The essential Taoist book and one of a triad that make up the
most influential religious and philosophical writings of Chinese
tradition, the "Tao-te Ching" is the subject of hundreds of new
interpretive studies each year. As Taoism emerges as one of the
East Asian philosophies most interesting to Westerners, an
accessible new edition of this great work -- written for
English-language readers, yet rendered with an eye toward Chinese
understanding -- has been much needed by scholars and general
readers.
Richard John Lynn, whose recent translation of the "I Ching" was
hailed by the "Times Literary Supplement" as "the best "I Ching"
that has so far appeared," presents here another fine translation.
Like his "I Ching, " this volume includes the interpretive
commentary of the third-century scholar Wang Bi (226-249), who
wrote the first and most sophisticated commentary on the "Tao-te
Ching."
Lynn's introduction explores the centrality of Wang's
commentaries in Chinese thought, the position of the "Tao-te Ching"
in East Asian tradition, Wang's short but brilliant life, and the
era in which he lived. The text consists of eighty-one short,
aphoristic sections presenting a complete view of how the sage
rules in accordance with the spontaneous ways of the natural world.
Although the "Tao-te Ching" was originally designed to provide
advice to the ruler, the Chinese regard its teachings as living and
self-cultivation tools applicable to anyone. Wang Bi's
commentaries, following each statement, flesh out the text so that
it speaks to the modern Western reader as it has to Asians for more
than seventeen centuries.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!