Other editions of book Tao Te Ching

The Tao Te Ching is fundamental to the Taoist school of Chinese philosophy and strongly influenced other schools, such as Legalism and Neo-Confucianism. This ancient book is also central in Chinese religion, not only for Taoism but Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and even gardeners have used the Tao Te Ching as a source of inspiration. Its influence has also spread widely outside East Asia, aided by hundreds of translations into Western languages.

Laozi was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is known as the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of philosophical Taoism, and as a deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions. Although a legendary figure, he is usually dated to around the 6th century BC and reckoned a contemporary of Confucius, but some historians contend that he actually lived during the Warring States period of the 5th or 4th century BC. A central figure in Chinese culture, Laozi is claimed by both the emperors of the Tang dynasty and modern people of the Li surname as a founder of their lineage. Laozi's work has been embraced by various anti-authoritarian movements as well as Chinese Legalism.

The tao that can be described is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be spoken is not the eternal name. Written some 2,500 years ago, the Tao Te Ching is the most influential text of ancient Chinese philosophy & one of the most widely read examples of 'wisdom literature.' THe title can be translated as The Classic of the Way and Its Power (or Virtue) & the text is no less than an attempt to descrube the workings of the cosmos & our place within it, as well as to show us the best way to live. The journey to the Tao is a journey inwards, to who we really are. But first we need to embrace simplicity, put others first & desire little.

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.

The Tao Te Ching is a classic of Chinese literature and one of the foundation texts of Taoism, a Chinese religious philosophy. It is also known as the Daodejing, Dao De Jing, Daode Jing, or simply as the Laozi. Tao Te Ching is the romanization of the title, which dates back to the late 19th century (AD), when English transliterations first appeared. The date of original publication is still unknown, but the oldest part can be traced back to the latter portion of the 4th century BC. However, modern experts believe it was written or put together after the Zhuangzi, the other seminal text of Daoism, which was published in the 3rd century BC. There are several different translations of the title, but the most common is as follows: Dao or Tao means “way,” but is most often used to mean “the way,” as in the fundamental force driving the universe. De has several meanings, including, perhaps most relevantly, “virtue.” Jing in this context means something like “canon” or “great book.” So, the full title can be understood to mean “The Book of the Way of Virtue.” The book comprises 81 chapters today, but there is evidence that chapter division was a later development for the book. If this is the case, then the original text had a much more free-flowing style. As it stands now, the book is poetic in form, with allowances for broad interpretation of the text. It is written with an interesting rhetorical style: it features bold, declarative statements that are immediately confronted with statements that seem to contradict them. Some experts believe that the purpose of this style is to get the reader thinking to reconcile these contradictions.

THE 2500-YEAR-OLD GUIDE FOR LIVING... Written by Chinese prophet Lao-Tzu, the Tao Te Ching (pronounced Dow De Jing) is the guiding force behind Taoism, China's leading school of thought. Consisting of 81 chapters, the Tao Te Ching has been translated into English more times than any other Chinese document. Approach the Tae Te Ching as though it were a poem, meant to be read slowly, internalized, and savored...and it will change your life, just like it has changed the lives of millions before you. Within this book are the secrets to: • Mastering the ancient power of thought...including how to harness this power to dramatically change your life in all aspects. • Creating better relationships, make more money, and live a fulfilling life. • How you can do less while attracting more abundance in all aspects of your life. • Eliminate stress, fear and depression. Millions of people, from spiritual leaders to spiritual students, have all been deeply moved to change thank to the Tao Te Ching. Now, you can as well! If you're looking for change and peace in your life, you will benefit from reading this valuable and time-tested message. Read the Tao Te Ching today and experience great change!