Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation [Paperback]

In 1993, archaeologists unearthed a set of ancient bamboo scrolls that contained the earliest known version of theDao de jing. Composed more than two thousand years ago, this life-changing document offers a regimen of self-cultivation to attain personal excellence and revitalize moral behavior. Now in this luminous new translation, renowned China scholars Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall bring the timeless wisdom of theDao de jinginto our contemporary world.

In this elegant volume, Ames and Hall feature the original Chinese texts of theDao de jingand translate them into crisp, chiseled English that reads like poetry. Each of the eighty-one brief chapters is followed by clear, thought-provoking commentary exploring the layers of meaning in the text. This new version of one of the world’s most influential documents will stand as both a compelling introduction to Daoist thought and as the classic modern English translation.“A NEW ENGLISH VERSION OF THE CLASSIC CHINESEDAO DE JING. . . Provoke[s] the reader to see the text with fresh eyes.
This is a valuable find for anyone who wants to reengage a foundational work.”
—Publishers Weekly
Roger T. Amesis a professor of Chinese philosophy at the University of Hawai’i. He is also editor of the journalPhilosophy East & West. He is the author of several interpretive studies of classical Confucianism, includingThinking Through Confucius(with David L. Hall). His translation ofSun-tzu: The Art of Warfareis recognized as a landmark of contemporary Chinese military and philosophical studies and his translation ofThe Analects ofConfucius(with Henry Rosemont, Jr.) has become a popular classroom text.

David L. Hallwas a professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas at El Paso. His early research on A. N. Whitehead and American philosophy led him to rethink our understanding of both Daoism and ló,