp, chiseled English that reads like poetry. Each of the eighty-one brief chapters is followed by clear, thought-provoking commentary exploring the layers of meaning in the text. This new version of one of the world's most influential documents will stand as both a compelling introduction to Daoist thought and as the classic modern English translation. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From the Back Cover

About the Author

Roger T. Ames is a professor of Chinese philosophy at the University of Hawai'i. He is also editor of the journal Philosophy East & West. He is the author of several interpretive studies of classical Confucianism, including Thinking Through Confucius (with David L. Hall). His translation of Sun-tzu- The Art of Warfare is recognized as a landmark of contemporary Chinese military and philosophical studies and his translation of The Analects ofConfucius (with Henry Rosemont, Jr.) has become a popular classroom text.

David L. Hall was a professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas at El Paso. His early research on A. N. Whitehead and American philosophy led him to rethink our understanding of both Daoism and classical Greek philosophy, and resulted in the publication of The Uncertain Phoenix and Erosand Irony. In addition to the interpretive studies of classical Chinese philosophy, he continued to publish in American philosophy with Richard Rorty- Prophet and Poet of the New Pragmatism.

From the Hardcover edition. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

====

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation

by Lao Tzu, Roger T. Ames (Translator), David L. Hall (Translator)

4.28 · Rating details · 136,848 ratings · 6,020 reviews

===========================

trivialchemy

Jun 06, 2007trivialchemy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: antiquity, philosophy

The book that can be reviewed is not the constant book.

The review which reviews can be neither full of review nor lacking.

But as the river changes course over seasons must the reviewer neither review nor not review, but follow the constant review.

flag611 likes · Like · 59 comments · see review

Gerry

Jun 28, 2007Gerry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm an unbeliever and have been since the first time I played hooky from Sunday services and the Eye in the Sky didn’t say boo. So it may seem strange that I’m reviewing the Tao Te Ching, the widely known and influential Taoist text, written by Lao-Tzu and poetically translated in this edition by Stephen Mitchell. For me, the Tao Te Ching is more folk wisdom than religious treatise and is more useful than a million sermons.

Where the Tao Te Ching parts company with religious attempts at morality such as the 10 Commandments is in its inclusiveness. Seven of the 10 Commandments don’t mention God and are sound advice designed to facilitate peaceful community relations: respect your elders, don't kill, don't cheat on your spouse, don't steal, don't tell lies, and don't lust after another's spouse or his belongings. For me, the tragedy of the Great List is that the three that top it serve only to divide the world into believers and nonbelievers: regardless how closely you follow the last seven, if you don’t believe in God you’re not worth a fig. In doing so the first three create division where the last seven seek harmony. With Taoism, even if you don’t believe in the Force-like nature of the Tao—and in case there’s any question, I don’t—you can still consider yourself a Taoist.

Taoism seeks harmony by freeing the individual from the caustic effects of judgmental thinking, desire, and greed, and its fulcrum is the concept of “non-action,” or literally “doing not-doing.” Non-action, Mitchell writes in his introduction, is not the act of doing nothing but instead is the purest form of action: “The game plays the game; the poem writes the poem; we can’t tell the dancer from the dance.”

This slim book is both a quick read and a long study. Mitchell’s lyrical rendering of the Tao Te Ching might read to some like silly hippie clichés, but there’s more to it than that. Take chapter 9, a photocopy of which hung on my office corkboard for years:

Fill your cup to the brim and it will spill.

Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench.

Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.

You can almost see the hacky sack and smell the patchouli. But there’s a truth to it that, if grasped, will change the way you think.

As chapter 1 states: “The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao./The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.” Analogy, then, plays an important role in understanding the Tao Te Ching, and the reader has to do quite a bit of work—the long study part—to fathom the book’s richness. Take chapter 11 in its entirety, where non-action is discussed:

We join spokes together in a wheel, but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house, but it is the inner space that makes it livable.

We work with being, but non-being is what we use.

There is more to the book than philosophical abstraction. In fact, common sense pervades the Tao Te Ching. Take these lines, which discuss the roots of crime: “If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal” (chapter 2) and “If you don’t trust the people you make them untrustworthy” (chapter 17). Or these, from chapter 38, which describe the toll of illusory thought:

When the Tao is lost, there is goodness.

When goodness is lost, there is morality.

When morality is lost, there is ritual.

Ritual is the husk of true faith,

The beginning of chaos.

Therefore the Master concerns himself with the depths and not the surface,

With the fruit and not the flower.

He has no will of his own.

He dwells in reality, and lets all illusions go.

