Books by Lao Tzu

"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. This is a most useful, as well as beautiful, volume—and what it has to say is exactly what the world, in its present state, needs to hear." - Alan Watts

RELIGION/ EASTERN STUDIES

This translation of the Chinese classic, which was first published twenty-five years ago, has sold more copies than any of the others. It offers the essence of each word makes Lao Tsu's teaching immediate and alive.

The philosophy of Lao Tsu 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 for all without discrimination—therefore let us present the same face to everyone and treat all men as equals, however they may be have. If we watch carefully, we will see that work proceeds more quickly and easily if we stop looking for results. In the clarity of a still and open mind, truth will be reflected. We will come to appreciate the original meaning of the word "understand," which means "to stand under." We serve whatever or whoever stands before us, without any thought for ourselves. Te—which may be translated as "virtue" or "strength"—lies always in Tao, or "natural law." In other words: Simply be.

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Tao Te Ching (Hackett Classics)

by Stephen Addiss, Lao Tzu, Stanley Lombardo, Burton Watson

This translation captures the terse and enigmatic beauty of the ancient original and resists the tendency toward interpretive paraphrase found in many other editions. Along with the complete translation, Lombardo and Addiss provide one or more key lines from the original Chinese for each of the eighty-one sections, together with a transliteration of the Chinese characters and a glossary commenting on the pronunciation and meaning of each Chinese character displayed. This greatly enhances the reader's appreciation of how the Chinese text works and feels and the different ways it can be translated into English.

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Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition

This unique edition of the Tao Te Ching features: the first comprehensive verbatim translation of the entire text of the Tao Te Ching; literal character definitions that allow the reader to create his or her own interpretation; a concordance section that enables the reader to track the different ways a single character is used throughout the work; grammatical and interpretive notes on individual terms and verses; * a unique commentary on the first verse, which represents a complete spiritual teaching in itself; and a literary translation of the Tao Te Ching that can be read on its own or compared with the verbatim translation.

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Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Perennial Classics)

The bestselling, widely acclaimed translation from Stephen Mitchell
"Mitchell's rendition of the Tao Te Ching comes as close to being definitive for our time as any I can imagine. It embodies the virtues its translator credits to the Chinese original: a gemlike lucidity that is radiant with humor, grace, largeheartedness, and deep wisdom." — Huston Smith, author of The Religions of Man
In eighty-one brief chapters, Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit, and teaches us how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao—the basic principle of the universe.

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Tao Te Ching

Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, is the classic manual on the art of living, and one of the wonders of the world. In eighty-one brief chapters, the Tao Te Ching looks at the basic predicament of being alive and gives advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit. This book is about wisdom in action. It teaches how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao (the basic principle of the universe) and applies equally to good government and sexual love; to child rearing, business, and ecology.
Stephen Mitchell's bestselling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.

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Tao Te Ching

Traditionally attributed to Lao Tzu, an older contemporary of Confucius (551 - 479 BC), it is now thought that the work was compiled in about the fourth century BC. An anthology of wise sayings, it offers a model by which the individual can live rather than explaining the human place in the universe. The moral code it encourages is based on modesty and self-restraint, and the rewards reaped for such a life are harmony and flow of life.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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Tao Te Ching

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.

And for the first time in any translation of the Tao Te Ching, now you can interact with the text to experience for yourself the nuanced art of translating. In each of the eighty-one chapters, one significant line has been highlighted and alongside it are the original Chinese characters with their transliteration. You can then turn to the glossary and translate this line on your own, thereby deepening your understanding of the original text and of the myriad ways it can be translated into English.

Complementing the text are twenty-three striking ink paintings brushed by Stephen Addiss and an introduction by the esteemed Asia scholar Burton Watson.

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Tao Te Ching

Having masterfully translated a wide range of ancient Chinese poets and philosophers, David Hinton is uniquely qualified to offer the definitive contemporary English version of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. Like all of his translations, Hinton's translation of the Tao Te Ching is mind-opening, presenting startling new dimensions in this widely-influential text. He shows how Lao Tzu's spirituality is structured around the generative life-force, for example, and that this system of thought weaves the human into natural process at the deepest levels of being, thereby revealing the Tao Te Ching as an originary text in deep feminist and ecological thought.

Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching is not only the single most important text ever composed in China, it is probably the most influential spiritual text in human history. In the past, virtually all translations of this text have been produced either by sinologists having little poetic facility in English, or writers having no ability to read the original Chinese. Hinton's fluency in ancient Chinese and his acclaimed poetic ability provide him the essential qualifications. Together, they allow a breathtaking new translation that reveals how remarkably current and even innovative this text is after 2500 years.

