Tao Te Ching – James Gordon Legge

Tao Te Ching,
translated to english by “James Legge”
(Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 39, 1891)

Legge, James, The Texts of Taoism, 2 Vols, The Sacred Books of the East Vols. 39 & 40, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1891; reissued New York: Dover, 1962), pb. Contains, in a rather archaic English and with a distinct transliteration scheme: the Tao Te Ching; the writings of Zhuangzi; and shorter works: the T’ai Shang [Tractate of Actions and Their Retributions]; the Ch’ing Chang Ching [Classic of Purity]; the Yin Fu Ching [or Classic of the Harmony of the Seen and Unseen]; the Yu Shu Ching [Classic of the Pivot of Jade]; and the Hsia Yung Ching [Classic of the Directory for the Day].

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Lao Tzu’s Tao and Wu Wei – Dwight Goddard and Henri Borel

Why post yet another translation of the Tao te Ching? This one is by Dwight Goddard, the author of A Buddhist Bible, and it is a very transparent and readable version. This translation was the predecessor of one which Goddard slipped into later editions of the Buddhist Bible, one of the few explicitly non-Buddhist texts in that collection. The versions of the Tao te Ching already online are by 19th century scholars who, although very capable, tend to be a bit pedantic. The concepts of Taoism are very lucid, and wrapping them in too much verbiage, as Legge et al did, add an unneeded layer of obscurity. Goddard, who was a Zen Buddhist and studied eastern philosophy extensively, comes much closer to the essence of the text, even if he occasionally moves portions of it around. This book also includes a translation of an extended essay by Henri Borel on Taoist philosophy and aesthetics.

Lao Tzu’s Tao and Wu Wei
Translation by “Dwight Goddard”

Wu Wei
An Interpretation by “Henri Borel”
Translated by M. E. Reynolds

1st Edition, New York; BRENTANO’s PUBLISHERS – [1919]
Copyright, 1919, by BRENTANO’s

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The Tao Te Ching – “Tolbert McCarroll”

Translation by “Tolbert McCarroll”
Comments and layout by Thomas Knierim

Tao Te Chin literally means: tao (the way), te (strength/virtue), ching (scripture)

The verses of the Tao Te Ching are written in ancient Chinese, which is very different from English. Abstraction and logic are not distinguishing marks of the ancient Chinese language, hence, it is less rigid than English and there are very few formal or grammatical structures. The classical Chinese word does not stand for a single concrete idea, but it evokes associations of different ideas and things. Quite a few Chinese words can be used as nouns, adjectives and verbs at the same time. Thus sentences composed of various signs have a sort of suggestive power, evoking emotions, ideas and pictures.

It is almost impossible to render an ancient Chinese text properly in English without losing some part. Different translations of the Tao Te Ching may appear as completely different texts. In order to understand the original text fully it is helpful to read various translations that consummate each other. The alternative is, of course, to learn Chinese. This document uses the translation of Tolbert McCarroll.

This Edition is generously provided and made public by TheBigView.com website.

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The Tao Te Ching - Gia Fu Feng & Jane English

Translation by “Gia Fu Feng” & “Jane English”
Comments and layout by Thomas Knierim

The Tao Te Ching was written in China roughly 2,500 years ago at about the same time when Buddha expounded the Dharma in India and Pythagoras taught in Greece. The Tao Te Ching is probably the most influential Chinese book of all times. Its 81 chapters have been translated into English more times than any other Chinese document.

The Tao Te Ching provides the basis for the philosophical school of Taoism, which is an important pillar of Chinese thought. Taoism teaches that there is one undivided truth at the root of all things.

This Edition is generously provided and made public by TheBigView.com website.

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