I’m telling you, had I been born into Taoism I might actually believe in something. (less)

flag276 likes · Like · 26 comments · see review

Ahmad Sharabiani

Apr 27, 2012Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: culture, asia, theosophy, 06th-century-bc, china, religion, buddhism

Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu

The Tao Te Ching, also known by its pinyin romanization Dao De Jing, is a Chinese classic text traditionally credited to the 6th-century BC sage Laozi.

The text's authorship, date of composition and date of compilation are debated. The oldest excavated portion dates back to the late 4th century BC, but modern scholarship dates other parts of the text as having been written—or at least compiled—later than the earliest portions of the Zhuangzi.

The Tao Te Ching, along with the Zhuangzi, is a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism.

It also strongly influenced other schools of Chinese philosophy and religion, including Legalism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, which was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts when it was originally introduced to China.

Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and gardeners, have used the Tao Te Ching as a source of inspiration. Its influence has spread widely outside East Asia and it is among the most translated works in world literature.

The highest good is like water. Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive. It flows in places men reject and so is like ... In action, watch the timing. No fight: No blame. Lao Tzu

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز سوم ماه آگوست سال 2012میلادی

عنوان: اس‍ت‍اد پ‍ی‍ر: ت‍ائ‍وت‍ه‌ چ‍ی‍ن‍گ‌، ی‍ا، ک‍ت‍اب‌ پ‍ی‍روی‌ م‍س‍ت‍ق‍ی‍م‌ از راه‌ و روش‌ ه‍س‍ت‍ی‌ و ح‍ی‍ات‌ ب‍ا راه‍ن‍م‍ائ‍ی‌ درک‌ درون‍ی‌ (دل‌)؛ نویسنده: لائ‍و ت‍زو؛ مت‍رج‍م: م‍ه‍دی‌ ث‍ری‍ا؛ نشر قوانین، 1373؛ در 107ص؛ موضوع نوشتارهای نویسندگان چین - سده شش پیش از میلاد

عنوان: تائو ته چینگ؛ نویسنده: لائو تزو؛ مترجم: امیرحسن قائمی؛ ویراستار ایوب کوشان؛ تهران، چاپ مترجمها، 1379؛ در 109ص؛ شابک9643506967؛

عنوان: تائو ته چینگ؛ نویسنده: لائو تزو؛ مترجم: فرشید قهرمانی؛ تهران، سیاه مشق، 1382؛ در 81ص؛ شابک 9649447229؛ چاپ دیگر تهران، مثلث، 1383؛ چاپ سوم 1386؛ شابک 9648496064؛ چاپ چهارم 1386؛ پنجم و ششم 1387؛ هفتم و هشتم 1388؛ نهم 1389؛ یازدهم 1390؛ دوازدهم 1391؛ سیزدهم تا پانزدهم 1392؛ شابک 9789648496062؛ موضوع راهنمای هنر زندگی از نویسندگان چینی - سده 6پیش از میلاد

مترجمهای دیگر آقایان: اردلان عطارپور؛ محمدرضا چنگیز؛ سید حسین نصر؛

این متن کهن را، به «لائو تزو» یا «لائو دزو» نسبت داده اند، «لائو تزو»، ششصد سال پیش از میلاد مسیح، و همزمان با «کنفوسیوس»، میزیسته است؛ «لائو تزو» همان مرشد، پیر، یا استاد هستند؛ تاریخنگار، و کتابدار دربار امپراطوری «جو»، بوده اند، و تنها همین کتاب، از ایشان به یادگار مانده؛ راهنمای هنر زندگی، و خرد ناب است؛ گفته اند: «لائو تزو» یک زندگی ساده، و هماهنگ با طبیعت، داشته اند، که همان پیام «تائو» میباشد، عمری دراز زیسته اند، گویا بین یکصد و شصت تا دویست سال زیسته باشند؛ ...؛

نقل از متن: خوب همانند آب است، بدون تلاش همه را سیراب میکند، جمع شدن در گودها را کوچک نمیشمارد؛ پایان نقل

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 02/09/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 02/07/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی (less)

flag191 likes · Like · 3 comments · see review

Dolors

Sep 02, 2014Dolors rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Those wanting to hear the other version

Recommended to Dolors by: the voices

Shelves: read-in-2014

“The Tao is always nameless” (Chapter 71)

Trying to narrow down the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching with limiting words is to violate its primordial essence. How can one describe the Universe, the natural order of things, the incessant flowing from being to non-being, the circular unity of a reality traditionally mismatched in dualistic terms?

The Tao Te Ching doesn’t provide answers because there needn’t be questions, just the harmony of moulding to the landscape rather than trying to impose a particular shape on it.

The Tao Te Ching is the route in itself, the path to emptying the human mind of ambitions, schemes and desires and allow it to be flooded with the smoothness of humility and the exhilarating liberation of a simple life.

