Customer Reviews

The Illustrated Tao Te Ching

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This brilliant translation is the best I have ever studied. Three eminent British scholors translated the Tao from the most ancient source available. Man-Ho and Palmer translated the original and Ramsay put it into the poetic language.
The visuals on each page are from various Chinese paintings, mostly very old ones. They are superb art. The calligraphy, by Chan, is beautiful.
Their aim was to clearly present the Tao, and their choice of language and profound understanding of the Tao (both the book and message in the book) make this the most accessible translation I have ever read (and I've studied dozens).

"I know, I know, first everything's one way and then it's the opposite."
-Hank Hill

This is a classic of Chinese philosophy, and a good companion to Heraclitus' Fragments. Where fire was the central metaphor for an ever-changing universe in the latter, in the former it is water. The translators, Martin Palmer, Jay Ramsey, and Man-Ho Kwok utilize Ezra Pound's "stepped line" technique to give the text a flowing appearance, which is very effective. I have not read any other translations- there are many- but I find in this version one verse I think dubious:

Greed
Is the seed of apocalypse-
It is the rocket-fuel of selfishness:
Me, me, me!

Here I do find the typographic and grammatical modernizations annoying. The word "apocalypse" has a biblical connotation which is inappropriate, unless the Chinese word was "revelation" (the original meaning of that infamous Greek noun), which it surely was not. Encountering "rocket fuel" in an ancient text is just too great an anachronism.

The artwork is quite nice, perfect for a little spirituality at the coffee-table.

I first got this edition of Tao while in interfaith seminary back in 1996. I have read and used it for services and other workshops and groups since then on a regular basis. I highly recommend this translation as the best I have found so far..... It is obvious (to me) that the writers and graphic artists too have done their inner homework before completing this treasure.
May you all experience this clearly created playful expression of the Tao.
Namaste,
Rev. Atindra Gibbs,
The Interfaith Circle
Berkeley, CA

The authors show a deep understanding of Lao Tzu's writing in this thoughtful translation of the TAO TE CHING, the classic handbook on Taoism. Beautifully illustrated with paintings and graphics that seem to flow with the teaching, each page invites the reader to stop and take some time to enjoy the lovely pictures and text. An excellent book for meditation. Also makes a fine gift for someone seeking a new depth of spiritual meaning in life.