The essential Taoist book and one of a triad that make up the most influential religious and philosophical writings of Chinese tradition, the Tao-te Ching is the subject of hundreds of new interpretive studies each year. As Taoism emerges as one of the East Asian philosophies most interesting to Westerners, an accessible new edition of this great work―written for English-language readers, yet rendered with an eye toward Chinese understanding―has been much needed by scholars and general readers. Richard John Lynn, whose recent translation of theI Ching was hailed by the Times Literary Supplement as "the best I Ching that has so far appeared," presents here another fine translation. Like his I Ching, this volume includes the interpretive commentary of the third-century scholar Wang Bi (226-249), who wrote the first and most sophisticated commentary on the Tao-te Ching. Lynn's introduction explores the centrality of Wang's commentaries in Chinese thought, the position of the Tao-te Ching in East Asian tradition, Wang's short but brilliant life, and the era in which he lived. The text consists of eighty-one short, aphoristic sections presenting a complete view of how the sage rules in accordance with the spontaneous ways of the natural world. Although the Tao-te Ching was originally designed to provide advice to the ruler, the Chinese regard its teachings as living and self-cultivation tools applicable to anyone. Wang Bi's commentaries, following each statement, flesh out the text so that it speaks to the modern Western reader as it has to Asians for more than seventeen centuries.

The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi (Translations from the Asian Classics)

History

Wang Bi

Laozi

Asia

Columbia University Press

Presenting the commentary of the third-century sage Wang Bi, this book provides a Chinese way of reading the Daodejing, one which will surprise Western readers. Many of the brightest Chinese minds have used the form of the commentary to open the terse and poetic chapters of the Laozi to their readers and also to develop a philosophy of their own. None has been more sophisticated, philosophically probing, and influential in the endeavor than a young genius of the third century C.E., Wang Bi (226–249). In this book, Rudolf G. Wagner provides a full translation of the Laozi that extracts from Wang Bi’s Commentary the manner in which he read the text, as well as a full translation of Wang Bi’s Commentary and his essay on the “subtle pointers” of the Laozi. The result is a Chinese reading of the Laozi that will surprise and delight Western readers familiar with some of the many translations of the work. A Chinese Reading of the Daodejing is part of Rudolf Wagner’s trilogy on Wang Bi’s philosophy and classical studies, which also includes The Craft of a Chinese Commentator: Wang Bi on the Laozi and Language, Ontology, and Political Philosophy in China: Wang Bi’s Scholarly Exploration of the Dark (Xuanxue), both published by SUNY Press.

A Chinese Reading of the Daodejing: Wang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi with Critical Text and Translation (Suny Chinese Philosophy and Culture) (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition)

Literature & Fiction

Rudolf G. Wagner

History & Criticism

State University of New York Press

Presenting the commentary of the third-century sage Wang Bi, this book provides a Chinese way of reading the Daodejing, one which will surprise Western readers.

Chinese Reading of the Daodejing, A (Suny Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture) (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition)

Paperback. Pub Date :2011-06 Pages: 426 Language: Chinese Publisher: Zhonghua Basic information Title : learn classics election issue --- Book Notes - With a little case of Book List Price: 39 yuan Author : Wang Bi Publisher: Zhonghua Book Company Publication Date : June 1. 2011 ISBN: 9787101078213 words: pages : 426 Edition : 1st Edition Binding: Paperback : Weight : 399 g editor's Choice learn classics election issue : the Book on Wang Bi above to learn writings detailed school release . together with Hankang Bo on Appendix III pass the following comments . is to study to learn essential reference book . Summary learn classics offprint : Book Notes rich in content . the book is mainly about : Wang Bi word auxiliary heir . Weishan Yang Cao Bang now Shandong Jinxiang Northwest . was born in Year 2026 ( Wei Huang Chu- seven dead in AD twenty-four nine ( Zhengshi years ) . Met...

Annotation of Zhouyi-Attached with Brief Cases of Zhouyi (Chinese Edition)

Zhonghua Book Company

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