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Tao Te Ching

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Tao Te Ching

Chiltern creates the most beautiful editions of the World’s finest literature. Your favorite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before: the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colors of these remarkable covers make these books feel extra special and look striking on any shelf.
Tao Te Ching, a classic Chinese text from the 4th Century, is the foundational work of Taoism, and one of the most enduring and popular works of philosophy and literature of all time. The text advises on living a simple, peaceful and harmonious life, and still influences philosophers, poets, artists and thinkers today.

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Tao Te Ching

In 81 brief chapters, Lao-Tzu's Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit, and teaches us how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao—the basic principle of the universe.
Stephen Mitchell's bestselling version has been widely acclaimed as a gift to contemporary culture.

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Tao Te Ching

This handsome hardback edition presents the classic text, Tao Te Ching, beautifully illustrated in full color with traditional artwork.

The Tao Te Ching came into existence some 2,500 years ago, since when it has become the most influential text of eastern philosophy. Best translated as the classic of the way and its power (or virtue), its teachings are of simplicity, humility, and 'non-action', and its cadenced poetry is at once spare and profound.

This illustrated hardback edition features exquisite images that bring out the timeless wisdom of the text and its subtle guidance on how to live well.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Ancient Wisdom Library series brings together classic works on ancient philosophy and spirituality, each imparting timeless wisdom which continues to resonate in the modern world. These compact hardback editions with full-color illustrations are perfect for scholars and enthusiasts alike.

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Tao Te Ching (Penguin Great Ideas)

For the true bibliophile and design-savvy book lover, here is the next set of Penguin's celebrated Great Ideas series by some of history's most innovative thinkers. Acclaimed for their striking and elegant package, each volume features a unique type-driven design that highlights the bookmaker's art. Offering great literature and great design at great prices, this series is ideal for readers who want to explore and savor the Great Ideas that have shaped our world.

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Tao Te Ching: The Essential Translation of the Ancient Chinese Book of the Tao (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

The original mindfulness book, in a landmark new translation by the award-winning translator of the I Ching and The Art of War

A Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition, with flaps and deckle-edged paper

The most translated book in the world after the Bible, the Tao Te Ching, or “Book of the Tao,” is a guide to cultivating a life of peace, serenity, and compassion. Through aphorisms and parable, it leads readers toward the Tao, or the “Way”: harmony with the life force of the universe. Traditionally attributed to Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher thought to have been a contemporary of Confucius, it is the essential text of Taoism, one of the three great religions of ancient China. As one of the world's great works of wisdom literature, it still has much to teach us today, offering a practical model based on modesty and self-restraint for living a balanced existence and for opening your mind, freeing your thoughts, and attaining enlightenment and self-awareness. With its emphasis on calm, simplicity, purity, and non-action, it provides a time-tested refuge from the busyness of modern life.

This new translation seeks to understand the Tao Te Ching as a guide to everyday living and encourages a slow, meditative reading experience. The Tao Te Ching's eighty-one brief chapters are accompanied by illuminating commentary, interpretation, poems, and testimonials by the likes of Margaret Mead, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. Specially commissioned calligraphy for more than two hundred Chinese characters illustrates the book's essential themes.

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Tao Te Ching: With Over 150 Photographs by Jane English

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.

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Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts (Classics of Ancient China)

Lao-tzu’s Te-Tao Ching has been treasured for thousands of years for its poetic statement of life’s most profound and elusive truths. Although the Te-Tao Ching is widely read, the author’s enigmatic style and the less than perfect condition of the Chinese originals make many of its brief poems difficult to understand. So readers of find literature hailed the discovery, in 1973, of two copies of the Te-Tao Ching which had been buried in 168 B.C.

These manuscripts are more than five centuries older than any others known, and they correct many defects of later versions: their grammar and vocabulary frequently make the classic easier to understand; lost lines are restored (as many as three in some poems); some sections follow a more logical sequence.

Such differences make it necessary to reevaluate traditional interpretations of the Te-Tao Ching, and Professor Henricks has done this in an extensive commentary to his excellent new translation. In addition, Professor Henricks has provided an introduction that explains the basics of Taoism and discusses the many other important finds from Ma-want-tui.

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The Way of Life: Tao Te Ching: The Classic Translation

Eighty-one poems present the sacred teachings of Taoism, including simple living, contentment, and prizing culture.

