Classics of the Ages -- Tao Te Ching

Author: Laozi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of ten thousand things. Therefore, always keep the nameless to observe its subtlety; always keep the named to observe its manifestations. These two are the same yet different, and are called mysterious. The mystery of mysteries is the gateway to all subtleties. All under heaven know beauty as beauty, thus ugliness arises. Being and non-being give birth to each other; difficulty and ease complement each other; long and short define each other; high and low fill each other; tones harmonize with each other; before and after follow each other—this is the eternal way. Therefore, the sage engages in the affairs of non-action and practices the teaching of silence. He lets all things arise without giving birth to them; he lets all things be without possessing them; he does not rely on them; and when his work is done, he does not claim credit. Only by not claiming credit does he remain undiminished. Laozi's Tao Te Ching, also known as The Way and Its Power, was written in the late Spring and Autumn period. This book has long been regarded by scholars as a "poem of philosophy." Its content touches upon various disciplines such as philosophy, ethics, politics, and military science. However, unlike Confucianism, which discusses philosophy, ethics, or politics in isolation, The Tao Te Ching places social and human issues in the context of the historical evolution of the universe for deeper reflection. Thus, The Tao Te Ching has been immensely influential as a philosophical work, both in ancient times and in the modern era, both in China and abroad. It is no exaggeration to say that The Tao Te Ching is the crystallization of ancient Chinese civilization and a cultural treasure shared by all humankind. During the writing of this book, we have reflected on and discussed Laozi's thought and theory while also consulting and referencing certain annotated editions by scholars of past generations and numerous research findings in contemporary academia. The bibliography has been appended at the end of the book.