The Tao Te Ching exults the feminine yin over the masculine yang in the eternal interdependence of opposites, identifying its indwelling suppleness with the intrinsic elements of the Tao.

“The great state should be like a river basin.

The mixing place of the world,

The feminine of the world.

The feminine always overcomes the masculine by its softness

Because softness is lesser.” (Chapter 61)

Thus the Tao cannot be expressed, it has no name, it is indivisible, inaudible and immutable but also the origin of multiplicity that gives way to ambivalent interpretation, which in turn engenders the befuddling suspicion that the more one wants to unravel the Tao the less one masters it because its aim relays precisely in attaining unforced wisdom.

Composed of eighty one aphorisms with aesthetic lyricism reminiscent of ancient riddles or even taunting wordplay, the Tao Te Ching dismisses moral teachings, embraces paradoxical dichotomies and differentiates itself from other doctrines like Confucianism because it relays in intuition rather than in duty rooted on imposed moral principles or any other contrived authority.

According to the introduction (*), some schools of thought have accused the Tao of endorsing chaotic anarchy and of not responding to consistent criteria, but such ambiguity in the use of language and its playful axioms are in fact a pure reflection of its skeptical views on measuring all actions according to artificial rules disguised as traditional rituals.

I can’t claim to have found everlasting serenity in connecting to the natural flow of Taoism and accepting its philosophy of “action through inaction”, but the idea of finding comfort in the constant contradiction of the positive and negative forces within oneself in order to embrace the convoluted intricacies of existence casts an overwhelming shadow to the absolute dichotomies and blind beliefs prompted by the more familiar monotheistic “fear based” religions, where guilt, punishment and suffering are the conduits to salvation.

Why crave for redemption if we learn to follow the “way things are” and welcome the natural interdependence between opposites, accepting disorder, nothingness and non-being as part of the indestructible unity of all things?

“There is nothing better than to know that you don’t know” (Chapter 71)

(*) Note: The Barnes & Nobles edition comes with an explanatory introduction about the origins of the Tao, a very useful epilogue and an historical timeline of the identity of its mysterious author(s). Highly recommended edition.

(less)

flag102 likes · Like · 62 comments · see review

Burt

Aug 17, 2007Burt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Philosophers, Followers of Eastern Thought

Shelves: required_reading, philosophy

This is, by far, my favorite translation of the Tao Te Ching. I own a few others and they're all well and good, but this one is the one I continually read from and refer to when people ask me about the Tao.

The translation is well done, it captures the nature of the text well, and it flows fairly evenly. It's not overly flowery or ornate, it gives you the basics of what you need to understand the various entries and assist in understanding what Tao is (i.e. the the Tao named Tao is not the great, eternal Tao).

It's a book that changed my life. I learned of Taoism in a world history class in high school, and when my friends took their Philosophy 101 course at the local university this was the text they worked with. My copy came second hand from the U's bookstore and I have had it ever since. It has taught me to understand a lot of the things in the world that otherwise would baffle me and lends a lot to my own personal philosophies.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is lost on their path through life. It doesn't have all of the answers, but it does have a LOT of perspective. (less)

flag84 likes · Like · 2 comments · see review

Heidi Parton

Nov 15, 2011Heidi Parton rated it did not like it · review of another edition

This version irritates me a lot, largely because of Stephen Mitchell's arrogance in writing it (I'll go into that in a bit). This is not a translation (which Mitchell was at least gracious enough to make clear in the back of the book); it's a translation of various translations. The problem with this is that a translation of a translation turns out the same way that a copy of a copy does: while some of the original words and phrases are identifiable, there's a lot that's lost or skewed.

For example, here is a good translation of the first line of Ch. 3 by D.C. Lau: "Not to honor men of worth will keep the people from contention."

Stephen Mitchell's translation of the same line is: "If you overesteem great men, / people become powerless."

The original Wang Bi character in question is 爭, or zhēng, which means "dispute," "strive," "contend," "fight," etc. It does not mean "powerless." By free-handing the translation, Mitchell alters the meaning of the text. While it doesn't damage the understanding of someone already familiar with Taoism and its literature, it does mislead those new to Taoism who seek an authentic introductory text to understand the philosophy.

