- Paperback: 96 pages
- Publisher: Frances Lincoln (Jan 20 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0711229643
- ISBN-13: 978-0711229648
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 16.2 x 0.9 cm
- Shipping Weight: 272 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#117,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Tao Te Ching
- #67 in Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Eastern > Taoism
- #90 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Eastern Religions > Taoism
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"Beautiful and accessible; the English, as 'fluid as melting ice,' is a joy to read throughout." -- -- The New Republic
"Beautiful and accessible; the English, as 'fluid as melting ice,' is a joy to read throughout." -- The New Republic
"Stephen Mitchell's rendition of the Tao Te Ching comes as close to being definitive for our times as any I can imagine. It embodies the virtues its translator credits to the Chinese original: a gemlike lucidity that is radiant with humor, grace, large-heartedness, and deep wisdom." -- Huston Smith, author of The Religions of Man --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way) is a timeless guide to the art of living. Its central figure, the Master, lives in harmony with the Tao, the irreducible essence of the universe. Surrendering to it as the Master teaches, we feel whole. Emptying ourselves of judgment and desire, we discover the universal truths within: Without wanting, we find peace; if we let go of what we love, our love becomes present.
Stephen Mitchell's acclaimed translation of this age-old text has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Here, for the first time, it is illustrated with Chinese paintings selected by Asian art expert Dr. Stephen Little. The perfect depiction of plants, animals, and birds expresses harmony with nature, the principal teaching of the Tao; the mountainous landscapes are the heavenly home of the Tao. Each brushstroke is painted with precision, just as each word of Mitchell's translation speaks with unmatched power.
This inspired translation, combined with the best images in Chinese art, will ensure that the Tao Te Ching continues to exert a profound influence into the next century.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astounding. Beautiful. Unparalleled.,
By
This review is from: Tao Te Ching, The (Hardcover)
I browsed and scanned countless translations of this book. I already had Mitchell's in mind because I had read his Bhagavad Gita and his Rilke and found it to be amazing. But all other translations seemed to fall short. This is by far the best translation of the Tao Te Ching out there. It is eloquent and beautiful, and simply and subtle. The poetry of the words is matched well with the unbelievable beauty of the accompanying art. Buy this book. Now. This is the most valuable thing one can read. If they taught this in high schools the world would be a better place.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fresh perspective on this widely translated ancient text,
By
This review is from: Tao Te Ching, The (Hardcover)
Stephen Mitchell, editor of Dropping Ashes on the Buddha by Zen master Seung Sahn, delivers us a magnificently illustrated and lyrically fluid rendition of Lao Tzu's famous work. You know, this book has been translated so many times, that it's nearly impossible for us non scholars to prove or confirm which one is true or absolute. The approach I have taken with The Tao Te Ching has always been a task of comparing one translation to another, seeing both what they share in common together and where there is a disparity. I am partial to The Richard Wilhelm Edition, while second on my list is this one. Mitchell has taken the liberty of alternating back and forth "he" with the word "she" throughout this work in order to convey the original meaning of Master. For, in the Chinese language, no such distinction is made. Mitchell points out that since each one of us is essentially the "Master", there is no need to cling to some kind of male prototype. It's his translation, and he is free to do what he will with it. The shattering of dualism found throughout The Tao Te Ching, to myself, makes it clear this switch is wholly in the spirit of Tao. Mitchell attributes his Zen training as being the primary reason he feels he relates to those ancient Chinese Taoist masters. After all, Zen is merely the literal result of Indian Vipassana meditation and Chinese Taoism intermingling. Stephen also used existent translations already established in a wide range of languages: English, French, and German. Now I probably wouldn't recommend this as the first translation of The Tao Te Ching for a "beginner" to read, but I'm by no means against the idea, either. It's not like it's injurious, and the prose is quite correct. I find this work in the same spirit as mostly all of the other versions I have read to date, with only slight variations. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book immensely. I think you'll walk away with something, too.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sloppy Translation,
By A Customer
This review is from: Tao Te Ching, The (Hardcover)
The hardcover version is too small for the beautiful artwork it displays and the translator is no scholar.
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