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Tao Te Ching: An Illustrated Journey

Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way) is the classic manual on the art of living. In 81 short, poetic chapters, the book looks at the basic predicament of being alive and teaches how to work for the good with the effortless skill that comes from being in accord with the Tao, or the basic principle of the universe. Stephen Mitchell’s acclaimed translation is accompanied by ancient Chinese paintings that beautifully reflect Lao Tzu’s timeless words.

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Tao Te Ching: Text Only Edition

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.

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The Path of Virtue: The Illustrated Tao Te Ching

The Path of Virtue: The Illustrated Tao Te Ching presents the classic Chinese text, as translated by James Legge, alongside elegant drawings, paintings, and sculptures from the extensive collections of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Composed in the 6th century bc by Lao Tzu, a sage and recordkeeper in the Zhou court, the Tao Te Ching was originally the basis of Taoist philosophy, later adopted by Chinese Buddhists as a complement to their basic religious tenets. It is now referred to as a handbook for political and business strategy, as well as a practical guide for daily life.
Legge's rendering, one of the most poetic translations in English, is accompanied by artwork with Taoist themes and bound in a three-piece case with gilding and a ribbon--truly a volume to be contemplated and admired.

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The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching

by Lao Tzu, Demi

THIS IS THE LEGEND OF LAO TZU,

who may or may not have been born; who may or may not have founded Taoism, on of the greatest religions in the world; and who may or may not have written one of the greatest books of wisdom in the world: the Tao Te Ching, or the "Way of Heaven."

This thoughtful and thought-provoking book opens with a biography of Lao Tzu, the mysterious philosopher who is said to have been born at the age of eighty-one with snow-white hair, the ability to walk and talk, and unparalleled wisdom. Many credit him with creating the Tao Te Ching, which was written for the good of all humankind. Twenty of the eighty-one passages of the Tao Te Ching are included here, paired with stunning illustrations by the award-winning artist Demi. On topics ranging from silence to moderation, from governing to the balance of earth and heaven, these passages carry a powerful message and are sure to give each and every reader something new to consider.

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Lao-tzu's Taoteching

One of the best-selling English-language translations of the Taoteching.
A refreshing new translation. . . . Highly recommended.”Library Journal
With its clarity and scholarly range, this version of the Taoteching works as both a readable text and a valuable resource of Taoist interpretation.”Publishers Weekly
Read it in confidence that it comes as close as possible to expressing the Chinese text in English.”Victor Mair, professor of Chinese studies, University of Pennsylvania
Lao-tzu’s Taoteching is an essential volume of world literature, and Red Pine’s nuanced and authoritative English translationreissued and published with the Chinese text en faceis one of the best-selling versions. Features that set this volume apart from other translations are its commentaries by scores of Taoist scholars, poets, monks, recluses, adepts, and emperors spanning more than two thousand years. I envisioned this book,” Red Pine notes in his introduction, as a discussion between Lao-tzu and a group of people who have thought deeply about his text.”
Sages have no mind of their own
their mind is the mind of the people
to the good they are good
to the bad they are good
until they become good
to the true they are true
to the false they are true
until they become true . . .
Lao-tzu (ca. 600 BCE) was a Chinese sage who Confucius called a dragon among men.” He served as Keeper of the Royal Archives and authored the Taoteching.
Red Pine is one of the world’s foremost translators of Chinese literary and religious texts. His books include The Heart Sutra, Poems of the Masters, and a collection of all the known poems by the mountain hermit Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain.

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Lao Tzu : Tao Te Ching : A Book About the Way and the Power of the Way

by Ursula K. Le Guin, Lao Tzu

No other English translation of this greatest of the Chinese classics can match Ursula Le Guin's striking new version. Le Guin, best known for thought-provoking science fiction novels that have helped to transform the genre, has studied the Tao Te Ching for more than forty years. She has consulted the literal translations and worked with Chinese scholars to develop a version that lets the ancient text speak in a fresh way to modern people, while remaining faithful to the poetic beauty of the work. Avoiding scholarly interpretations and esoteric Taoist insights, she has revealed the Tao Te Ching 's immediate relevance and power, its depth and refreshing humor, in a way that shows better than ever before why it has been so much loved for more than 2,500 years. Included are Le Guin's own personal commentary and notes on the text. This new version is sure to be welcomed by the many readers of the Tao Te Ching as well as those coming to the text for the first time.

