Tao Te Ching

Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism mark the culture and minds and hearts of all China and influence every aspect of life there still today. Laotze is still revered and honored there, and this book captures the very essence of his teachings beautifully. Over the past 40 years I've bought and given at least a dozen copies of this translation to people who can appreciate the beauty of the thoughts and philosophies. Beyond this, the photos on every other page are stunning and echo the teachings next to them. I've seen other translations of Laotze, and to me this one captures the true beauty of the meanings.

I have ready close to a dozen translations of the Tao Te Ching and this one is my favorite. I am not a scholar by any means so I can't speak to the translations accuracy. But it is easily the most beautiful and readable translation I've found.

I bought this for a class on eastern philosophy and it really is pretty amazing; it is the type of text you can speed through (because it is essentially a series of poems/proverbs), or that you can spend the rest of your life studying and then trying to "put into practice" in various different ways. This version is translated by Mitchell (the store sells identical translations) except this one is illustrated with beautiful artwork, so if it is for a class, i would buy this one (i actually bought both because i tend to mark up my texts and wanted a clean copy as well). Whatever the reason the Tao Te Ching interests you, i recommend the artwork version - it just seems to add something and, if nothing else, it gives you something nice to look at as you contemplate the teachings of Lao-tzu.

Victor Mair is a well-known scholar of Classical Chinese, and I feel that of the many translations of the Tao Te Ching, his is the best by far! Thanks in part due to the discovery of the Ma Wang Tui scrolls, this book provides a refreshing change to the cookie-cutter translations I have seen in the past, and in the back of the book goes into great deal on why he translated thing the way he did.
As a amateur in Classical Chinese myself, I feel that Mr. Mair's translation is definitely the most accurate in relation to the general mood of the time in China, when many other such classics were being written (Confucius's Analects for example). Many of these classics drew upon the same pool of ideas, and this particular translation shows the mood of that time better than any other I have seen. Most translations tend to interpret words and phrases in a modern light, but Mair's is true to philosophy of the time.
I also like the detailed analysis that Mair does in comparing the Tao with other religions in Asia (in particular Judaism and Hinduism) and how they also drew upon a common pool of ideas prevalent at the time. I believe he makes a very strong case for this.
For those who are not interested in the historical aspect of Taoism, I feel they will still enjoy this book very much because this translation preserves the spiritual mystery of the Tao Te Ching (another aspect most translations lack), and lets the reader interpret the meaning as he/she sees fit.
Anyhow, in closing, a fanstatic translation, that stands above the rest. I strongly recommend this for both scholars and enthusiasts alike.

The formatting of this translation (Charles Johnston 1921-1923) is awful. The text is broken up by commentary, instead of the commentary being as footnote or endnote. The commentary continually tries to reconcile the Tao Te Ching against Christian beliefs, bringing up Christian saints and doctrines that have nothing to do with the original text. Apparently this is a widely used translation online, but it is worth finding a translation that can actually be read through without interruption.

I thought that after having read the classics of spirituality, this one would be a repeat, but it turned out that it's not. I could probably read this book all over again and would always get something out of it, because it's not knowledge, but a state that is shared through the words. It's simple but powerful. I recommend it to anybody since it is written in such a way that everybody can read it, exept if you don't know how to read, but it surely is not your case.

this is indispensable reading for any one who needs to understand reality from a point of view outside the "box" of my small thoughts. I find it really pushes my understanding to accept another, larger, view of the world I am compelled to live in. If I need to live here, best to understand it more.

Read it, over time, you'll come to love it

Although there are many translations of the Tao Te Ching, I particularly enjoy this one because the Master is always feminine. Looking to the Judaeo-Christian creator, it is plural - Elohim. (The ending 'im' in Hebrew denotes plural.) So creation is a pluralistic act both feminine and masculine. However, the provider in Hebrew or El Shaddai is literally translated, 'the breasty one', leading us to the image of the nurturer or motherly characteristic of Elohim. Since the Tao is receptive, passive and comtemplative, it stands to reason that the Master who understands the way of Tao would be feminine if not physically, spiritually. The Tao Te Ching itself instructs us to 'Know the masculine, but keep to the feminine' - Chapter 28.
Although there are images and concepts which are too esoteric to grasp initially, this translation of the Tao Te Ching will inspire. As with all Books of Wisdom, no matter how many times you read them, you will never be finished.