As I mentioned above, what really irritates me is Mitchell's arrogance regarding his version of the text versus the original Chinese versions and the translations that more closely adhere to their meaning. In the question-and-answer section located in the back of the book, the querent says: "But it's one thing to translate Rilke and the Book of Job when you read German and Hebrew; it's quite another to translate books like the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita, or Gilgamesh without any knowledge of the original languages." Mitchell's response is: "Yes, it's a different kind of venture, but not so different as you might think. Of course, I wouldn't dare work with a text that I didn't feel deeply connected to--I used to speak of my 'umbilical connection' to Lao-tzu. I had discovered the Tao Te Ching shortly before I began Zen training in 1973." Later, the querent asks: "You knew what Lao-tzu was talking about, through direct experience [in Zen meditation] of your own?" And Mitchell replies: "That's where my confidence came from." Essentially, Mitchell is claiming that his text is authentic because of his felt spiritual connection to its author, rather than it being an accurate translation of the text. But isn't the best translation one that is authentic on multiple levels, emotionally and literally? However, if I had to choose, I'd rather read a translation that is accurate and discover the emotional resonance on my own. Also, FYI: Zen is a school of Buddhism, not Taoist, though it was influenced by Taoism. They share some similar values and qualities, but they are distinct.

Mitchell continues: "There was also the excitement of the aesthetic challenge. Some calculated that by 1986 there were 102 translations of the Tao Te Ching into English alone. I had read six or seven of them, and although I loved the content, the language was mediocre at best: not much poetry in it, not much sparkle. This may sound arrogant too, and irrational. How can you fall in love with a book whose actual words bore you? But that's what happened." This sentiment, I think, is the source of all the problems I have with the text. It's completely non-Taoist. If Mitchell had paid attention to even his version of the last chapter, 81, which reads: "True words aren't eloquent; / eloquent words aren't true," he would have seen the folly of his approach. Instead, he decided that he'd rather cut entire paragraphs, rearrange the remaining words, and even alter the meaning to better suit his aesthetic values. His disregard for accuracy and his preference for his concept of beauty over truth not only shows a complete lack of respect for the text, the tradition and its culture of origin; it's also just not scholarly.

Another interesting admission made by Mitchell is that he spent only four months writing this version. "By contrast," he says, "it had taken me seventeen years to finish my translation of the Book of Job. So, obviously, I was getting more focused, or more efficient..." I disagree with him there--it's not obvious to me that he was any more focused or more efficient. The vast difference in time spent translating Job and rewriting the Tao Te Ching instead tells me that he worked very hard to faithfully render the former and just cobbled together the latter. Mitchell actually reads and understands Hebrew, so it's likely that he was aware of the nuances of the language and therefore understood the importance of accurately rendering the text into English. Mitchell doesn't read any Chinese. If the language is incomprehensible to him, how can he possibly grasp the nuances of the characters in order to accurately translate them for others?

This isn't to say that his version is completely wrong. Many sections are fairly accurate (like the line in Ch. 81 that I mentioned above). But there are also many places in his text that are inaccurate to the point of misconstruing the core concepts of the belief system.

So if you're new to Taoism and are looking for a translation that accurately communicates Taoist beliefs and sensibilities, I suggest that you go somewhere else. There are many other translations that more accurately render the Tao Te Ching in English. Each has its own particular "flavor" and may contain slightly different words or rhythms, but most aim to faithfully present an accurate translation of the text that, while not serving every culture's aesthetic requirements, is very beautiful in its own way and has a lot of wisdom to offer, regardless of cultural and generational differences in taste. Here's a good website to get you started: http://wengu.tartarie.com/wg/wengu.ph... The site provides not only several different translations, but also the original Wang Bi text with translations of each character.

If, however, you're already familiar with the Tao Te Ching and other Taoist literature, Mitchell's book at least serves as a good example of Taoism's effect on contemporary American culture. (less)

flag56 likes · Like · 28 comments · see review

Eddie Watkins

Mar 13, 2009Eddie Watkins rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: spirituality, old-chinese-poetry, adventures-in-thought

There are many translations of the Taoteching, nearly every one of which is probably worth reading, but this is my favorite version. I can’t attest to the accuracy of the translation, but having read so many different translations of the same text I feel like in some strange way I have a grasp of the original; as if a blank space (the Chinese original) has been given shape and definition by all the English versions surrounding it. But anyway... while I like the spare sensitivity of the language in this version, what makes this version extra special are the added bonuses: an engagingly detailed introduction exploring the life of Lao Tzu, what amounts to an original thesis on the very meaning of “tao”, and commentaries (on specific lines, even specific words) appended to each of the 81 entries that have been culled from centuries upon centuries of critical commentary, by scholars and eccentric mystics alike.

There is recent scholarship that is making the argument that instead of meaning “way” or “path”, which is usually taken to mean how we as people conduct ourselves in accordance with a mysterious spiritual principle, that “tao” actually refers to the Moon and its various phases and paths in space, with particular emphasis on the darkness of the new moon and its significance as potential in darkness. The new moon “hides” its fullness. The fullness is there in potential, unspent. I like this. There’s something pleasingly primitive about it (gimme that old-time religion!), i.e. something real and tangibly mysterious, but also something practical and spiritual – a connector between eye and heart that through some subtle gravity guides our feet along a path.

