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Tao-te Ching, by
Lao-tzu (580 - 500 BC. Taoism along with Buddhism and Confucianism
dominated the ancient and medieval Chinese thought and spiritual
life. Even today it has not lost its appeal and still widely
read by many in various parts of the world. This
translation is rendered by J.
Legge (Sacred Books of the East, Vol 39) [1891
The Tao Te Ching or Daodejing, originally known as the
eponymous Laozi or Lao
tzu, is a Chinese classic text. Its name comes from the opening
words of its two sections: dào "way,", and dé
"virtue," plus jing "classic." According to
tradition, it was written around the 6th century BCE by the
Taoist sage Laozi (or Lao Tzu, "Old Master"), a
record-keeper at the Zhou Dynasty court, by whose name the text
is known in China. The text's true authorship and date of
composition or compilation are still debated.
The Tao Te Ching is fundamental to the Taoist school (Dàojia)
of Chinese philosophy and strongly influenced other schools,
such as Legalism and Neo-Confucianism. This ancient book is also
central in Chinese religion, not only for Taoism (Dàojiao) but
Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was
largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and
concepts. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters,
calligraphers, and even gardeners have used the Tao Te Ching as
a source of inspiration. Its influence has also spread widely
outside East Asia, aided by hundreds of translations into
Western languages.
The Wade-Giles romanization Tao Te Ching dates back to early
English transliterations in the late 19th century, and many
people continue using it, especially for words and phrases that
have become well-established in English. The pinyin romanization
Daodejing originated in the late 20th century, and this
romanization is becoming increasingly popular, having been
adopted as the official system by the Chinese government. See
discussion at Daoism-Taoism romanization issue.
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