A new way of thinking, new york, harper colophon books, 1975. No translation of the tao te ching is sufficient to understand the text, as the chinese is subtle and frequently brilliant, carrying a different range of connotations than english, and the tao te ching plays repeatedly on the double and extended meanings of words, which can only be appreciated in the chinese, unless you have read a wide array of english translations and. Tao te ching introduction chronology a note on transliteration parallel text notes. By that i mean the choice and interpretation of both words and phrases required in translating anything but especially this is in itself a primary form of commentary. A lucid translation of the wellknown taoist classic by a leading scholarnow in a shambhala pocket library edition. According to tradition, it was written around 6th century bc by the sage laozi or lao tzu, chinese. Jane english and giafu feng, tao te ching, new york, vintage books, 1972, 1989. No translation of the tao te ching is sufficient to understand the text, as the chinese is subtle and frequently brilliant, carrying a different range of connotations than english, and the tao te ching plays repeatedly on the double and extended meanings of words, which can only be appreciated in the chinese, unless you have read a wide array of english translations and perhaps a commentary. Mitchell last updated 20 july 1995 1 the tao that can be told is not the eternal tao the name that can be named is not the eternal name. A good translation for the tao te ching sebastian marshall.
Tao te ching, english by giafu feng and jane english. Dec 21, 2016 the tao te ching is the most popular book outside the bible, with over 100 translations into english alone. Tao te ching project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. I looked around and realise the best version is a free pdf i found done by lok san ho in hong kong because it harnassed the fact that most hong kong chinese are brought up bilingual with english and classical chinese cantonese as our mother tongues.
Daodejing en espanol, tao te ching in spanish, spanish. Written more than two thousand years ago, the tao teh ching, or the classic of more. The title can mean the book of the way and its virtue. The tao te ching was written by laotzu translation by s. The complete tao te ching translated by giafu feng feng jiafu, 19191985 and jane english 1942 vintage books, 1989. Translations yes, there is a difference occasionally profound depending on the translator. Tao te ching simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The translation entitled tao te ching by lao tzu, translated by a. Now jane english and her longtime 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.
Now jane english and her longtime editor, toinette lippe, have revised and refreshed the translation so that it more faithfully reflects the classical chinese in. We are glad to make it a free download for everyone, thanks to special permission from the publisher of tao te ching. Part one is the tao ching way rules, which is chapters 7. Built because my favorite tao te ching site disappeared. Tao te ching of lao tzu is so profound its true essence is unable to be captured by any one translation alone. 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. These eightyone short chapters cover the ways of the way and lay out all the main ideas of one of the worlds most oldschool philosophies. His background lets him convey eastern teachings to western readers in a way that is clear, simple and authentic. Unsure, found online awhile back and could not refind. Since being introduced to the tao te ching in high school i have read 56 translations, this one by dennis waller is really the best of the best.
Reportedly written by a sage named lao tzu over 2,500 years ago, the tao te ching is one of the most succinctand yet among the most profoundspiritual texts ever written. When you recognize the children and find the mother, you will be free of sorrow. Aug 19, 2010 for the best answers, search on this site imho, mitchell takes too many liberties with the original text in an attempt to be contemporary. It does not talk about gods, revelations, and miracles, but about harmonizing with the flow of nature. I was asked by someone from my goodread networks for the best translation of tao te ching book he could buy. The translation itself is written in a very pleasant and easytoread style, which is unfortunately unusual for the work of a professor of philosophy. Tao te ching by lao tzu meet your next favorite book. The prose doesnt flow, and it seems to be worded in such a way to actually be saying the opposite of other translations i have read. Derek lin is an awardwinning, bestselling author in the tao genre. In english, thus, youre forced to either drop the poetry and write a long and indepth explanation analyzing all the word choices, or to write something mysterious and abstract. I had for years been interested in the text of the daode jing, and had read widely in the more than a hundred translations into english that had appeared since the middle of the 19th century.
Laotzus 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. Part two is the te ching virtue rules, which is chapters 3881. Its 81 chapters have been translated into english more times than any other chinese. The gia fu feng and jane english translation, one of the very best english translations of the tao te ching, as uplifting as a first flush single estate darjeeling, should be read slowly one page per day in the early morning allow it to sink in then meditate. As has been widely recognised, ancient chinese is a conceptual rather than a. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. People believe the book was written around 600 bc it is an important text to chinese culture. Embodying the dao reasons realization what is the dao. The tao te ching is basically everybodys handy guide to taoism.
Mar 22, 2000 laotzus 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. The tao te ching is one of the worlds most revered sources of spiritual wisdom. The tao te ching is the most popular book outside the bible, with over 100 translations into english alone. In 81 brief chapters, laotzus 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. For nearly two generations, giafu feng and jane englishs bestselling translation of the tao te ching has been the standard for those seeking access to the wisdom of taoist thought. The tao te ching is a short book of about 5,000 chinese characters. The twopart program contains an unabridged reading of the text o.
