Dao de jing

Abstract

Translation of a Chinese Daoist classic, teaching version

The Dao de jing is one of the two formative texts of the Chinese philosophy of Daoism. Supposedly by an author given the name "Laozi" (Old Master), the text is an anthology of sayings compounded over time, and organized into 81 brief chapters. It has had enormous influence in China, from the ancient period until today. This translation presents a straighforward version of the chapters without commentary, indicating subsections for chapters that are clearly compound. An introduction and glossary are provided. This scholarly translation is intended for both specialists and general readers. It primarily aims to elucidate the intellectual significance of individual passages and to highlight the way philosophical themes interact within the text. The translation is intended to provide open-access online materials, to be freely used or modified by individuals or by teachers employing them in a not-for-profit context.