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Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts (Classics of Ancient China) Paperback – June 30, 1992

4.6 out of 5 stars 96 ratings

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Lao-tzu’s Te-Tao Ching has been treasured for thousands of years for its poetic statement of life’s most profound and elusive truths. Although the Te-Tao Ching is widely read, the author’s enigmatic style and the less than perfect condition of the Chinese originals make many of its brief poems difficult to understand. So readers of find literature hailed the discovery, in 1973, of two copies of the Te-Tao Ching which had been buried in 168 B.C.

These manuscripts are more than five centuries older than any others known, and they correct many defects of later versions: their grammar and vocabulary frequently make the classic easier to understand; lost lines are restored (as many as three in some poems); some sections follow a more logical sequence.

Such differences make it necessary to reevaluate traditional interpretations of the
Te-Tao Ching, and Professor Henricks has done this in an extensive commentary to his excellent new translation. In addition, Professor Henricks has provided an introduction that explains the basics of Taoism and discusses the many other important finds from Ma-want-tui.
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Lao-tzu's "Te-Tao Ching" has been treasured for thousands of years for its poetic statement of life's most profound and elusive truths. This new translation, based on the 1973 discovery of two copies of the manuscript more than five centuries older than any others known, corrects many defects of the later versions. In his extensive commentary, Professor Henricks reevaluates traditional interpretations.

About the Author

Robert G. Henricks is professor emeritus of religion at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. One of the most acclaimed authorities on classic Asian literature today, he has translated the highly regarded Lao-Tzu: Te-Tao Ching and is the author of other books, including Philosophy and Argumentation in Third-Century China and The Poetry of Han-Shan.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Publishing Group
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 30, 1992
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0345370996
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0345370990
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.13 x 0.73 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 96 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
96 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this translation of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching to be excellent, with one noting it's based on recently discovered Ma-wang-tui texts. The book receives positive feedback for its scholarly content, with one customer describing it as one of the greatest pieces of literature in existence. Customers appreciate its historical accuracy, with one review highlighting it as an original version of an ancient classic, and they find it insightful, with one noting it serves as a good primer for understanding the Chinese master.

9 customers mention "Scholarly content"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the scholarly content of the book, with one customer describing it as one of the greatest pieces of literature in existence.

"This philosophical classic is one of the most important books ever compiled...." Read more

"...The book itself is the most phenomenal look into the past, present and future I have ever been gifted to gaze." Read more

"...Provides insight for those who have read many versions. Scholarly. Literal phrasing based on classic translations...." Read more

"...a hard or laborious read, this has to be one of the greatest peices of literature in existence, not neccesarly this edition, but this book itself,..." Read more

8 customers mention "Translation quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers praise the translation of the Lao Tzu texts, with one customer noting that the words speak volumes for themselves, and another mentioning that the commentary is readable.

"...The first is a straight-forward translation...." Read more

"...Scholarly. Literal phrasing based on classic translations. These literal versions sometimes miss the deeper meaning which Taoism contains...." Read more

"...The translations are more clear, more precice than anything else I've seen. Forget fancy pictures. The words speak volumes for themselves...." Read more

"...of the text discussed here are very informative, and the commentary is readable and clear...." Read more

6 customers mention "Insight"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with one mentioning it serves as a good primer for understanding Chinese master Lao Tzu.

"...Usually by a very wide margin. Respectful, insightful and disciplined, you will not find a translation that more fairly serves the great classic and..." Read more

"Very nice literal translation from the old texts. Provides insight for those who have read many versions. Scholarly...." Read more

"...The translations are more clear, more precice than anything else I've seen. Forget fancy pictures. The words speak volumes for themselves...." Read more

"...be very good, and the students seem drawn to the wonderful and yet simple truths that rang true centuries ago. A good purchase." Read more

5 customers mention "Edition"5 positive0 negative

Customers like the edition of this book.

"...not neccesarly this edition, but this book itself, this edition is good as well, was the first edition of this book I read, which is why I wanted..." Read more

"...Great edition for anyone with a deep interest and curiosity about the work." Read more

"An excellent edition of the most recent discovery of an older version of Tao Te Ching, ideal for all interested in Taoism and technical issues of..." Read more

"It is better than the other books I have ordered in the past but it is not peer reviewed by East Asian studies people...." Read more

3 customers mention "Historical accuracy"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, with one customer describing it as a phenomenal look into the past and another noting it as an original version of an ancient classic.