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Tao Te Ching: The New Translation from Tao Te Ching, The Definitive Edition (Tarcher Cornerstone Editions)

In the hands of Jonathan Star, the eighty-one verses of the Tao Te Ching resound with the elegant, simple images and all-penetrating ideas that have made this ancient work a cornerstone of the world's wisdom literature.

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Tao Te Ching: A New Translation

The most widely read of the Asian classics, Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching offers a series of insightful spiritual observations on life and human nature. Part poetry, part paradox, always stirring and profound, the text has been inspiring readers since it was written over two thousand years ago. This extraordinary masterpiece is also one of the most frequently translated books in all of history, in part because it is simply impossible to translate into a Western language in a strictly literal way; there are just too many Chinese characters in the text that convey multiple meanings. This leads many translators to burden the text by having their translation explain too much, thereby losing the clarity of terse poetry that is so often found in the original.

The extraordinary strength of Sam Hamill's translation is that he has captured the poetry of Lao Tzu's original without sacrificing the resonance of the text's many meanings and possible interpretations. The result is a beautiful and deeply meditative rendering, one that is a delight to read over and over again. Accompanying Sam Hamill's translation are eighteen original calligraphies by one of the great masters of the art form, Kazuaki Tanahashi. Each calligraphy is of one Chinese word or character from the text itself, presented facing its appearance in the translation. Hamill then, in a caption to the calligraphy, offers just some of the many ways in which the Chinese character could be translated into English, giving the reader a fuller sense of the amazing richness of the original text and some idea as to the process of translation itself.

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Tao Te Ching: A New Translation

Part poetry, part paradox, always stirring and profound, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching has been inspiring readers since it was written over two thousand years ago. This masterpiece is also one of the most frequently translated books in all of history, in part because the multiple meanings of the Chinese characters make it impossible to translate into a Western language in a strictly literal way. For this reason, many translations are either too loosely interpretive or are too overloaded with notes, thereby losing the clarity of the terse poetry found in the original Chinese.

The extraordinary strength of Sam Hamill’s translation is that it has captured the poetry of Lao Tzu’s original without sacrificing the resonance of the text’s many meanings and possible interpretations. The result is a beautiful and deeply meditative rendering, one that is a delight to read over and over again.

Accompanying Sam Hamill’s translation are seventeen Chinese characters brushed by one of the great masters of calligraphy, Kazuaki Tanahashi. Hamill provides a comment for each character, giving the reader a fuller sense of the richness of the original text and insight into the process of translation itself.

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Tao Te Ching: A New Translation

The classic Taoist text freshly translated using the original Chinese script from Lao Tzu's time, and beautifully illustrated with seventeenth-century artwork.

Renowned translator William Scott Wilson has rendered Lao Tzu's classic in the most authentic way possible, using both the ancient text and the even older Great Seal script used during Lao Tzu's time. The result is a new and nuanced translation, accompanied by gorgeous Chinese ink paintings and fascinating ancillary material. Wilson includes an introduction that tells the story of Lao Tzu, the "old man" and the "keeper of the archives," and wonderful notes to illuminate the text. He also includes two short essays--one explains the relationship between Taoism and Zen, and the other explores the roots that link the spiritual aspects of the Tao with the practice of Chinese and Japanese martial arts. Wilson's version of this ancient classic is wonderfully fresh and readable.

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Tao Te Ching: A New Translation

Renowned translator William Scott Wilson has rendered Lao Tzu's classic in the most authentic way possible, using both the ancient text and the even older Great Seal script used during Lao Tzu's time. The result is a new and nuanced translation, accompanied by Chinese ink paintings and ancillary material. Wilson includes an introduction that tells the story of Lao Tzu, the "old man" and the "keeper of the archives," and notes to illuminate the text. He also includes two short essays—one explains the relationship between Taoism and Zen, and the other explores the roots that link the spiritual aspects of the Tao with the practice of Chinese and Japanese martial arts. Wilson's version of this ancient classic is wonderfully fresh and readable.

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Tao Teh Ching (Shambhala Classics)

Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching , or "The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue," has probably had a greater influence on Asian thought than any other single book. It is also one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature.

Traditionally attributed to the near-legendary "Old Master," Lao Tzu, the Tao Teh Ching teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu's words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in business and politics as they are in developing a sense of balance and harmony in everyday life. To follow the Tao or Way of all things and realize their true nature is to embdy humility, spontaneity, and generosity.

John C. H. Wu has done a remarkable job of rendering this subtle text into English while retaining the freshness and depth of the original. A jurist and scholar, Dr. Wu was a recognized authority on Taoism and the translator of several Taoist and Zen texts and of Chinese poetry.

