Tao Te Ching
Ink on silk manuscript of the Tao Te Ching – from Mawangdui (2nd century BCE) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Author | Laozi (trad.)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Language | Classical Chinese | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subject | Philosophy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publication date | 4th century BCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication place | China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Published in English | 1868 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Original text | Tao Te Ching at Chinese Wikisource | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Translation | Tao Te Ching at Wikisource | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 道德經 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 道德经 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Classic of the Way and Virtue" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 老子 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "The Old Master" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Second alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 道德真經 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 道德真经 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Sutra of the Way and Its Power" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Part of a series on |
| Taoism |
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The Tao Te Ching[note 1] (traditional Chinese: 道德經; simplified Chinese: 道德经) or Laozi is a Chinese classic text and foundational work of Taoism traditionally credited to the sage Laozi, although the text's authorship and date of composition and compilation are debated.[7] The oldest excavated portion dates to the late 4th century BCE.[8] While tradition places it even earlier, not having been recovered that early, modern versions of the text could more conservatively be estimated to date back to the late Warring States period (475 – 221 BCE).[9]
The Tao Te Ching is central to both philosophical and religious Taoism, and has been highly influential to Chinese philosophy and religious practice in general. It is generally taken as preceding the Zhuangzi, the other core Taoist text.[8] Terminology originating within the text has been reinterpreted and elaborated upon by Legalist thinkers, Confucianists, and particularly Chinese Buddhists, introduced to China significantly after the initial solidification of Taoist thought. One of the most translated texts in world literature, the text is well known in the West.[8]
- ^ Ellwood, Robert S. (2008), "Lao-tzu (Laozi)", The Encyclopedia of World Religions, Infobase, p. 262, ISBN 978-1-4381-1038-7
- ^ "Tao Te Ching". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ Julien (1842), p. ii.
- ^ Chalmers (1868), p. v
- ^ Legge & al. (1891).
- ^ Suzuki & al. (1913).
- ^ Eliade (1984), p. 26
- ^ a b c Chan (2013).
- ^ Chan, Alan. "Laozi". In Edward N. Zalta (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2018 ed.). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
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