"...The book itself is the most phenomenal look into the past, present and future I have ever been gifted to gaze." Read more

"An interesting look at new versions of the text..." Read more

"More original version of an ancient classic...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2001
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The reviewer Mr. Forrest couldn't understand why the translator changed the name of the text or re-ordered the two parts. If he had read the book he would know that Ma-Wang-Tui texts had this ordering in the original. He would also know that since the two parts are known as the "Tao" and the "Te" ("the way" and "the virtue"), the naming of the book is perfectly appropriate. Mr. Henricks divides his book into two parts also. The first is a straight-forward translation. The second contains the translation as well as comments, notes and original Chinese from the two Ma-Wang-Tui texts used. If you're not interested in chinese philosophy and history, this probably won't appeal to you. You can always get one of the new age, tao-of-pooh type versions.
    44 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This philosophical classic is one of the most important books ever compiled. Comparing more than 30 translations of it line by line, character by character, I almost invariably settle upon Henrick's translation as the authoritative one. Usually by a very wide margin. Respectful, insightful and disciplined, you will not find a translation that more fairly serves the great classic and its fragile message.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    sold to me as a used book, but it arrived looking brand new. The book itself is the most phenomenal look into the past, present and future I have ever been gifted to gaze.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Very nice literal translation from the old texts. Provides insight for those who have read many versions. Scholarly. Literal phrasing based on classic translations. These literal versions sometimes miss the deeper meaning which Taoism contains.

    For the average person who has not read many versions I would recommend reading these two great versions first:
    (1) The Secret Tao: Uncovering the hidden history and meaning of Lao Tzu (D.W. Kreger)
    (2) Tao Te Ching (Perennial Classics) by Stephen Mitchell
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I originally became aquainted with this book in the 90's, it is not a hard or laborious read, this has to be one of the greatest peices of literature in existence, not neccesarly this edition, but this book itself, this edition is good as well, was the first edition of this book I read, which is why I wanted this edition again.

    all study and worship of truth is the same.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is flat out the very best translation of Lao Tzu that I have ever read. The translations are more clear, more precice than anything else I've seen. Forget fancy pictures. The words speak volumes for themselves. If you only get 1 copy of Lao Tzu, make it the ROBERT HENRICKS translation. You will not be disappointed.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    There is no translation of chapter 40. The book goes from chapter 39 on pg.8 to chapter 41 on pg.9 in the English translation. The Chinese chapter 40 is on pg. 105 with notes in English on pg.104.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great additional perspective on a work I already love. The evolutions of the text discussed here are very informative, and the commentary is readable and clear. Great edition for anyone with a deep interest and curiosity about the work.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Stuart
    5.0 out of 5 stars very good translation
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I cant speak for accuracy, but this translation shed light on a few verses that were confusing me.
  • Horace
    3.0 out of 5 stars A solid translation, but avoid the paperback
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 12, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Henricks' translation is straightforward and scholarly. It is largely clear and literal with the onus on being faithful to the Ma-wang texts. He does not indulge in poetic conceits in English, which I am glad of. Also, unlike some other transations of Lao Tzu, one does not get the impression that the translator is in any way trying to push his own philosophical agenda.
    Henricks provides copious notes on passages where the interpretation is disputable. All in all, I think he does a very good job, and his commentry is invaluable when reading the translation in conjuction with the Chinese.

    Both of the Ma-wang texts are reproduced in this book, rendered into legible (if a little small) regular script. However, neither of these are complete; Henricks clearly consulted later, 'received' texts of the classic in order to fill in the many gaps, but you will not find these in the book. Given the large amount of white space lying fallow on all the pages with Chinese text, I think it's a pity that he did not include a standard version of the text for convenient comparison; particularly considering the numerous references in the notes to how the Ma-wang texts differ from it. Henricks also divides the (originally undifferentiated) Ma-wang texts in the eighty-one chapters corresponding with the later versions. Clearly, the notion that the reader will want to compare the two could not have been far from his mind.

    Reference to Chinese words in English sections of the book is done without tone markings/numbers or parenthesised characters, which irks me. All romanisation is in Wade-Giles, which might well irk people who prefer pinyin. Had he included characters then following up many of his references would have been made considerably easier.

    Aside from these minor matters concerning the contents of this book, I feel I must deduct a star or two on account of the physical quality of the paperback edition. Unfortunately it is rather poor. The pages are very thin and the binding is flimsy. It is one of those books that will start looking tatty very quickly if used a lot.
    I have a hardback copy of Sun Tzu's Art of Warfare from the same 'Classics of Ancient China' series, however, and it is solid, well-bound and of excellent quality. With this being the case, I would urge readers to pay a little more for the hardback version of this title.
  • dragonworks
    3.0 out of 5 stars ITS A DISSERTATION
    Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    If you want an analysis of the Dao, this one's for you. I couldn't get into it.