Mitchell please choose translator original in chinese original in chinese pinyin romanization r. Books similar to tao te ching meet your next favorite book. Recommend best see description english translation of. Ninety percent of the time, authoritative translations like those recommended here convey the spirit, if not the letter of the literal original chinese. Getting right with tao ron hogans paraphrase of the tao te ching captures the spirit of the chinese classic as pragmatic advice in a modern american vernacular. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. I love the stephen mitchell translation of the tao te ching have the paper book so decided to get it also for my kindle. Devoid of much of the zen underpinnings found in the translation by stephen mitchell, the text by star is profound. A beautiful, eloquent, subtle and profound translation of the tao te ching. The illustrated tao te ching jamese legge translation. If you are looking for a translation of the tao te ching do not get this authors book. The tao te ching is probably the most influential chinese book of all times. This program presents the bestloved and most authoritative modern english translation by giafu feng and jane english of this ancient chinese classic.
He was born in taiwan and grew up with native fluency in both mandarin and english. Thus, the constant void enables one to observe the true essence. Whats the most famous english translation book of the tao te. Sep 24, 2017 tao te ching book club, march 2018 duration. Listen help info is the chinese name of a book by a man named laozi or lao tzu, which literally means old master. Tao te ching lao tzu tao te ching written by laotzu translation by stephen.
The translation itself is written in a very pleasant and easytoread style, which is unfortunately unusual for the work of. In order to get the most from the book, the best compromise is to read more than one translations if you are not prepared to learn the archaic chinese. The above is the most accurate translation of the ancient classic available anywhere at any price. Clicked the kindle box and purchased it only to find that the kindle version of this book is not actually this book it is not stephen mitchells translation. Dec 18, 2008 jane english and giafu feng, tao te ching, new york, vintage books, 1972, 1989. Is there a good english translation of the tao te ching. What is the best english translation of the tao te ching to. Reading the tao te ching the spiritual naturalist society. The enduring wisdom of the tao te ching can become a companion for your own spiritual journey. Through aphorisms and parable, it leads readers toward the tao, or the way.
I disliked the tao te ching the first 3 or 4 times i tried to read it. Widdershins the ultimate guide to modern livingthe spare volume can work wonders on frazzled nerves. This is an extraordinary book, enlightening and insightful in personal and. It could be argued that the best people to translate the tao te ching are those who try to embody tao. The original mindfulness book, in a landmark new translation by the awardwinning 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. In eightyone 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. And the works momentousness had long been known, as one of the central statements in. The author respects the tao but this is not the real deal.
This book is a great way to introduce the tao to someone new, to ancient chinese philosophy. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. Whats the most famous english translation book of the tao. I will be purposefully losing this book and looking for a better translation. Boston globe lao tzus tao te ching has been one of the worlds central philosophical texts. What is the best english translation of the tao te ching. In order to get the most from the book, the best compromise is to read more than one translations if you. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bahm, and published by frederick ungar is well supported by notes in an afterword. Totally magnificent, could even be the only spiritual book you need. Taoism isnt really a religion only, its also a philosophical tradition, the latter of which is what the tao te ching reflects people added stuff onto it later. Tao te ching every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. A while back i acquired a copy of the tao te ching and it turned out to not be the best translation. In translating the tao te ching, the translation is, in truth, also a commentary.
Tao te ching chapter one tao the way that can be spoken of is not the constant tao the name that can be named is not a constant name. The new english version that makes good sense, because it is the only book in the market that has pointed out and successfully corrected all t. In this edition of the tao te ching, jonathan star provides for the western mind an accessible and understandable translation of the mysterious ancient chinese teachings regarding the way of life and its effortless manifestation. The tao that can be told is not the eternal tao the name that can be named is not the eternal name. Le guin on the legacy of the tao te ching and what it continues to teach us about personal and political power 2,500 years later it is the profound modesty of the language that offers what so many people for so many centuries have found in this book. The tao te ching brooklyn public library overdrive.
Solomon 2002, 41, has much in common with what we are calling naturalized spirituality. Written more than two thousand years ago, the tao teh ching, or the classic of. Move mouse pointer over any chinese character to see its meaning and pronunciation. Tao te ching ebook by derek lin 9781594733550 rakuten kobo. About the tao te ching the tao te ching was written in china roughly 2,500 years ago at about the same time when buddha expounded the dharma in india and pythagoras taught in greece. Traditionally attributed to the legendary old master, lao tzu, the tao teh ching. Tao te ching chapter 9 translation by stephen mitchell. For nearly two generations, giafu 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. The book of the way and how it manifests itself in the world. Tao te ching, the world is a sacred vessel, more easily harmed than improved or controlled. Paul lin, a translation of laotzus tao te ching and wang pis commentary, university of michigan, 1977. Isbn 0679724346 this was alan watts favorite english translation. Logues version sounded with an enormous, vi sceral power.
1279 255 907 82 494 415 1274 951 477 1531 335 91 1375 1468 1498 524 35 317 1540 650 725 1125 1447 93 605 1190 261 1106 551 621 446 1168 1383 713 647 171 1077 3 418 1268 271 1226 596 325 927 884 657 1020 996