The Tao Te Ching: New Classics Series

Description

The Tao Te Ching (/ˌtaʊtiːˈtʃɪŋ/,[1] /ˈdaʊ dɛ ˈdʒɪŋ/;[2] simplified Chinese: 道德经; traditional Chinese: 道德經; pinyin: Dàodé Jīng [tâu tɤ̌ tɕíŋ] (About this soundlisten)),[a] also known as Lao Tzu or Laozi,[7] is a Chinese classic text traditionally credited to the 6th-century BC sage Laozi. The text's authorship, date of composition and date of compilation are debated.[8] The oldest excavated portion dates back to the late 4th century BC,[9] but modern scholarship dates other parts of the text as having been written—or at least compiled—later than the earliest portions of the Zhuangzi.[10]The Tao Te Ching, along with the Zhuangzi, is a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism. It is very similar to Hindu Upanishads in explaining the fundamental Unity Principle indicating that it shares common roots with the Upanishads and Vedas. It also strongly influenced other schools of Chinese philosophy and religion, including Legalism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, which was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts when it was originally introduced to China. Many artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and gardeners, have used the Tao Te Ching as a source of inspiration. Its influence has spread widely outside East Asia and it is among the most translated works in world literature.[