9780451530400 | Tao Te Ching

Previously published as "The Way of Life," the ancient Taoist text written by philosopher Lao-Tzu in the sixth century B.C., has inspired millions of people from all different backgrounds. This beautiful edition contains Chinese characters alongside the English text and is illustrated with black and white drawings. Revised reissue.

The way of life defined in the Tao Te Ching was developed by ancient sages who lived in China some two thousand years ago. Lao Tzu, known as the Old One, was one such sage who practiced "the way," although there were almost certainly other religious thinkers who contributed further ideas and wisdom to it.

R. B. Blakney, past president of Olivet College, former missionary and teacher in China, and author of many volumes on Eastern religions, made this splendid translation of a great gem of Chinese religion and provided an illuminating interpretative commentary.

Richard John Lynn is Professor Emeritus of Chinese Thought and Literature, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Toronto, Canada. His books include Chinese Literature: A Draft Bibliography in Western European Languages, Guide to Chinese Poetry and Drama, and The Classic of Changes: A New Translation of the I Ching as Interpreted by Wang Bi. He is the editor of James J. Y. Liu’s Language—Paradox—Poetics: A Chinese Perspective.

PREFACE,

9

INTRODUCTION,

15

Book of Odes,

16

Confucius,

19

Mo Ti,

23

Shang Yang and the Legalists,

24

Yin-Yang,

27

Tao Té Ching,

30

Chinese Mystics,

36

Key Concepts,

42

THE POEMS

1. Tao k'o tao

There are ways,

59

2. T'ien hsia chieh chih

Since the world,

60

3. Pu shang hsien

If those who are excellent,

62

4. Tao ch'ung erh

The Way is a void,

63

5. T'ien ti pu jen

Is then the world unkind?

64

6. Ku shen pu ssu

The valley spirit,

65

7. T'ien ch'ang

The sky is everlasting,

66

8. Shang shan je shui

The highest goodness,

67

9. Ch'ih erh ying chill

To take all you want,

68

10. Tsai ying p'o

Can you govern your animal soul?

69

11. San-shih fu

Thirty spokes,

70

12. Wu se ling jen mu

The five colors,

71

13. Ch'ung ju je ching

Favor, like disgrace,

72

14. Shih chih pu chien

They call it elusive,

74

15. Ku chih shan

The excellent masters,

76

16. Chih hsil chi

Touch ultimate emptiness,

77

17. T'ai shang hsia

As for him who is highest,

79

18. Ta tao fei

The mighty Way declined,

80

19. Chüeh sheng

Get rid of the wise men,

81

20. Chüeh hsüeh

Be done with rote learning,

82

21. K'ung Te

The omnipresent Virtue,

84

22. Ch'ü tse ch'üan

The crooked shall be made straight,

85

23. Hsi yen tzu jan

Sparing indeed is nature,

87

24. Ch'i che pu li

On tiptoe,

88

25. Yu wu hun ch'eng

Something there is,

89

26. Chung wei ch'ing ken

The heavy is foundation,

91

27. Shan hsing

A good runner,

92

28. Chih ch'i hsiung

Be aware of your masculine nature,

93

29. Chiang yü ch'ü

As for those who would take,

95

30. I tao tso jen chu

To those who would help,

96

31. Fu chia ping che

Weapons at best,

97

32. Tao ch'ang wu ming

The Way eternal,

100

33. Chih jen che chih

It is wisdom,

101

34. Ta tao fan hsi

O the great Way o'erflows,

102

35. Chih to hsiang

Once grasp the great Form,

103

36. Chiang yü hsi chih

What is to be shrunken,

104

37. Tao ch'ang wu wei

The Way is always still,

105

38. Shang te pu te

A man of highest virtue,

106

39. Hsi chih te i che

These things in ancient times,

108

40. Fan che tao chih tung

The movement of the Way,

109

41. Shang shih wen tao

On hearing of the Way,

110

42. Tao sheng i

The Way begot one,

111

43. T'ien hsia chih

The softest of stuff,

113

44. Ming yü Shen

Which is dearer?

114

45. Ta ch'eng je ch'üeh

Most perfect,

115

46. T'ien hsia yu tao

When the Way rules,

117

47. Pu ch'u hu

The world may be known,

118

48. Wei hsüeh jih i

The student learns,

119

49. Sheng jen

The Wise Man's mind,

120

50. Ch'u sheng ju ssu

On leaving life,

121

51. Tao sheng chih

The Way brings forth,

122

52. T'ien hsia yu shih

It began with a matrix,

123

53. Shih wo chieh jan

When I am walking,

124

54. Shan chien che

Set firm in the Way,

125

55. Han te chih hou

Rich in virtue,

127

56. Chih che pu yen

Those who know,

128

57. I cheng chih kuo

Govern the realm,

129

58. Ch'i cheng men men

Listlessly govern,

130

59. Chih jen shih T'ien

For ruling men,

131

60. Chih ta kuo

Rule a large country,

132

61. Ta kuo che

The great land,

133

62. Tao che wan wu

Like the gods,

135

63. Wei wu wei

Act in repose,

136

64. Ch'i an i ch'ih

A thing that is still,

138

65. Ku chih shan wei

Those ancients,

139

66. Chiang hai

How could the rivers,

141

67. T'ien hsia chieh wei

Everywhere, they say,

142

68. Shan wei shih che

A skillful soldier,

144

69. Yung ping yu yen

The strategists,

145

70. Wu yen shen i chih

My words are easy,

146

71. Chih pu chih shang

To know that you are ignorant,

147

72. Min pu wei wei

If people do not dread,

148

73. Yung yii kan

A brave man,

149

74. Min pu wei ssu

The people do not fear,

150

75. Min chih chi

The people starve,

151

76. Jen chih cheng yeh

Alive, a man is supple,

152

77. T'ien chih tao

Is not God's Way much like a bow?

153

78. T'ien hsia jou je

Nothing is weaker than water,

154

79. Ho ta yuan

How can you think?

155

80. Hsiao kuo kua min

The ideal land,

156

81. Hsin yen pu mei

As honest words,

158

AFTERWORD,

159

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