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Tao Teh Ching

Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching, or “The Classic of the Way and Its Virtue,” is one of the true classics of the world of spiritual literature. Traditionally attributed to the near-legendary “Old Master,” Lao Tzu, the Tao Teh Ching teaches that the qualities of the enlightened sage or ideal ruler are identical with those of the perfected individual. Today, Lao Tzu’s words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in business and politics as they are in developing a sense of balance and harmony in everyday life. To follow the Tao or Way of all things and realize their true nature is to embody humility, spontaneity, and generosity.

John C. H. Wu has done a remarkable job of rendering this subtle text into English while retaining the freshness and depth of the original. A jurist and scholar, Dr. Wu was a recognized authority on Taoism and the translator of several Taoist and Zen texts and of Chinese poetry.

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Tao Teh Ching (Shambhala Pocket Library)

A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar--now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition.

Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching is part poetry and part paradox, yet always dynamic and profound. Today, Lao Tzu’s words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in business and politics as they are in developing a sense of balance and harmony in everyday life. To follow the Tao—or Way of all things—and realize their true nature is to embody humility, spontaneity, and generosity.

This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series.

The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.

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The Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy (Leather-bound Classics)

by Confucius, Lao Tzu, Sun Tzu, Mencius

The words of the ancient Chinese sages are as timeless as they are wise.

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award Winner 2017!
The words of ancient Chinese philosophers have influenced other thinkers across the world for more than 2,000 years, and continue to shape our ideas today. The Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy includes translations of Sun Tzu's Art of War, Lao-Tzu's Tao Te Ching, the teachings of the master sage Confucius, and the writings of Mencius. From insights on warfare and diplomacy to advice on how to deal with one's neighbors and colleagues, this collection of classical Eastern philosophy will provide readers with countless nuggets of wisdom.

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The Tao Te Ching: 81 Verses by Lao Tzu with Introduction and Commentary (Sacred Texts)

A brilliant, beautifully presented translation of the Taoist ‘way of integrity’—Lao Tzu’s classic text and sublimely spiritual teachings on how to live with goodness and integrity.

Taosim affirms that each human being is a reflection of the whole universe—a microcosm within the macrocosm—and that all of us live under the same cosmic laws of the Tao. The Taoist follows the path of non-action (Wu Wei), flowing with the constantly changing stream of life, and trying to live in universal harmony and balance.

The easily assimilated aphorisms in this great book are a continuous source of spiritual guidance and nourishment, and its insights on statesmanship are practical guides for our own time. Ralph Alan Dale’s brilliant translation uniquely captures, as never before, the essential meaning of this profound text, and makes it entirely relevant to today’s readers.

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tao-te-ching--an-all-new-translation

Renowned translator William Scott Wilson offers a fresh version of the Tao Te Ching that will resonate with the modern reader. While most translators have relied on the "new" text of 200 B.C., Wilson went back another 300 years to work from the original characters used during Lao Tzu's lifetime. By referring to these earlier characters, Wilson is able to offer a text that is more authentic in language and nuance, yet preserves all the beauty and poetry of the work.

This elegant hardcover edition also features two insightful essays by Wilson, "Zen and Taoism" and "Zen and the Martial Arts," that link the spiritual aspects of the Tao to the practice of Zen and to the martial arts of both Japan and China.

With its 81 memorable passages, the Tao Te Ching is one of humanity's touchstones. As Wilson notes, "We read this book because it takes us away from the busy world of business and politics, and provides an entry to a Way. But we also read it for the rhythm and beauty of its phrasing and vocabulary, which often give us an astonishing satisfaction. And this is perhaps the secret of why the book has consistently been on people's bookshelves and bed-stands for nearly twenty-five centuries."

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Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy (Leather-bound Classics)

by Confucius, Lao Tzu, Sun Tzu, Mencius

The words of the ancient Chinese sages are as timeless as they are wise.

The words of ancient Chinese philosophers have influenced other thinkers across the world for more than 2,000 years, and continue to shape our ideas today. The Art of War & Other Classics of Eastern Philosophy includes translations of Sun Tzu's Art of War, Lao-Tzu's Tao Te Ching, the teachings of the master sage Confucius, and the writings of Mencius. From insights on warfare and diplomacy to advice on how to deal with one’s neighbors and colleagues, this collection of classical Eastern philosophy will provide readers with countless nuggets of wisdom.