I preferred the Tao Teh Ching translation by K. O. Schmidt because I gained so much from the commentary, but Wu offers the original Chinese and then his translation and leaves the interpretation up to you, which provides its own amazing teaching. I highly recommend this book. The different translators, especially if they share the reasons for translating as they do, offer much to the reader seeking to understand.

The book I purchased most recently, the Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English translation of "Tao Te Ching," arrived in my mailbox in very good condition. The book has an inscription in it, which is somewhat expected for used books of this nature; however, this wasn't mentioned in the description of condition, at least not to my memory. Also, the book was listed "as new," and it isn't "as new," for a 1972 trade paperback, which I remember well, since I began in the book business back in 1973, this particular copy is in "very good" condition. It does have some "light shelf wear," as expected for a copy of a trade paperback that is more than 40 years old. But, and this is the major point, in a country in which everyone can be anything now, including a poet or a used bookseller, or God knows what, because of the internet, it should have been listed as "very good," but not "as new." It isn't "as new," because it would need to have been shrink-wrapped, perhaps, and untouched, to be "as new." Also, the next time this bookseller lists a book with an inscription in it, then they should mention that, as well.

Mitchell's translation is the most accessible to a modern reader I have found. He uses she and he pronouns. The words flow without too much difficult to decipher Chinese metaphor. I hand out this version to my chaplaincy clients regularly and they love it.

Looking for insight and inspiration and understanding about life? Here it is! I love this book - I especially love the re-cap that this author offers to provide context to the translation. I like the look and feel... the layout ... really nice. I orginally borrowed it from the library and then decided I needed it for my own book collection.

This is a beautiful book! I ortginally purchased a copy of the Tao Te Ching in a small paperback, which was d=exceedingly difficult to read and no illustrations. This book is easy to read and is appropriate to display. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Hard to say anything bad about this text. Although I bought this book to further my knowledge of Eastern-thinking and cultural influences (a research thing), I was taken with this author's amazing integrity and effort in interpreting the verses of the Tao Te Ching.

Pro:
+ Includes a "best guess" interpretation
+ Includes a word-for-word interpretation matrix... a clever way for a reader to make their own interpretation
+ An interesting introduction chapter that describes the linguistic difference of Western and Eastern languages

Con:
- Frankly, none. Superb.

Bottom line: Highly recommended.

This is only Star's translation. It lacks the concordance and collection of the character-by-character definition sets that make the print version of the "Definitive Edition" so helpful in close reading of multiple translations. I find Red Pine's translation far more compelling, and Bill Martin's "A Path and a Practice" will afford a richer experience of the spirit of the text.

One of the great philosophy classics of all time in a translation that was loved by the former Professor Huston Smith for excellent reasons. It is nothing other than a book of wisdom written as poetry.

Walker has done a very good job of translating this work of Taoist spirituality. I also recommend Jonathan Star's version, which has a word for word translation section, allowing the reader to see how close to the original any translation is. By study of that section of Star's book, I found that Walker's translation does very well as conveying the intention of the original. Stephen Mitchell's version, in comparison, strays further from the original text.

The translator takes a lot of liberties with the translation and inserts their politically correct agenda by blantantly changing the "Hes" to "Shes"to make this more equal. I would reccomend other translations. It's a short read, can be read in under an hour.

A very good read focused on spirituality, peacefulness, and mindfulness with adages applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.

Recommended for leaders who should work to stay grounded and who often need to retain a more holistic perspective when approaching their profession.

My favorite translation of this timeless classic after reading the 5 most well know versions. The Tao is a joy for those in good times and a rock of refuge for those in hard times. I have the book itself, the audible version which is also quite good, and I have given this translations to many people. So good. Can't recommend it highly enough.

I've been using this translation since 1965 and have found no better. When I want to clarify something, I struggle with a Chinese language edition - my knowledge of Chinese is sufficient to know at least the 'raw' meaning of the characters. Some thoughts and discoveries I've had...

