Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Renowned translator William Scott Wilson has rendered Lao Tzu's classic in the most authentic way possible, using both the ancient text and the even older Great Seal script used during Lao Tzu's time. The result is a new and nuanced translation, accompanied by Chinese ink paintings and ancillary material. Wilson includes an introduction that tells the story of Lao Tzu, the "old man" and the "keeper of the archives," and notes to illuminate the text. He also includes two short essays—one explains the relationship between Taoism and Zen, and the other explores the roots that link the spiritual aspects of the Tao with the practice of Chinese and Japanese martial arts. Wilson's version of this ancient classic is wonderfully fresh and readable.
Preface xiii
Introduction xix
The Story
The Background
The Old Man and His Book
The Translation
The Interior
Key Terms of the Tao
The Perennial Philosophy
Humor
Conclusion
Tao Te Ching-The Text
Canto I The Book of the Way Verses 1-37 1
Canto II The Book of Virtue Verses 38-81 65
Further Explorations
Taoism and Zen 151
Taoism's Path
The First Patriarch
Seng-ts'an and the Hsin Hsin Ming-Taoist Zen or Zen Taoism?
The Tao Te Ching and the Martial Arts 163
The Tao Te Ching and The Art of War
The Tao and the Martial Arts of Japan
Notes 183
Bibliography 207
Anonymous
Posted July 14, 2011
How I came to know or why I purchased this book does not matter. What I can appreciate about the Tao Te Ching is that much of it is up to you to come to a conclusion... on your own. You can read this book and never truthfully understand it if you are expecting something out of it. The numerous translations of the Tao Te Ching is irrelevant, look for the truth in yourself when reading any translation of the Tao Te Ching and you will know what it is about.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 6, 2010
I have several copies of the Tao Te Ching; this one is my least favorite. Perhaps an academic would disagree, telling me how accurate the text is, true to the original, and all of that...But it's boring, uninspired, not poetic, not worth a second reading, and certainly not worth the money I paid for it.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
Renowned translator William Scott Wilson has rendered Lao Tzu's classic in the most authentic way possible, using both the ancient text and the even older Great Seal script used during Lao Tzu's time. The result is a new and nuanced translation, accompanied by Chinese ink paintings and ancillary material. Wilson includes an introduction that tells the story of Lao Tzu, the "old man" and the "keeper of the archives," and notes to illuminate the text. He also includes two short essays—one explains the relationship ...