Tao Te Ching [Hardcover]

Lao Tzu (Author), Stephen Addiss (Illustrator, Translator), Stanley Lombardo (Translator), Burton Watson (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 11, 2007

In what may be the most faithful translation of the Tao Te Ching, the translators have captured the terse, enigmatic beauty of the original masterpiece without embellishing it with personal interpretation or bogging it down with explanatory notes. By stepping out of the way and letting the original text speak for itself, they deliver a powerfully direct experience of the Tao Te Ching that is a joy to come back to again and again.

And for the first time in any translation of the Tao Te Ching, now you can interact with the text to experience for yourself the nuanced art of translating. In each of the eighty-one chapters, one significant line has been highlighted and alongside it are the original Chinese characters with their transliteration. You can then turn to the glossary and translate this line on your own, thereby deepening your understanding of the original text and of the myriad ways it can be translated into English.

Complementing the text are twenty-three striking ink paintings brushed by Stephen Addiss and an introduction by the esteemed Asia scholar Burton Watson.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This crystalline translation of the Tao Te Ching is accurate down to the nuance and is as concisely poetic as the original. Of the many translations I have read in English, this is unquestionably the best.”—Gary Snyder

“This is by far the best translation on the market today.”—Livia Kohn, Professor of Religion, Boston University

Language Notes

Text: English
Original Language: Chinese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st Shambhala Ed edition (December 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590305469
• ISBN-13: 978-1590305461
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Tao Te Ching
  • #19 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions > Taoism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good Tao -- for Now, February 10, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Tao Te Ching (Hardcover)

I know two things: 1) There is no such thing as a perfect translation of the Tao Te Ching. The Chinese language is so completely different from English, that any translation of the Tao is going to be somewhat flawed, no matter how skillful the translator. 2) All serious spiritual seekers must read the Tao Te Ching. If possible, they should own at least three translations.

This translation is excellent and is a personal favorite of mine. I give it "five stars" for integrity. Addiss and Lombardo explain, in their four page Introduction, the philosophy of how they translated the text and why it might be different from previous English translations. Indeed, they begin the Introduction as follows "There are already more than one hundred translations of the Tao Te Ching into English. Why should this text be translated again?" Then they proceed with a very persuasive case for this translation. For example, they have tried to "recreate much of the terse diction and staccato rhythm of the ancient Chinese" while other translations tend to be verbose. Also, they have specifically avoided any use of the gender specific pronouns, "he" and "she." Thus rendering the text neither politically correct nor politically incorrect.

Beyond the translation itself, this book is beautifully designed, with extensive use of Chinese calligraphy, art, and characters. This almost gives the impression of having an original copy of the Tao Te Ching in your hand.

If you want to read the Tao Te Ching, this is a great version. Three other good translations include those by Victor Mair, D.C. Lau, and John C. H. Wu. Personally I do not like the popular version by Stephen Mitchell, or the Gia-fu Feng & Jane English translation. They try too hard to be modern -- but who can fault them for trying? Just don't take them as the last word. But I do like another, very quirky, modern English version by Witter Bynner, which is rendered as rhyming poetry. So there is a lot of Tao variety out there.

Personally, I will never be without this Addiss/Lombardo version, or Victor Mair, or John Wu. Between these three, I can usually get a good feel for the original.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last, a true translation. Not an interpretation., June 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tao Te Ching (Hardcover)

You may not realize it, but most "translations" of the Tao Te Ching are not translations at all, but people's interpretations of what they think Lao Tze meant. As time goes on, the interpretations seem to get more and more involved; often replacing one, consise line from Lao Tze with a whole paragraph of their own ideas. If you want to know what Lao Tze actually said, and decide for yourself what he meant, this true translation is a must!