1. D.C.Lau's translation comes closest to the actual Chinese most of the time.

2. I believe he does not consider himself a Taoist, and thus brings less 'pro' bias to his translation. Many other translations (not all) I've seen are written by 'pro Tao' folks who, to one degree or another, unconsciously bend their translations to agree with the 20th century cultural paradigm (values) in which they were conditioned.

3. It is not what a particular translation says, or how it says it, that is 'enlightening'. How you interpret what you read (hear or see) reflects who you really are at that moment. In other words, what you perceive the book to say is actually your own mind's reality. The notion that one translation or another is going to impart 'knowing' is wishful thinking. The knowing lies in the eye of the beholder. Thus, the disclaimer in chapter 1 of the Tao Te Ching, "The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way; The name that can be named, is not the constant name." This sentiment speaks to just how very inward and personal a Taoist journey is. For me, D.C.Lau's translation gets in the way of this journey less than others I've seen over the years.

Of the approximately one-dozen translations of the Tao Te Ching that I have read, this is my least favorite. The translation sometimes strays into surprisingly shallow waters.

Mr Walker, in an apparent attempt to "modernize" the Tao Te Ching, has simply diluted its strength.

Mr. Walker's pronoun usage further weakens the timelessness of this classic text. The Tao Te Ching, in its original, uses gender neutral language. The best translations retain this neutrality. Mr. Walker, unfortunatley, uses gender specific pronouns -- sometimes masculine and sometime feminine. This "modernization" distracts from the power and universality of the Tao Te Ching's ideas.

The book is very handsome, though.

If you're looking for a modern yet more faithful and powerful translation -- one with depth and bite -- I recommend two: one by Ellen Chen, and one by Derek Lin.
Both are excellent, and both include excellent commentary, too.

than what you normally see for the Penguin Classic, but the book was in good condition, and for one penny, you can hardly complain. It had all the extras: Introduction, glossary, appendix, etc.

Of course, it is indispensible, especially in this social media age, when updates are shared all the time quoting this ancient book's author that have nothing to do with the actual text. With this in hand, you can easily refute their New Age hucksterism masquerading as ancient wisdom. And, its message is still frighteningly appropos, and can easily serve as a mediation tool , or springboard to free writing. Defend the integrity of the classics by reading them!

Timeless principles for a dying word. Although I don't believe in the Tao I definitely believe in the value behind the principles in the book. Great read highly recommended. Only wish I knew this was the pocket size edition, but then again there are it's advantages.

I bought this book, new -soft binding. It is small which appeals to me since taking walks with a good read is, and will always be, a forever-favorite, daily or weekly exercise of mine. It fits in a backpack, and is lightweight.

Enough of the petty opinions of this reviewer. Let's ask some questions in the decision making process -of whether or not to buy this book on Laotzu extraordinary writings [if indeed the man ever existed at all- and not a compilation of only the wisest of sages, the humblest of sages, the sanest of sages, a remarkable collection of writings from various sages spanning centuries -and perhaps millennia].

What is the meat of this book? The manner of interpretation, and end result to paper -forever set in print. Is this the best interpretation? That is left up to the one interpreting the Interpretation. No help? Yes, it helps, because there are not many [or any at all] that can capture the words via ESSENCE of thoughts being conveyed thru the medium of language/words/thought processes- imagination -all of these -and more- tied into a weave of beauty. Concise -it is. The translation does justice -not harm- to the legend of LaoTzu in writing -and Imagery -Illustrations making this little book -one of the most powerful books in the arsenal of the sane man's Collection of Wisdom in writing prose.
Witter Brynner is his name. Writing to the true essence of Laotzu -his claim to fame- and a winning game.

The meat is the prose. It is the ability to capture the ideas of a collection of thoughts/writings -and translating them from language to it's true intention -and to make it rhyme. Life is a chord and these rhymes fill in what we cannot do for ourselves -YET!

There are 81 in total -writings.
The author does a wonderful job, in my opinion. I have yet to do a deeper and more intense evaluation/comparison with other Authors and their respective attempts to capture Laotzu- like Bynner has, but upon reading a few, and many others opinions on same -I would venture a fair estimate that this is the best of all translations -resulting in meaningful readings with the ability to make understood the intentions as well as giving an Imagination boost for a Contemplation well deserved- and- not- lost -!

