Tao Te Ching: Text Only Edition [Paperback]

Lao Tsu (Author), Gia-Fu Feng (Translator), Jane English (Translator), Toinette Lippe (Translator), Jacob Needleman (Introduction)

Book Description

Release date: August 28, 1989

For nearly two generations, Gia-fu Feng and Jane English's translation of the Tao Te Ching has been the standard for those seeking access to the wisdom of Taoist thought. Now Jane English and her long-time editor, Toinette Lippe, have revised and refreshed the translation so that it more faithfully reflects the Classical Chinese in which it was first written, taking into account changes in our own language and eliminating any lingering infelicities. They have retained the simple clarity of the original rendering of a sometimes seemingly obtuse spiritual text, a clarity that has made this version a classic in itself, selling over a million copies. 

Written most probably in the sixth century B.C. by Lao Tsu, this esoteric but infintely practical book has been translated into English more frequently than any other work except the Bible. Gia-fu Feng and Jane English's superb translation—the most accessible and authoritative modern English translation—offers the essence of each word and makes Lao Tsu's teaching immediate and alive. This edition includes an introduction and notes by the well-known writer and scholar of philosophy and comparative religion, Jacob Needleman.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"No one has done better in conveying Lao Tsu's simple and laconic style of writing, so as to produce an English version almost as suggestive of the many meanings intended." —Alan Watts

Language Notes

Text: English, Chinese (translation)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 107 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; 1st edition (August 28, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679724346
• ISBN-13: 978-0679724346
• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 5.2 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions & Sacred Texts > Tao Te Ching
  • #26 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions & Sacred Texts > Taoism
  • #35 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Taoism

More About the Author

I was born in London and began my publishing career there. In 1964 I came to the US "for a year," worked at Simon and Schuster for three years, and then at Alfred A. Knopf for thirty-two more, as reprint rights director, while editing the TAO TE CHING, Frederick Franck's THE ZEN OF SEEING, and many other books. In 1989, while continuing as rights director at Knopf, I founded Bell Tower, an imprint of Crown/Harmony, where I was editorial director and published seventy books that I hoped would nourish the soul, illuminate the mind, and speak directly to the heart. These included Thomas Berry's THE GREAT WORK, Stephen Levine's A YEAR TO LIVE, Gunilla Norris's BEING HOME, Alistair Shearer's THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI, and Joan Tollifson's BARE-BONES MEDITATION. My own two books NOTHING LEFT OVER: A Plain and Simple Life and CAUGHT IN THE ACT: Reflections on Being, Knowing, and Doing were published in 2002 and 2004. I began to study Chinese Brush Painting in 2000 and this has transformed my life. I now teach what I have learned to students who come to my home in New York City. Discover more on www.toinettelippe.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars clean tao April 1, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This is the translation of The Tao that woke me up, made sense to me in a way no other translation had. It doesn't have the "wrought" feeling that most poetic translations have. I didn't feel the translator behind the words, and I could picture The Old Guy, sitting on his hill, writing this down.

Moreover, the introduction by Needleman, missing in the 25-year edition , is stunning, particularly in his explanation of "virtue" as a verb, an act rather than an ideal. I'd trade the photos, however beautiful, for this introduction.

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Bueatiful book, but part of the translation is questionable February 18, 2012

By justbeing0

Format:Paperback

I was born and raised in China and have lived in the US for over 20 years (came in my adulthood). I have liked the philosophical Taoism (please don't confuse it with the religious Taoism, which started much later with quite different belief systems) since my late teens. And I have been interested in the art of translation for some years.

I just compared a few lines of the English translation of this version (by Gai-Fu Feng, Jane English) with the one by John C. H. Wu (1899-1986, according to Wikipedia), published in 1961, and started to notice some differences. For example, at the beginning of chapter 2, in this book it translates:

"Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty because there is ugniness.
All can see good as good only because there is evil."

While in John C. H. Wu's translation, there two lines go as:

"When all the world recognizes beauty as beauty,
this in itself is ugliness.
When all the world recognizes good as good, this in itself is evil."

I feel the John C. H. Wu's version is much more accurate or closer to the meaning of the original Chinese text.

Another example, in Chapter 7, the last three lines:

"The wise stay behind, and are thus ahead.
They are detached, thus at one with all.
Through selfless act, they they attain fulfillment."

John C. H. Wu's translation goes as:

"Therefore, the Sage wants to remain behind,
But finds himself at the head of others;
Reckons himself out,
But finds himself safe and secure.
Is it not because he is selfless
That his Self is realized?"

Here I feel Wu's version is more accurate, and shows much better understanding of the ancient Chinese culture and philosophy. I would like to type the Chinese text here, but the characters didn't show when I tried. I think the Amazon's text box doesn't support Chinese font.

One more example, chapter 11, the last two lines:

"Therefore, profit comes from what is there.
Uselessness from what is not there."

John C. H. Wu's version:

"Thus, while the tangible has advantages,
It is the intangible that makes it useful."

Again, judging based on the original text in Chinese, personally I think the latter is more accurate.

In some of the examples, I sort of can see why English translated some of the lines the way they are, but that shows some level of imperfect understanding of Chinese, and in some other instances, the translation seems not to make any sense to me. For example, I can see that she saw the word "li" as "profit", which, I think, in the context, is not very accurate; but "uselessness from what is not there" doesn't make any sense in the context.

I don't mean to trash this version of translation, and probably English readers can get a lot out of it anyway. It's just that in this era of globalization, I hope that we would reduce misinformation over time.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful translation March 18, 2006

By William C. Everett

Format:Paperback

I have always found the Tao Te Ching to be a very clear guide for life. I own a few different translations and this is the one that I always come back to. It is translated with a poetic style that highlights the simplicity of the way. Because you can plumb this work to any depth of understanding you want, anything more than the minimal bacground would be arbitrary.

Also, I am probably alone here, but I recommend the book without the pictures, which I think artificially establish a mood that may not be appropriate for the chapter you're working through.

I would also emphasize that this translation is not for scholars. It does not contain a great deal of commentary or references to the myriad ways a given word or phrase could be translated.