Laozi authentic

Author: Ma Hengjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This is a classic that every Chinese person should read. After decades of dedicated study, this book offers an authentic interpretation of the Tao Te Ching. It illuminates the wisdom of various schools of thought and looks back through the ages with reverence for the sages and adherence to the way of heaven.
From ancient times to the present, there have been thousands of books explaining the Tao Te Ching. The annotations of ancient scholars are often difficult to understand today, while those of modern times are diverse and varied. Regarding Laozi’s philosophy, some consider him a idealist, while others call him a materialist. Others claim he was a religious leader, a representative of the declining class, a reactionary, or that he advocated ignorant policies and advocated for regression. His book is said to be a book of conspiracy, military strategy, alchemy, or metaphysics, all of which confuse readers.
What is the Tao Te Ching really? Is there no standard to judge it? I believe the standard should be the Tao Te Ching itself. The entire book consists of only five thousand words, yet Laozi himself said, "Words have a master, and matters have a ruler." There is a central theme that governs everything. How can we arbitrarily interpret it with our own personal insights? This book is the answer I offer in my sincere effort to restore the Tao Te Ching to its true form. I dedicate it to readers who share my sentiments.
Reading should not be rigid; one must strive to understand the author’s intent as fully as possible. Previous scholars often opposed Laozi’s philosophy because it differed from the orthodox Confucian thought, but upon careful analysis, Confucianism and Daoism share many similarities. The difference lies in their perspectives: Confucianism emphasizes moral values from a societal standpoint, while Daoism focuses on the natural attributes of individuals and what kind of society should be formed. Simply put, Confucianism emphasizes using social organization to shape individuals, while Daoism emphasizes building an ideal society based on human nature. If we combine these two perspectives, both Confucianism and Daoism have contributed significantly to our understanding of society.
Anyone speaks from a particular angle, but this book should be approached holistically. This book is based on my lecture notes, so it has a strong teacher’s tone. When teaching, one cannot be vague or give ambiguous answers; instead, one must provide clear and definitive answers. This sometimes gives the impression of being dogmatic. Since the audience has changed after publication, this self-proclaimed teacher’s tone is clearly inappropriate. Therefore, I first apologize to the readers.
However, lecture notes also have their advantages. When teaching face-to-face, if students don’t understand, the teacher has the responsibility to clarify and cannot avoid the issue. Difficult points must also be addressed. This pressure ensures that the teacher cannot write as they please, avoiding weaknesses. Second, lecture notes must consider teaching methods to help students learn smoothly. The teacher must understand the students’ difficulties and doubts, breaking through them and clearing up confusion. This prevents the situation where one reads a lot but still doesn’t understand the key points. Third, lecture notes must align with the content being taught. They cannot be vague or speculative, but must be grounded in specific details. This prevents the teacher from straying from the material and substituting their own views for the intended content. Fourth, lecture notes must treat the subject as a systematic discipline, not disjointed. They must have a clear structure, be consistent, and avoid contradictions. This prevents superficial understanding and the tendency to speak at length about minor points while ignoring the core. With these advantages, I see no need to rewrite the notes.
There are already many books about the Tao Te Ching on the market, and publishers are willing to publish another version of my lecture notes. This is likely because they only see the benefits of lecture notes, not their drawbacks. I sincerely hope readers will view the matter comprehensively and understand that the teacher’s tone in the book should not influence their judgment. Those who seek truth encourage questioning. Laozi himself was a bold questioner, and I earnestly invite readers to criticize and correct me.