The commentaries that follow each poem or entry are fascinating and just scratch the surface of what I understand is a vast accumulation of scholarship on this text. The commentaries are often wildly contradictory and tangential, obsessive to an anal nth degree, but also at times wise in their own right. These commentaries have been written by official scholars, by mendicant monks, and even one or two extreme eccentrics living on the fringes of society unaffiliated with any institution. At the back of the book are short biographies of each commentator, which is fascinating reading in itself. It all adds up to evidence that this is a living book, with enough clear and direct meaning to be perpetually valid, and enough obscurity to be endlessly pondered.

The translator is an American who goes by the name Red Pine. He’s almost 70 now and has been a practicing Buddhist for years, but more in the wandering independent scholar Gary Snyder type style. He’s also translated the Diamond Sutra, poems of Han Shan (Cold Mountain) and Stonehouse, and some other Buddhist texts. In every work of his I’ve read there’s serious scholarship in evidence, but also a free spirit and independent thinker with a unique store of fresh air.

(less)

flag57 likes · Like · 10 comments · see review

Florencia

Aug 18, 2018Florencia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: religions-myths-and-other-stories, chinese, philosophyland

Concatenated thoughts. Review #1 ✔ - #2

They come to be and he claims no possession of them,

He works without holding on,

Accomplishes without claiming merit.

Because he does not claim merit,

His merit does not go away.

The Tao Te Ching is a classical text credited to Chinese philosopher and writer Lao Tzu (6th century) and on which Taoism is based. It consists of 81 short chapters written in poetic form which, using a pithy language brimming with evocative and, at times, repetitive contradictions, provide guidance on how humanity may have a harmonious relationship with nature, with the Tao. In an inspiringly laconic way, the chapters reveal the sage’s fundamental truths that range from theology to politics, inseparable components of the Tao Te Ching.

I read two editions simultaneously: Ellen Chen’s The Tao Te Ching: A New Translation with Commentary and Stephen Mitchell’s Tao Te Ching: A New English Version. After reading chapter 11 by the latter, the merits of each work became particularly noticeable.

Chen's translation is an accurate marvel. It's the kind of translation I like; literal as possible. I don't want only the translator's interpretation, I want to know the precise words that went through the author's mind. I've made peace with everything that gets lost in translation, so at least give me surgical precision.

On the opposite side stands Mitchell with another approach: divesting the verses of all metaphor, he focuses on the meaning, the thoughts Lao Tzu intended to convey. In that sense, it's a remarkable work; a detailed examination of all the elements that constitute this treatise. While keeping a small amount of literality, it expresses a similar interpretation.

If I have to choose, I prefer Chen's academic translation with its enriching commentary over Mitchell's version with its still lyrical directness. Even though she generally refers to the sage as a man, whereas Mitchell states that since we are all, potentially, the Master (since the Master is, essentially, us), I felt it would be untrue to present a male archetype, as other versions have, ironically, done. Ironically, because of all the great world religions the teaching of Lao tzu is by far the most female.

As for my experience with this book, I should revisit it in a few years... The dynamics between opposites that say and don't say, that affirm and deny, that teach without speaking and act without doing; it all starts to get a tad annoying after a while. I wasn't able to identify with some notions, naturally; my skeptical disposition began to take control rather soon. However, The Tao Te Ching includes several useful concepts to improve our fleeting stay in this world. Moreover, many of those impressions are addressed to politicians. In that regard, this book should be required reading for every single one of them.

I close this 'review' with some chapters according to the views of each translator.**

#18

On the decline of the great Tao,

There are humanity (jen) and righteousness (i)...

General comment

The overall message of this chapter, just as in preceding and subsequent chapters, is that the unconscious state of nature is superior to the conscious state of virtue. Consciousness marks a lack. We are not aware of and do not pursue something until we have already become separated from it.

#30

One who assists the ruler with Tao,

Does not overpower (ch 'iang) the world by military conquests.

Such affairs have a way of returning (huan):

Where armies are stationed,

Briars and thorns grow,

After great campaigns,

Bad years are sure to follow.

The good person is resolute (lwo) only,

But dares not (kan) take the path of the strong (ch 'iang).

Be resolute (kuo) yet do not boast (ching),

Be resolute yet do not show off (fa), Be resolute yet do not be haughty,

Be resolute because you have no choice,

Be resolute yet do not overpower (ch 'iang).

When things are full grown, they age.

This is called not following Tao.

Not following Tao they perish early.

