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trilobiter's review
5.0
Reading this book is an experience I found to be both relaxing and intriguing, as I contemplated the principles of Taoism and my own customary worldview. Taoist philosophy poses a difficult challenge to many traditional ways of thinking, but its implications also offer a sense of comfort and peace.
The first part of this volume, the Tao Teh Ching, is older, shorter, and historically more likely to have been written by the actual Lao Tzu/Laozi. It consists mainly of short declarations about the Tao, variations on a few themes such as the forces of yin and yang, the illusory nature of all dualistic oppositions, and the ultimate futility of attempting to define the Tao with language. It contains many beautiful passages, and I found it to be a great reassurance.
The second book, the Hua Hu Ching, is much longer and denser. It takes the form of a dialogue between Lao Tzu and a disciple, and expounds on many of the same topics as the Tao Teh Ching, with some advice as to how to go about following its precepts. It also includes lengthy discussions of what I can only call Taoist cosmology/eschatology, and an interesting detour into a discussion of correct sexual practices.
I recommend a careful reading of both books, as it is easy to mistake Taoism for incomprehensible or meaningless generalities. There is something deeply meaningful about the insights of the Tao Teh Ching.
The first part of this volume, the Tao Teh Ching, is older, shorter, and historically more likely to have been written by the actual Lao Tzu/Laozi. It consists mainly of short declarations about the Tao, variations on a few themes such as the forces of yin and yang, the illusory nature of all dualistic oppositions, and the ultimate futility of attempting to define the Tao with language. It contains many beautiful passages, and I found it to be a great reassurance.
The second book, the Hua Hu Ching, is much longer and denser. It takes the form of a dialogue between Lao Tzu and a disciple, and expounds on many of the same topics as the Tao Teh Ching, with some advice as to how to go about following its precepts. It also includes lengthy discussions of what I can only call Taoist cosmology/eschatology, and an interesting detour into a discussion of correct sexual practices.
I recommend a careful reading of both books, as it is easy to mistake Taoism for incomprehensible or meaningless generalities. There is something deeply meaningful about the insights of the Tao Teh Ching.
robinlm's review
2.0
Meh.
A little too much wishy-washiness for me. I suppose the point is to obscure the meanings to make you think about it, but if you obscure the meanings to the point that it seems you're saying nothing... then it's not really meaning any more.
Maybe analysis of the Tao Te Ching is more interesting than the book itself, and I should seek some analysis out.
A little too much wishy-washiness for me. I suppose the point is to obscure the meanings to make you think about it, but if you obscure the meanings to the point that it seems you're saying nothing... then it's not really meaning any more.
Maybe analysis of the Tao Te Ching is more interesting than the book itself, and I should seek some analysis out.
darwin8u's review
4.0
The Tao Te Ching definitely shines without dazzling. It fits in for me with [b:Meditations|30659|Meditations|Marcus Aurelius|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168080018s/30659.jpg|31010] by Marcus Aurelius, [b:The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes|8726220|The Wisdom Books Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes A Translation with Commentary|Robert Alter|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1287465802s/8726220.jpg|13599187], and the Sermon on the Mount. Books of universal wisdom, truth, and peace that should be read again and again and again. Straightforward words often do sound paradoxical.
rebecca68's review
3.0
trying to read and self-teach from philosophical traditions apart from the western, since my university won't teach me any other :/
davidareyzaga's review
3.0
The Tao Te Ching presents a guidance on how to act with the values of Taoism, and its tenets are quite appealing. A life of moderation, modesty and self-restraint does seem to be satisfactory, or at least entertaining the thought of leading such a life could be beneficial when developing a moral code from multiple sources. Limiting ourselves to a single text, such as the Bible, seems rather inept.
But what was Lao Tzu proposing in the context of China in the fourth century BC? Answering that is a tall order, apparently. Plus, the formulation is wrong since there’s no certainty that Lao Tzu was an actual historical figure, and we’ve been inherited an amalgamation of texts, not a single perfect manuscript.
