Tao Te Ching (Classics)
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Product Description
Product Description
Fundamental to Chinese philosophy and religion, the Tao Te Ching is a simple guidebook for virtue, encouraging peace, understanding and humility. Ranging from political advice to common wisdom, it has also served as an inspiration to artists across the ages and throughout the world.
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
About the Author
Lao Tzu is traditionally regarded as the author of the Tao Te Ching, and is said to be a contemporary of Confucius (551-479 BC).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Tao Te Ching (pinyin: Daodejing) is a book of ancient Chinese philosophy, emphasising the understanding of, and the living in accordance with, the natural flow of nature. This natural flow is termed 'tao' which translates as the 'way', or 'path' - it is a road to be followed. Such a path, once discovered and adhered to, is said to be 'te', or 'virtuous' - therefore the title 'Tao Te Ching' means the 'Way of Virtue Classic'. As a distinct text it is central to Taoist thought and is believed to have been written by the ancient sage called Lao Tzu - the old, wise one. Although relatively brief,(it contains 81 short chapters), its philosophy has permeated Chinese thought for centuries. It is often referred to in Chinese as the 'Lao Tzu'.
The paperback (1974) edition contains 191 numbered pages, and contains an Introduction, the translated text (from Chinese into English), and two Appendices:
Introduction.
Lao Tzu Book One.
Lao Tzu Book Two.
List of Passages for Comparison.
Appendix 1) The Problem of Authorship.
Appendix 2) The Nature of the Work.
Chronological Table.
Glossary.
Notes.
The author - DC Lau - Din Cheuk Lau (1921-2010) was a British born Chinese academic and Chinese scholar. Being fluent in both English and Chinese, Lau was able to produce clear and concise English translations of important Chinese texts that are academically reliable. Like his other excellent translations, the Tao Te Ching appears in the Penguin Classics series. Translations of this kind, although they may appear common today, are nevertheless not easy to produce. However, Lau's perfect understanding of both the Chinese and English languishes allows him not only to translate, but also to correctly 'transliterate' the Chinese terms in a manner that retains and conveys the original message into English. The Tao Te Ching is actually two books combined; the first book is called the 'Tao Ching' (Way Classic) and consists of chapters 1 - 37. The second book is entitled the 'Te Ching' (Virtue Classic) and consists of chapters 38-81. The traditional view is that the man named Lao Tzu was an older contemporary of Confucius (551-479BCE), and that this text dates from that time. Interestingly, a biography of Lao Tzu can be found in the 'Shiji', or the 'Records of the Historian' - written in the first century BCE by the Han scholar Ssu-ma Ch'ien. The core of this work is undoubtedly ancient, and DC Lau produces here a translation that must be described as 'pristine'.
The paperback (1974) edition contains 191 numbered pages, and contains an Introduction, the translated text (from Chinese into English), and two Appendices:
Introduction.
Lao Tzu Book One.
Lao Tzu Book Two.
List of Passages for Comparison.
Appendix 1) The Problem of Authorship.
Appendix 2) The Nature of the Work.
Chronological Table.
Glossary.
Notes.
The author - DC Lau - Din Cheuk Lau (1921-2010) was a British born Chinese academic and Chinese scholar. Being fluent in both English and Chinese, Lau was able to produce clear and concise English translations of important Chinese texts that are academically reliable. Like his other excellent translations, the Tao Te Ching appears in the Penguin Classics series. Translations of this kind, although they may appear common today, are nevertheless not easy to produce. However, Lau's perfect understanding of both the Chinese and English languishes allows him not only to translate, but also to correctly 'transliterate' the Chinese terms in a manner that retains and conveys the original message into English. The Tao Te Ching is actually two books combined; the first book is called the 'Tao Ching' (Way Classic) and consists of chapters 1 - 37. The second book is entitled the 'Te Ching' (Virtue Classic) and consists of chapters 38-81. The traditional view is that the man named Lao Tzu was an older contemporary of Confucius (551-479BCE), and that this text dates from that time. Interestingly, a biography of Lao Tzu can be found in the 'Shiji', or the 'Records of the Historian' - written in the first century BCE by the Han scholar Ssu-ma Ch'ien. The core of this work is undoubtedly ancient, and DC Lau produces here a translation that must be described as 'pristine'.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This version of the Tao Te Ching for me is a must have. Not because of the translation of the tao te ching itself - which in my opinion isn't one of the best - but because of the magnificent introduction of the book. The book is worth buying alone simply for it's introduction. Its introduction is only 45 pages long but it's one of the most insightful 45 pages you will ever read on the subject.
34 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a 14 year old teenager some people may believe that the finest of philosphical literature cannot be enjoyed. I believe that is rubbish, this book, in all its nonsensical ravings makes the most sense of any book I have ever read. The paradoxes brought up in this book are endless yet come to an end, and in one reading, i found myself willing to submit my mind further to the teachings and ideas that are risen in this book. A truly fine example of what is surely not a dying subject of philosophy.Read this book and it will change your behavior for the better. You will realise that there is a way that is right and it is not difficult to follow.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
MY FAVOURITE TRANSLATION
This is quite an old translation and not regarded as the most accurate - yet its the only one that really scans like beautiful poetry. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jd Steed
words of wisdom
Bit dissapointed in this book but I think I bought the wrong one, I wanted a copy of the one that James Frey referred to in his book A Million Little Pieces,maybe someone knows the... Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2009 by Mrs. E. A. Robb
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