General comment

While the preceding chapter serves as the basis of a theology of nature, this chapter provides the rationale for a theology of peace. It carries the theme of non-action or non-domination in the preceding chapter to international relations. If humans are not supposed to dominate other creatures, neither should they dominate fellow humans. This chapter is a critique of military power (ch 'iang) specifically against wars, which are instruments of death.

#66

Rivers and seas can be kings of the hundred valleys,

Because they are good at flowing downwards (hsia).

Therefore they can be kings of the hundred valleys.

Thus if you desire to be above the people,

Your words must reach down (hsia) to them.

If you desire to lead the people, Your person (shen, body) must be behind them.

Thus the sage is above,

Yet the people do not feel his weight.

He stays in front,

Yet the people do not suffer any harm.

Thus all gladly praise him untiringly (pu yen).

Because he does not contend with any,

Therefore no one under heaven can contend with him.

General comment

This chapter on the relationship between the ruler and the people is directly connected with chapter 61, which is on the relationship among states. The key concept is again hsia, low or downward flowing. In domestic affairs as well as in international relations, the ruler is to imitate water by reaching downward to the people, assisting in their own self-unfolding without imposing himself on them.

Aug 18, 18

* Also on my blog.

** I shared the same chapters on each review. (less)

flag55 likes · Like · 14 comments · see review

Tanu

Apr 23, 2021Tanu rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, non-fiction, audiobook, self-help, japanese-literature, philosophy, classic, cultural

"If you realize that all things change, there's nothing you will try to hold on to.

Things arise and she lets them come;

things disappear and she lets them go.

She has but doesn't possess

acts but doesn't expect.

The Tao Te Ching clarifies the concepts of Taoism, an ancient school of philosophy that continues to be relevant today. In the 6th century BCE, Lao Tzu created Taoism, which has been passed down the generations.

This book definitely is not a one time read. Something to keep coming back once in a while, like a place of worship. This book is poetry to the soul and mind.

Grab your copy here. (less)

flag64 likes · Like · 7 comments · see review

Jonathan O'Neill

Jan 29, 2021Jonathan O'Neill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy-psychology-religion

12 highlights

4.5 ⭐

I have delved deeper into the ‘Tao Te Ching’ in my review of the more scholarly translation by D.C.Lau which you can find HERE.

In this space I just want to focus on what Ursula K. Le Guin brings to the table and what exactly makes her rendition of the classic, unique from the plethora of other translations and renditions that are available.

I have to commend D.C.Lau for his fantastic translation of the Tao, which includes a wonderful introduction as well as two very informative appendices. But as his expertise really shines through in these elaborate discussions on the history and meaning of the text, so too does Ursula’s incredible talent as a writer, a poet and a humble student of the Tao throughout the entirety of this 126-page book.

”Most translations have caught meanings in their net, but prosily, letting the beauty slip through. And in poetry, beauty is no ornament; it is the meaning.”

Le Guin’s rendition is one for the modern reader. Where some of the passages in other translations make it clear that this was, in many ways, a manual for rulers; Le Guin takes liberty in changing certain phrases to relate more to the everyday individual. I loved the confidence she showed in taking on and re-interpreting this ancient work, whilst always showing respect to the material and addressing, clearly, any amendments that she made. With regard to Chapter 24, Ursula says: ”My version of the first four lines of the second verse doesn’t follow any scholarly translations, and is quite unjustified, but at least, unlike them it makes sense without horrible verbal contortions”. Regarding Chapter 72, she says: ”I take the liberty of reading this chapter as a description of what we, we ordinary people, should fear. The usual reading is in the manual-for-princes mode”. I love this type of honest commentary from Ursula, and it’s prevalent throughout the Chapter Notes as well as the Footnotes at the bottom of most pages which are just phenomenal, short and sharp insights into the text, nearly as sagacious as the passages of the Tao themselves.

”To those who will not admit morality without a deity to validate it, or spirituality of which man is not the measure, the firmness of Lao Tzu’s morality and the sweetness of his spiritual counsel must seem incomprehensible, or illegitimate, or very troubling indeed”.

In addition to her fantastic commentary on the chapters of the Tao, Le Guin also brings her own insight to the questionable origins of the text through analysis of the poem structures within. At one stage, regarding Chapter 42, Ursula explains: ”The last stanza is uncharacteristic in it’s didactic tone and in assimilating the teaching to a tradition… I was inclined to dismiss it as a marginal note by someone who was teaching and annotating the text”.. Regarding Chapter 44, she states: ”The intense, succinct, beautiful language of the first verses of the poem is sometimes followed by a verse or two in a more didactic tone, smaller in scope, and far more prosaic. I believe some of these verses are additions, comments, and examples, copied into the manuscripts so long ago that they became holy writ”. What a keen mind. D.C.Lau comes to the same conclusion for similar reasons.