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Tao Te Ching: The Essential Translation of the Ancient Chinese Book of the Tao

The original mindfulness book, in a landmark new translation by the award-winning translator of the I Ching and The Art of War

The most translated book in the world after the Bible, the Tao Te Ching, or “Book of the Tao,” is a guide to cultivating a life of peace, serenity, and compassion. Through aphorisms and parable, it leads readers toward the Tao, or the “Way”: harmony with the life force of the universe. Traditionally attributed to Lao-tzu, a Chinese philosopher thought to have been a contemporary of Confucius, it is the essential text of Taoism, one of the three major religions of ancient China. As one of the world’s great works of wisdom literature, it still has much to teach us today, offering a practical model based on modesty and self-restraint for living a balanced existence and for opening your mind, freeing your thoughts, and attaining greater self-awareness. With its emphasis on calm, simplicity, purity, and non-action, it provides a time-tested refuge from the busyness of modern life.

This new translation seeks to understand the Tao Te Ching as a guide to everyday living and encourages a slow, meditative reading experience. The Tao Te Ching’s eighty-one brief chapters are accompanied by illuminating commentary, interpretation, poems, and testimonials by the likes of Margaret Mead, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. Specially commissioned calligraphy for more than two hundred Chinese characters illustrates the book’s essential themes.

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The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu (The Essential Wisdom Library)

An enduring translation of a timeless work, now in a new edition.

The Tao te Ching is one of the most frequently translated, widely read, and deeply cherished books in the world, a work many consider the wisest ever written. Whether Lao Tzu was ever a historical figure is doubtful; the evidence suggests otherwise. What is more likely is that the body of teachings now known as the Tao te Ching was developed over a period of two or three hundred years by five or six different sages, some almost assuredly women. Certainly the teaching here is the gentlest and most motherly of all the world’s great treatises on the art of living. In any case, this is, as the author writes in his introduction, “less a book than a living, breathing angel."

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Tao te ching / Tao Te Ching (Spanish Edition)

Traducido al español del chino clásico por Alejandro Bárcenas

Una guía para vivir en armonía con nosotros mismos y la naturaleza. Esta nueva traducción al español aspira a presentar el Tao Te Ching como una experiencia de lectura lenta y meditativa.

“El Tao Te Ching es sin duda alguna uno de los libros que mayor influencia ha tenido en la historia de la humanidad. A través de su longeva existencia ha servido de inspiración a un sinnúmero de artistas, pensadores, santos, guerreros, líderes políticos, y a muchos otros por igual, en el mundo entero. Su contenido toca una amplia gama de temas de naturaleza universal, los cuales pueden ser caracterizados de manera general como religiosos, filosóficos, místicos, cosmológicos, éticos y políticos. Dicha universalidad ha hecho que su legado se haya podido extender mucho más allá de ser el texto fundacional de un grupo religioso de China, al que con frecuencia se lo conoce como Taoísmo, lo cual ya de por sí le otorgaría un gran honor y le daría intrínsecamente un puesto de notoriedad histórica.

Quizás sorprenda el alcance de su fama dado que en realidad se trata de un tratado bastante breve —conocido también como el “clásico de los cinco mil caracteres”— y notoriamente complejo. Pero esa complejidad, transmitida por un lenguaje de gran belleza poética, es quizás una de sus grandes virtudes, ya que permite un universo de interpretaciones que transforman a todo aquel que se sumerja en su lectura”. --De la introducción de Alejandro Bárcenas

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

The Path to Peace

The Tao Te Ching is a series of meditations on the mysterious nature of the Tao--the Way, the guiding light, the very source of all existence. According to Lao Tzu (a name meaning "the old master"), the Tao is found where we would least expect it--not in the strong but in the weak; not in speech but in silence; not in doing but in "not-doing."

Wise yet worldly, spiritual yet practical, the Tao Te Ching is beloved by seekers all the world over. This edition from Ancient Renewal is based on the beautiful 1919 translation by Dwight Goddard, significantly revised by Sam Torode to make this ancient work more accessible to contemporary readers.

"This is the gift that ancient humans would give us if they saw us today. The best gift you could ever give anyone: Wisdom." --Jimmy of the Bright Insight YouTube channel, reviewing the Ancient Renewal edition of the Tao Te Ching.

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Tao Te Ching: The Classic Book of Integrity and the Way

A landmark translation of one of the most popular works of world literture, this edition of the Tao Te Ching is based on the Ma-wang-tui manuscripts.

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Tao Te Ching: The Way to Goodness and Power (Chinese Binding)