A Translation of Lao-tzu’s Tao Te Ching and Wang Pi’s Commentary (Michigan Monographs In Chinese Studies)

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 , 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 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. 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. During the Spring-Autumn period (722–420 BCE) and the time of the Warring States (480–222 CE), China was in great turmoil. Intellectuals and social reformers sifted through their wisdom and knowledge of China's experiences up to then, attempting to find a solution to their situation. The Tao Te Ching , one of the foremost products of the era, is a metaphysical book, a source of the highest political thought. Many readers have found in it representations of the highest ideals of human endeavors. Yet given its likely oral origin and the technological limitations of its early textual transmission, the Tao Te Ching raises numerous questions related to authorship, date of origin, internal organization, textual coherence, and editorial history. Of the scores of translations of the Tao Te Ching , the great majority are based on the edition prepared by the third-century scholar Wang Pi. Wang's profound commentary is itself a deeply influential text in the development of Taoist thought. Paul Lin presents the commentary, otherwise unavailable in English, in the form of footnotes accompanying his meticulous rendition of the Taoist classic. Appendices (p. 147-176): I. Ch'ien, S. The Collective Biography Of Lao Tzu -- Ii. Shao, H. The Biography Of Wang Pi -- Iii. The Major Differences Between Wang Pi's Edition And The Ma-wang-tui Editions A And B. By Paul J. Lin. Appendices (p. 147-176): I. Ch'ien, S. The Collective Biography Of Lao Tzu.--ii. Shao, H. The Biography Of Wang Pi.--iii. The Major Differences Between Wang Pi's Edition And The Ma-wang-tui Editions A And B. Bibliography: P. 180-198. Cover Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Book One: Chapters 1-37 Book Two: Chapters 38-81 Appendix I: The Collective Biography of Lao Tzu Appendix II: The Biography of Wang Pi Appendix III: The Major Differences between Wang Pi's Edition and the Ma-Wang-Tui Editions A and B Selected Bibliography The essential, classic text of Taoism. These 81 poems comprise an Eastern classic, the mystical and moral teachings of which have profoundly influenced the sacred scriptures of many religions. **A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition.**__Tao Teh Ching____Tao Teh Ching____Tao__