I thoroughly enjoyed this rendition of the Tao Te Ching and am pleased I started my Ursula K. Le Guin journey here. She reveals in the ‘Sources’ section that the title for her 1971 Science Fiction novel, ‘The Lathe of Heaven’ came from an incorrect translation of a passage from the Chuang Tzu(Another essential Taoist text) by James Legge. Joseph Needham, the great scholar of Chinese Science and Technology would later explain to her that when the Chuang Tzu was written, the lathe hadn’t been invented. I’m very curious to read ‘The Lathe of Heaven’ to see how much of an influence Le Guin’s lifelong study of Taoism had on the work.

“The way is more than the cycle of any individual life. We, rise, flourish, fail. The way never fails. We are waves. It is the sea. (less)

flag53 likes · Like · comment · see review

Jonathan O'Neill

Jan 29, 2021Jonathan O'Neill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy-psychology-religion

12 highlights

4 ⭐

The Tao is definitely the most beautifully elusive and intangible philosophy that I've had the pleasure of trying to wrap my head around. Everything about it drips with mystery and mysticism, right down to it’s purported author, the enigma that is Lao Tzu. I really made an effort to understand what was meant by each and every poem. I read Ursula K. Le Guin’s rendition alongside this, more scholarly translation, by D.C.Lau and I listened to multiple audio versions, driving to and from work, but still, I feel I only received just the barest glimpse into the depth of Lao Tzu’s words. I’m not particularly surprised by this, people spend their entire lives studying the Tao, attempting to keep to ‘The Way’. You don’t just read this on a whim and suddenly start living the Tao. In fact, in my opinion, if one were to heed Lao Tzu’s words, one would likely come to the conclusion that we’ve strayed so far off the path as a people, that to get back on it would take an unrealistically monumental change in worldview, philosophy and ideology.

The book relishes in its own mystery. As Le Guin states so aptly in her rendition, there is a “temptation… to grasp at something tangible in the endlessly deceptive simplicity of the words” but, on occasion, the slipperiness of the idea… Is the idea.

If I had a dollar for every 30-something pommy hipster I’ve seen on YouTube, repeating Lau Tzu’s 1st chapter with a self-satisfied smirk…

”The way that can be spoken of

Is not the constant way;

The name that can be named

Is not the constant name.”

… only to then immediately attempt to explain it anyway! They obviously never reached chapter 71: ”Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.”

You can’t label or define the Tao as by doing so you limit its function which is, inherently, limitless. All one can know is that it was “born before heaven and earth” and supports the universe. It is responsible for the strong being strong but equally responsible for the weak being weak. We can’t define it but we can definitely discuss the concepts that make up the Taoist teachings.

"The reason I have great trouble is that I have a body. When I no longer have a body, what trouble have I?"

Ideal attributes of the Taoist include modesty, frugality, contentment (desirelessness), compassion, tenderness, softness, vulnerability, selflessness (benefitting others without expecting gratitude), non-contention, ignorance (apparently) and the ability to find positives in negatives (i.e. without lows, there are no highs… Without death, there is no life… We suffer, but only because we have a body).

Doing not doing is also an ongoing theme in the book. I’ve been banging on about this one for years to my fiancé and she just tells me I’m a lazy fu… sod! Lao Tzu says: ”One does less and less until one does nothing at all, and when one does nothing at all there is nothing that is undone”…. What? If everyone else is allowed to take ancient philosophies out of context, so am I damn it! In all seriousness though, Lao Tzu usually uses this phrase in relation to governance, as in, a leader should lead with minimal meddling in the affairs of the people. Or in relation to the individual, living without striving for more. So, yeah, still gotta do the dishes.

“He who shows himself is not conspicuous;

He who considers himself right is not illustrious;

He who brags will have no merit;

He who boasts will not endure."

Be like water. Another common theme… ”there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it. I have come across this idea in the form of analogy and/or metaphor now in 3 works. Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War’, Lao Tzu’s ‘Tao Te Ching’ and Bruce Lee’s ‘Tao of Jeet Kune Do’, each time given slight variation in its implication and, I love it! The only issue I have, in this case, is that, at times Lao Tzu’s “weak” and “soft” descend into utter subservience to anything stronger or greater than yourself. Essentially giving in as a means of survival. D C Lau explains that this is likely a result of the time in which the book was written (The Warring States) in which self-preservation was as much as many would dare to achieve.

The Tao Te Ching is not just a book about a way for the individual to live in sync with the Tao. Lao Tzu also likes to comment on the dangers of wealth and living beyond ones most basic needs, as well as expressing his opinions on governance and anti-violence sentiments. Lao Tzu was an anti-capitalist and anarchist before these things even existed.