Why would you purchase this book? To try and see what kind of life had meaning for this famous man. Just as one would desire to know what it is that made Jesus speak words of wisdom, or Buddha or Confucius, the same it can be said of Laotzu. There is a Way of Life for a man [woman] to live, and it is in NOT DOING that it gets lived best. According to Laotzu, the less action and more contemplation before action, the better suited to life, the more respected of peers, the best at leadership -such a person will BE. It is not very far from the Confucius path, but there are the subtle differences and I am not learned enough -yet- to point them out here, I am no expert, just a man writing his opinion -as review of the book.

What is the value of this book? How can a value be placed on Wisdom? Wisdom is valueless because there is no amount of currency that can match or exceed Wisdom, since Wisdom IS THE ONLY CURRENCY ONE MUST POSSESS -to live and live all the more...

After reading this review the reader will come away with a clear decision to go ahead and purchase it-as a must have, and also the reader will know that the mankind should be grateful that Witter Bynner is the Author of said book, and not the Review Author [me]..
;)

I like this book, but if you are looking for that ONE BOOK THAT SURPASSES THEM ALL, and without fail -know it to be true- then I suggest you buy this book and be happy, but also to Purchase this Beautifully Illustrated and Wisdom PACKED MASTERPIECE by Les VISIBLE--> Spiritual Survival in a Temporal World

I bought The Way of Life- according to LaoTzu AND Les Visible's newest book together and received FREE shipping, but I also got the answers I have been searching for all my entire remembered life[s]!

I can honestly say that if you do, you will be forever thankful you came here today and read this review. You should tell me thanks too, because ti would make my heart glad to know that I am helping Les Visible works get known, but more importantly that our Spiritual truth -is known- and in Visible style [may the puns never cease to amaze me- or you]

Let the reader Know and Understand the signature of Truth when s/he 'hear' It.
♥

Thanks for reading this review!
In your service,
Patrick

I have accumulated a considerable set of translations over the years Mair's is the finest. Not only is his use of newly recovered material a significant improvement, but the thoughtfulness, invested time and mental effort by which he has produced the translation (please do read his forward) is very obvious compared to most others.

Book and translation are unassailable. However, the amount of typos and other editorial errors present in kindle version is egregious. Whoever was in charge of editied the digital version: I don’t know how they sleep at night. Please the store, do not do business with whoever did the kindle version of this book. The amount of typos in photo I posted says enough.

I bought this book, new -soft binding. It is small which appeals to me since taking walks with a good read is, and will always be, a forever-favorite, daily or weekly exercise of mine. It fits in a backpack, and is lightweight.

Enough of the petty opinions of this reviewer. Let's ask some questions in the decision making process -of whether or not to buy this book on Laotzu extraordinary writings [if indeed the man ever existed at all- and not a compilation of only the wisest of sages, the humblest of sages, the sanest of sages, a remarkable collection of writings from various sages spanning centuries -and perhaps millennia].

What is the meat of this book? The manner of interpretation, and end result to paper -forever set in print. Is this the best interpretation? That is left up to the one interpreting the Interpretation. No help? Yes, it helps, because there are not many [or any at all] that can capture the words via ESSENCE of thoughts being conveyed thru the medium of language/words/thought processes- imagination -all of these -and more- tied into a weave of beauty. Concise -it is. The translation does justice -not harm- to the legend of LaoTzu in writing -and Imagery -Illustrations making this little book -one of the most powerful books in the arsenal of the sane man's Collection of Wisdom in writing prose.
Witter Brynner is his name. Writing to the true essence of Laotzu -his claim to fame- and a winning game.

The meat is the prose. It is the ability to capture the ideas of a collection of thoughts/writings -and translating them from language to it's true intention -and to make it rhyme. Life is a chord and these rhymes fill in what we cannot do for ourselves -YET!

There are 81 in total -writings.
The author does a wonderful job, in my opinion. I have yet to do a deeper and more intense evaluation/comparison with other Authors and their respective attempts to capture Laotzu- like Bynner has, but upon reading a few, and many others opinions on same -I would venture a fair estimate that this is the best of all translations -resulting in meaningful readings with the ability to make understood the intentions as well as giving an Imagination boost for a Contemplation well deserved- and- not- lost -!