D.C. Lau’s translation of Tao Te Ching brings to the foreground the altogether imprecise knowledge and speculation about the origins of this work, as well as about its meaning. Thus, the resulting text in English, while apparently simple, is not quite clear and transparent, and as a reader I couldn’t help but feel uneasy as to what was I actually reading, what was being told to me. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so. When translating works of ethics, it could be far more dangerous to aspire to produce a translation that asserts it has finally hit the target of its meaning, and present a stable figure of an author that doesn’t actually exist. As Lau points out, there’s a great probability that there wasn’t an actual Lao Tzu who sat down and wrote this text, and that instead it was the work of several editors across generations who presented the values of Taoism.
This edition also includes a preface and an appendix by Lau that continues to transmit this idea of imprecision. Additionally, the notes seem to be addressed to readers with knowledge of Chinese who have the source text at hand or know it already, but since this is not a bilingual edition, I question their presence.
Other than that, this translation seems to be good enough, and I wonder if a more fluent translation could be dangerous or actually useful. Perhaps a more informative edition for audiences with no knowledge whatsoever of Chinese culture at the very least would be better. I suppose such a translation already exists somewhere.
But what was Lao Tzu proposing in the context of China in the fourth century BC? Answering that is a tall order, apparently. Plus, the formulation is wrong since there’s no certainty that Lao Tzu was an actual historical figure, and we’ve been inherited an amalgamation of texts, not a single perfect manuscript.
D.C. Lau’s translation of Tao Te Ching brings to the foreground the altogether imprecise knowledge and speculation about the origins of this work, as well as about its meaning. Thus, the resulting text in English, while apparently simple, is not quite clear and transparent, and as a reader I couldn’t help but feel uneasy as to what was I actually reading, what was being told to me. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so. When translating works of ethics, it could be far more dangerous to aspire to produce a translation that asserts it has finally hit the target of its meaning, and present a stable figure of an author that doesn’t actually exist. As Lau points out, there’s a great probability that there wasn’t an actual Lao Tzu who sat down and wrote this text, and that instead it was the work of several editors across generations who presented the values of Taoism.
This edition also includes a preface and an appendix by Lau that continues to transmit this idea of imprecision. Additionally, the notes seem to be addressed to readers with knowledge of Chinese who have the source text at hand or know it already, but since this is not a bilingual edition, I question their presence.
Other than that, this translation seems to be good enough, and I wonder if a more fluent translation could be dangerous or actually useful. Perhaps a more informative edition for audiences with no knowledge whatsoever of Chinese culture at the very least would be better. I suppose such a translation already exists somewhere.
savaging's review
5.0
Call me a hippy, but I found this to be the most accurate, well-thought-through, and meaningful 'foundation' text from any of the world's major religions.
I hear [a:Ursula LeGuin|7203341|Ursula LeGuin|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] did a translation. I'd like to read that.
Gain or loss: which one hurts?
Extreme love exacts a great price.
Many possessions entail heavy loss.
Know what is enough--
Abuse nothing.
Know when to stop--
Harm nothing.
This is how to last a long time.
I hear [a:Ursula LeGuin|7203341|Ursula LeGuin|https://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-d9f6a4a5badfda0f69e70cc94d962125.png] did a translation. I'd like to read that.
Gain or loss: which one hurts?
Extreme love exacts a great price.
Many possessions entail heavy loss.
Know what is enough--
Abuse nothing.
Know when to stop--
Harm nothing.
This is how to last a long time.
brucefarrar's review
4.0
The first disc is a lucid translation of Taoism foundational text. It’s ancient axial age wisdom spoken in clear English by American author and philosopher Needleman. The second is commentary in an academic style that speaks of the text in the context of the concerns the early 1970s when the translation was completed, making it useful but, unlike the first disc, sounding somewhat dated.
katefinityreads's review
4.0
I decided to read this before going to bed, and while I don't pretend to understand even half of it, there are some teachings in here that I've become familiar with over time. The notion of "emptiness," being present, humility, and perhaps most importantly, letting go. One of the lessons I appreciated most was the notion of being soft. I've realized that the less I try to force things, the less I try to control, the happier my life has become. I'm sure this is worth a few re-reads throughout my life :]