tao te ching: the way to goodness and power

With a new cover design, this dual-language edition of Tao Te Ching presents the original Chinese characters with a new translation on the facing page.

No understanding of Chinese civilization is possible without a grasp of Taoism, the philosophy that has shaped not just Chinese spirituality but also art, science, and politics. And it was in the Tao Te Ching, written around 300 BCE, that the fundamental beliefs of Taoism were first gathered. This short, wise but very humble book went on to influence philosophy, religion, and politics. In a compellingly simple rhetorical style, the book addresses how to live a simple, peaceful, and harmonious life, and how to rid oneself of desires and free society of institutions that promote greed. With a new introduction that discusses the questioned authorship of the text and editorial notes, all 81 brief chapters are included, ranging from advice for politicians to wise words for the everyday person. Of immense influence across millennia, Tao Te Ching is a classic text richly deserving this exquisite edition.

James Trapp is the author of Chinese Characters and Chinese Proverbs, and he also translated a new edition of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. A Chinese language graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, he teaches and translates Mandarin and is a former education officer at the British Museum.