Laozi (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Wang Bi et al.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-05-01
Features: Laozi is the founder of the pre-Qin Taoist school. His philosophy has had an extremely profound influence on the history of Chinese philosophy. The Daodejing he wrote is not only a precious legacy of ancient Chinese philosophy but also holds an important place in the treasure trove of world philosophy. Laozi's philosophical views negate the benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom advocated by Confucianism at the time, advocating instead for a clear mind, few desires, and inaction. The dialectical thinking of Laozi in epistemology is a key feature of Taoist philosophy, with the greatest influence and widest dissemination. The political and cultural traditions of all dynasties in China have been influenced by Taoist philosophical thought, and his importance in the history of Chinese philosophical development is no less than that of Confucianism. Historically, there are many editions and commentaries of the Daodejing, with its number second only to the Analects and being one of the most widely circulated works among the pre-Qin philosophers.