Customer Reviews

Texts of Taoism (Volume 2)

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This is one of two volumes: the other bears the same title and is also published by Dover (available through Amazon.com). There are many texts in these two books which are of use to the student of Taoism. There is little sense in buying one volume without the other, since the writings of Chuang-Tzu are spread across the two volumes. These are excellent translations from the end of the 19th century, with copious notes. Part of an original series published by Oxford, called "The Sacred Books of the East". James Legge translated all of the Chinese classics in six volumes of the fifty volume series. Dover have published some of the more useful and popuar volumes. If you want to preview it, any major city library should have a copy of the whole set. These two volumes are a hugely rewarding investment for anyone inserested in learning about Taoism. The only downside is that here and there Legge expresses in the notes a certain hesitance to accept the full great wisdom of the texts (he himself was a Catholic missionary in China).

Taoism is a philosophy (and religion, even today) which has application for anyone who seeks to better their ability to cope with today's difficult environment. These translations are from this perspective not outdated at all.

This is one of two volumes: the other bears the same title and is also published by Dover (available through Amazon.com). There are many texts in these two books which are of use to the student of Taoism. There is little sense in buying one volume without the other, since the writings of Chuang-Tzu are spread across the two volumes. These are excellent translations from the end of the 19th century, with copious notes. Part of an original series published by Oxford, called "The Sacred Books of the East". James Legge translated all of the Chinese classics in six volumes of the fifty volume series. Dover have published some of the more useful and popuar volumes. If you want to preview it, any major city library should have a copy of the whole set. These two volumes are a hugely rewarding investment for anyone inserested in learning about Taoism. The only downside is that here and there Legge expresses in the notes a certain hesitance to accept the full great wisdom of the texts (he himself was a Catholic missionary in China).

Taoism is a philosophy (and religion, even today) which has application for anyone who seeks to better their ability to cope with today's difficult environment. These translations are from this perspective not outdated at all.

With a preface which expresses some rather dated views in light of more recent research (i.e. citing Lao Tzu as the founder of Taoism,) as well as some rather dated translation of the original texts(again in light or recent research,) this book is still a worth-while read for scholarly and the curious.

The text contains an early translation of the Tao Te Ching originating from a 1891 Oxford text book of the same title, using the Wade-Giles romanization. The commentary is given from a scholarly Christian perspective, but given the book's source, that is to be expected.

The texts presented, are the Tao Te Ching, and select writings of Cheng-Tzu. While there are better translations available in this day and age, this is still a useful historical resource for a newcomer to Taoism.