Why would you purchase this book? To try and see what kind of life had meaning for this famous man. Just as one would desire to know what it is that made Jesus speak words of wisdom, or Buddha or Confucius, the same it can be said of Laotzu. There is a Way of Life for a man [woman] to live, and it is in NOT DOING that it gets lived best. According to Laotzu, the less action and more contemplation before action, the better suited to life, the more respected of peers, the best at leadership -such a person will BE. It is not very far from the Confucius path, but there are the subtle differences and I am not learned enough -yet- to point them out here, I am no expert, just a man writing his opinion -as review of the book.

What is the value of this book? How can a value be placed on Wisdom? Wisdom is valueless because there is no amount of currency that can match or exceed Wisdom, since Wisdom IS THE ONLY CURRENCY ONE MUST POSSESS -to live and live all the more...

After reading this review the reader will come away with a clear decision to go ahead and purchase it-as a must have, and also the reader will know that the mankind should be grateful that Witter Bynner is the Author of said book, and not the Review Author [me]..
;)

I like this book, but if you are looking for that ONE BOOK THAT SURPASSES THEM ALL, and without fail -know it to be true- then I suggest you buy this book and be happy, but also to Purchase this Beautifully Illustrated and Wisdom PACKED MASTERPIECE by Les VISIBLE--> Spiritual Survival in a Temporal World

I bought The Way of Life- according to LaoTzu AND Les Visible's newest book together and received FREE shipping, but I also got the answers I have been searching for all my entire remembered life[s]!

I can honestly say that if you do, you will be forever thankful you came here today and read this review. You should tell me thanks too, because ti would make my heart glad to know that I am helping Les Visible works get known, but more importantly that our Spiritual truth -is known- and in Visible style [may the puns never cease to amaze me- or you]

Let the reader Know and Understand the signature of Truth when s/he 'hear' It.
♥

Thanks for reading this review!
In your service,
Patrick

I have accumulated a considerable set of translations over the years Mair's is the finest. Not only is his use of newly recovered material a significant improvement, but the thoughtfulness, invested time and mental effort by which he has produced the translation (please do read his forward) is very obvious compared to most others.

Book and translation are unassailable. However, the amount of typos and other editorial errors present in kindle version is egregious. Whoever was in charge of editied the digital version: I don’t know how they sleep at night. Please the store, do not do business with whoever did the kindle version of this book. The amount of typos in photo I posted says enough.

This was the version I wanted. The translation is wonderful and easy to read. The pictures well thought out. It was hard to find this version of the book. It was well packed. So many dealers would have the correct picture, but the description was incorrect or made it difficult.

Each one of us holds the homing instincts to connect to the source of our being. Unfortuately, our instincts are muddled by many things. Lao Tzu (the "old master") provides insight for aligning and reconnecting in "The Way of Life." Witter Bynner's 1944 translation reissued by Penguin in 1994 brings life and insight to the work, 81 short chapters.
Chapter 47 captures its essence:
"There is no need to run outside
For better seeing,
Nor to peer from a window. Rather abide
At the center of your being,
For the more you leave it, the less you learn.
Search your heart and see
If he is wise who takes each turn:
The way to do is to be."
Chapter 78 reflects its eternal patience/persistance:
"What is more fluid, more yielding than water?
Yet back it comes again, wearing down the rigid strength
Which cannot yield to withstand it.
So it is that the strong are overcome by the weak,
the haughty by the humble."

One of the best translations of Tao Te Ching, although not necessarily very different from some old good ones. Philosophic words and wisdom in poetic form from 2500 years ago can not be translated accurately, so do not expect to understand all of the text in one go. Actually reading a few different versions might give you more ideas and insight..

Lao Tsu may be an influential, legendary figure in ancient Chinese culture, but his attributed work – a poem consisting of 81 separated chapters – transcends any state or continent and offers a heavily loaded simplicity to all people. Where are you going? What are you trying to accomplish? What is better left alone than rushed or forced?
In soliditarity with basic tenets of Buddhism, Taoism accepts nature and the progression of life events as they are without human muddling or interference. Tao does not force anyone to bend to its will, but exists outside of human interpretation of it. Readers can guess, but must remain satisfied with not having answers to every inquiry. The Tao is eternal.