Lao Zi (also Lao-Tzu or Lao-Tze) was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. His book, Dao De Jing (or Tao Te Ching), has been in circulation for more than 2,500 years. There are many versions and more than one thousand annotations, yet most readers still find it difficult to understand, let alone apply in daily life. Thus Dao De Jing is often misunderstood and regarded as containing mystical teachings disconnected from reality. In Mysteries of Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) Revealed, author Dr. Guo Yong Jin dismisses many myths about this great work, including its link to Taoism (a religion founded six hundred years after Lao Zi). Shedding the mystical and surreal, he brings clarity to the teachings by drawing on Lao Zi’s source of inspiration—nature. In this way, Dr. Guo distinguishes his interpretation of Dao De Jing from those before him. The typical interpretation focuses on the semantics of Lao Zi’s written word; Dr. Guo, however, returns to the roots of Dao De Jing, using simple observations of nature to clarify the text. Dao De Jing lays bare the truths and realities of life and the universe. It explains the origins of life and the principles upon which the universe operates. Though much of Dao De Jing is mirrored in science and psychology, the ancient text offers an even deeper understanding. It is neither superstitious nor religious, nor is it a personal philosophy. Dao De Jing is simply wisdom in its essence.

"Ursula K. Le Guin, a student of the Tao Te Ching for more than fifty years, offers her own thoughtful rendering of the Taoist scripture. She has consulted the literal translations and worked with the scholar J. P. Seaton to develop a version that lets the ancient text speak in a fresh way to modern people, while remaining faithful to the original Chinese. This rendition reveals the Tao Te Ching's immediate relevance and power, its depth and refreshing humor, illustrating better than ever before why it has been so loved for more than 2,500 years. Included are Le Guin's own personal commentary and notes along with two audio CDs of the text read by the author, with original music composed and performed by Todd Barton."--Publisher's website.

Presents volume thirteen of a fourteen-volume series on World Religions exploring the origins of Taoism in China, its central beliefs and restoration under China's religious freedom clause, rituals, sacred sites, and more.

'Of ways you may speak, but not the Perennial Way; By names you may name, but not the Perennial Name.' The best-loved of all the classical books of China and the most universally popular, the Daodejing or Classic of the Way and Life-Force is a work that defies definition. It encapsulates the main tenets of Daoism, and upholds a way of being as well as a philosophy and a religion. The dominant image is of the Way, the mysterious path through the whole cosmos modelled on the great Silver River or Milky Way that traverses the heavens. A life-giving stream, the Way gives rise to all things and holds them in her motherly embrace. It enables the individual, and society as a whole, to harmonize the disparate demands of daily life and achieve a more profound level of understanding. This new translation draws on the latest archaeological finds and brings out the word play and poetry of the original. Simple commentary accompanies the text, and the introduction provides further historical and interpretative context. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

This is not just another English version of the Tao Te Ching, this is the new English version that makes good sense to readers for the very first time in the history. While the Tao Te Ching is a famous ancient Chinese classic and has substantially influenced the lives of so many people over the centuries, it is also one of the most profound and misinterpreted spiritual and philosophical text. Some of its chapters may appear confusing and difficult to understand. What can you do when you just can not make sense of them? Yuhui Liang, a Tao Te Ching expert, has found many misinterpretations in many English and Chinese versions of The Tao Te Ching. After years of research and study, he has made significant progress in three important areas and successfully corrected all the misinterpretations. And his new translation let Lao Tzu's words finally make good sense to readers. His work takes the translation of the Tao Te Ching to the next level of better accuracy, coherence and contextualization, while keeping the sentences reasonably concise. You can benefit from this book whether you are a first time reader or a long time fan. It will help you read Lao Tzu's book with greater understanding, reexamine its original meaning, and find out what it means to you today. The content of this book: Introduction, Translation, Pinyin version, Annotation, Notes, and a Brief Analysis of the Symbol Pair for each of eighty one chapters.

Tao Te Ching is the 2,500 years old source to Taoism, written by the legendary Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu. In 81 short chapters, he presented the world according to Tao, the Way, and how mankind should adapt to it. The book has become one of the foremost world classics of wisdom - maybe even more relevant today, than it was to Lao Tzu's contemporaries. This translation of the text focuses on the clarity and simplicity by which Lao Tzu expresses his fascinating cosmology and profound ethics. Each chapter is thoroughly explained, also regarding how this old wisdom can be understood and applied today. Stefan Stenudd is a Swedish writer of both fiction and non-fiction. As a historian of ideas, he studies the thought patterns in creation myths around the world. He is also a high-grade instructor of the peaceful martial art aikido, which he has practiced for almost 40 years.