Laozi said (Chinese-English)

Author: Laozi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: The Tao Te Ching, also known as Tao De Jing, is one of the most renowned classics of the Chinese Taoist school and Taoism. It encompasses the wisdom of generations, vast and profound, with its concise 5,000 characters centered around the concept of "the Tao." It constructs a philosophical system that ranges from the governance of emperors to the self-cultivation of recluses, embodying an extraordinary wealth of wisdom. The author, with a deep foundation in literature and history and a keen social insight, has thoroughly elucidated, clarified, and quoted the essence of The Tao Te Ching in exquisite English. The book simplifies and translates The Tao Te Ching, characterized by its accessibility and clarity.
The Tao Te Ching consists of 5,000 characters, concise yet profound, representing the source of Chinese philosophical works and the crystallization of the wisdom of our ancestors. It has been passed down through the ages, exerting a profound and far-reaching influence. Two years ago, through the recommendation of my younger brother Qingyang, an editor from Shanghai World Book Publishing Company invited me to translate The Tao Te Ching. Unable to resist the urge, I accepted the challenge.
However, translation is difficult, and translating Chinese classics is even more so. Translating The Tao Te Ching is particularly challenging. First, it is difficult to sort out the variant readings of the original text. Over a thousand years, The Tao Te Ching has passed through countless hands, resulting in frequent variations, making it hard to distinguish between good and bad, and selecting the best versions is truly a "tangled web." Second, it is difficult to determine the punctuation of the original text. The Tao Te Ching has been passed down in several versions, including the Heshanggong edition, the Wangbi edition, and the Mawangdui Han tomb manuscripts (Jia and Yi versions). These texts differ not only in content but also in punctuation, making interpretation extremely challenging and labor-intensive. Third, it is difficult to understand the meaning of the original text. The Tao Te Ching is concise, with many words and phrases having multiple meanings, making it hard to decide on the most appropriate interpretation. Fourth, it is difficult to express the original meaning in English. During translation, while striving to convey the meaning clearly, I often felt at a loss for words. Every phrase took months of hesitation.