Kirjahaku

Philip J. Ivanhoe's richly annotated translation of this classic work is accompanied by his engaging interpretation and commentary, a lucid introduction, and a Language Appendix that compares eight classic translations of the opening passage of the work and invites the reader to consider the principles upon which each was rendered.

'Of ways you may speak, but not the Perennial Way; By names you may name, but not the Perennial Name.' The best-loved of all the classical books of China and the most universally popular, the Daodejing or Classic of the Way and Life-Force is a work that defies definition. It encapsulates the main tenets of Daoism, and upholds a way of being as well as a philosophy and a religion. The dominant image is of the Way, the mysterious path through the whole cosmos modelled on the great Silver River or Milky Way that traverses the heavens. A life-giving stream, the Way gives rise to all things and holds them in her motherly embrace. It enables the individual, and society as a whole, to harmonize the disparate demands of daily life and achieve a more profound level of understanding. This new translation draws on the latest archaeological finds and brings out the word play and poetry of the original. Simple commentary accompanies the text, and the introduction provides further historical and interpretative context. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

The Dao De Jing is one of the richest, most suggestive, and most popular works of philosophy and literature. Composed in China between the sixth and fourth centuries B.C., its enigmatic verses have inspired artists, philosophers, poets, religious thinkers, and general readers past and present. This new translation captures the beauty and nuance of the original work. In addition, the extensive and accessible commentary by Moss Roberts sheds light on the work’s historical and philosophical contexts and shows how the Dao De Jing addresses topics of relevance to our own times, such as politics, statecraft, cosmology, aesthetics, and ethics.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This bold new translation by two brilliant poets offers a contemporary perspective on a timeless masterpiece of Daoist scripture, introducing Dao De Jing to a new audience while retaining the majesty of the Chinese original. Composed of eighty-one short poems written by the sage Laozi in 400 BC, Dao De Jing is one of the pillars of Chinese thought. Acclaimed poet Li-Young Lee and poet and scholar Yun Wang illuminate Dao De Jing as a unified work of art. This revelatory and faithful translation--presented alongside the original Chinese text--reveals its enduring teachings in their profound simplicity, subtlety, and balance.

Although now considered a spiritual handbook for a general audience, the Daodejing was originally written for Ancient China's ruling nobles during the waning years of the Spring and Autumn period. This was a socially and politically unstable time that was marked by widespread warfare between the Middle Kingdom's most powerful states. Laozi describes how personal ambition and material desire had caused many of the ruling nobles to forsake their natural place in the spiritual order of things, thus bringing misery and hardship to themselves and the people they ruled. He believed that if these ruling nobles would stop and look at the larger picture, they would see how their authority fit within the chains of authority that govern "all under Heaven."According to Laozi, all authority originates with a timeless mystical force called "The Way." Although the Way cannot be directly perceived, its effects can be observed in nature. While everything in nature spontaneously follows the Way, a ruler who is a "sage man" must move ahead cautiously as he constantly feels his way through the paradoxical flow of yin and yang darkness and light, passive and active, feminine and masculine] that emanates from the Way.This is a fairly literal translation of the Daodejing. It doesn't project later philosophical or religious beliefs back onto the 2500 year old text. Instead, it approaches the text from an anthropological perspective and retains all of Laozi's allusions to the social norms, animistic beliefs, and religious practices of the Ancient Chinese during the Spring and Autumn period.

Laozi, or "The Old Master", allegedly penned Tao Te Ching ("The Way of the Path and the Power") around the 6th century B.C. Tao Te Ching consists of 81 passages of advice and wisdom.

The Tao and Its Characteristics is one of the world's oldest and most influential documents. Its view of the mind and its place in the world, paradoxically simple and profound, continue to perplex, excite and inspire today. The Tao and Its Characteristics, also known as The Tao Te Ching or The Book of Tao, has traditionally been attributed to Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher of the 6th century BC. The ancient book's exact origins and authorship are still subject to debate, including some wondering if it was written by a single author or is the accumulated wisdom of many. The text seeks a peeling away of artificial constraints of society and the mind in order to return to the natural balance of the Tao, the essence of all things. This is described as 'the way', an immersion in the present moment and a freedom from desire that liberates the self from purely selfish motivations, creating a balanced state of humble simplicity and peace of mind. Poetic and shot through with thought provoking paradox, the text invites absorption, consideration and interpretation. Ceaselessly influential across cultures and centuries, The Tao and Its Characteristics has, at one time or another, impacted religious thought, political theory, philosophy and an array of artists working in everything from poetry to painting to music. Thousands of years old, the text and its message are truly timeless. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Tao and Its Characteristics is both modern and readable.The Tao and Its Characteristics is one of the world's oldest and most influential documents. Its view of the mind and its place in the world, paradoxically simple and profound, continue to perplex, excite and inspire today. The Tao and Its Characteristics, also known as The Tao Te Ching or The Book of Tao, has traditionally been attributed to Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher of the 6th century BC. The ancient book's exact origins and authorship are still subject to debate, including some wondering if it was written by a single author or is the accumulated wisdom of many. The text seeks a peeling away of artificial constraints of society and the mind in order to return to the natural balance of the Tao, the essence of all things. This is described as 'the way', an immersion in the present moment and a freedom from desire that liberates the self from purely selfish motivations, creating a balanced state of humble simplicity and peace of mind. Poetic and shot through with thought provoking paradox, the text invites absorption, consideration and interpretation. Ceaselessly influential across cultures and centuries, The Tao and Its Characteristics has, at one time or another, impacted religious thought, political theory, philosophy and an array of artists working in everything from poetry to painting to music. Thousands of years old, the text and its message are truly timeless. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Tao and Its Characteristics is both modern and readable.

The Tao Te Ching, along with the Zhuangzi, is a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism, and strongly influenced other schools, such as Legalism, Confucianism, and Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was largely interpreted through the use of Daoist words and concepts. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and even gardeners, have used the Daodejing as a source of inspiration. Its influence has also spread widely outside East Asia, and it is among the most translated works in world literature.Each RADLEY CLASSIC is a meticulously restored, luxurious and faithful reproduction of a classic book; produced with elegant text layout, clarity of presentation, and stylistic features that make reading a true pleasure. Special attention is given to legible fonts and adequate letter sizing, correct line length for readability, generous margins and triple lead (lavish line separation); plus we do not allow any mistakes/changes to creep into the original author's words. Visit RADLEY BOOKS at www.radleybooks.com to see more classic book titles in this series.

Always without desire we must be found, If its deep mystery we would sound; But if desire always within us be, Its outer fringe is all that we shall see. Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development takes place, it receives the different names. Together we call them the Mystery. Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.