Those who possess too much wealth while others starve, who are “dressed in fineries” or “filled with food and drink” while others go hungry, he condemns as “taking the lead in robbery”.

Whilst not completely anarchistic, Lao Tzu is almost completely anti-legislative and believes that leaders should lead with minimal meddling in the affairs of the people, stating, ”…the myriad creatures all revere the way and honour virtue. Yet the way is revered and virtue honoured not because this is decreed by any authority but because it is natural for them to be treated so”. Later, he likens governing a large state to “boiling a small fish” because a small fish can be spoiled with too much handling.

”The rites are the wearing thin of loyalty and good faith

And the beginning of disorder;

Foreknowledge is the flowery embellishment of the way

And the beginning of folly.”

These views regarding governance tie in with one of his more extreme ideas that education, innovation and progress are all things to be avoided. Ignorant people are easier to rule and one should also rule in ignorance. It’s essentially an expansion on the idea of not doing. There’s an anti-change and anti-intellectual leaning in his words. In Chapter 29, Lao says: ”The empire is a sacred vessel and nothing should be done to it. Whoever does anything to it will ruin it; whoever lays hold of it will lose it”. Le Guin says: ”As a model for the Taoist, a baby is in many ways ideal: totally un-altruistic, not interested in politics, business or the proprieties, weak [and] soft”.

Although I disagree, on many levels, with Lao’s concept, it’s hard to ignore the fact that for all the progress the human race has made on an industrial, technological, political and psychological level, we’ve still managed to completely fuck our planet, almost beyond repair, and despite the fact that many have a better standard of living than 2500 years ago, it is hard to remember a time when so many people were so desperately unhappy.

This specific edition contains a magnificent and substantial introduction in which Lau (not to be confused with Lao) gives his own thoughtful and scholarly opinions on what some of the key concepts that can be taken from the text are. He also discusses what is known about the history of the text and the period in which it was, traditionally, thought to have been compiled in and addresses inconsistencies in the text, giving convincing arguments for the case that the book was likely not written by one wise old sage named Lao Tzu at all, but in fact was a compilation of many different Taoist thinkers, their disciples and, later, various commentators. Lau later comments further on this in two very interesting appendices titled ‘The Problem of Authorship’ and ‘The Nature of the Work’. Personally, I’d prefer not to acknowledge that this text may have been written after Confucius’ time or that Lao Tzu may never have existed. I’m too enamoured with the idea of an old sage, so wise and all-knowing as to render Confucius himself bewildered enough to allegedly exclaim to his own disciples:

”I know a bird can fly, a fish can swim, and an animal can run… But the dragon’s ascent into heaven on the wind and the clouds is something which is beyond my knowledge. Today I have seen Lao Tzu who is perhaps like a dragon.” (less)

flag51 likes · Like · 19 comments · see review

Sean Barrs

Oct 27, 2018Sean Barrs rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: poetry

This was immensely interesting to read, though I found myself somewhat aggravated by the passivism that ran through the writing.

It's almost like a poetical treatise on humility, but what of ambition and a drive to make the world a better place? Should we all accept our station in life and never aim to improve? I think not. It accepts things as they are (however they are) and cannot conceive of a better future. Everything should stay the same, and exist within the natural order of things.

But how do we define the natural?

The Spirit of the valley never dies

This is called the mysterious female.

The gateway of the mysterious female

Is called the route of heaven on earth.

Dimly visible, it seems as if it were there,

Yet use will never drain it.

description

The poem speaks of mother nature as replenishing and everlasting; she will always endure and is the gateway to heaven on earth, to our own nirvana. We can never completely spend her. The metaphor is for the path as Taoism and nature are one and the same here. For the speaker, Taoism (or the way) is the most natural of things we can partake in. We will also never drain the benefits of it and they will also last perpetually. And these ideas for me felt strong and real, but the writing also muses over empire.

XXIX

Whoever takes the empire and wishes to do anything to it

I see will have no respite. The Empire is a sacred vessel and

nothing should be done to it. Whoever does anything to it

will ruin it; whoever lays hold of it will lose it.

Hence some things lead and some follow;

Some breath gently and some breathe hard;

Some are strong and some are weak;

Some destroy and some are destroyed.

Therefore the sage avoids excess, extravagance and arrogance.

I take so much issue with this quote. In what way can we ever refer to an Empire as natural? Empire's are always built with the blood of someone else. The quote also shows how people are all different, though it concludes that this is simply the way of things. A weak person should not try to make himself strong. Such a thing is an excess. We should simply stay humble and never challenge the norms of an Empire. (Seriously?)

And that's when I stopped listening to what the book had to say. As an historical piece it's interesting to study, but I take absolutely no stock in the words. (less)

flag50 likes · Like · 2 comments · see review