Dao De Jing: "Making This Life Significant A Philosophical Translation

Ames, Roger T.; Hall, David L.; Ames, Roger; Laozi

ISBN 10: 0345444159 / ISBN 13: 9780345444158

Published by Ballantine Books, New York, 2002

About this Item

New York: Ballantine, 2002. First edition, stated. First printing. 8vo. Hard cover binding. 241 pp. Composed more than 2,000 years ago during a turbulent period of Chinese history, the Dao de jing set forth an alternative vision of reality in a world torn apart by violence and betrayal. Daoism, as this subtle but enduring philosophy came to be known, offers a view of reality grounded in a full understanding of the wonders hidden in the ordinary. This luminous translation by China scholars Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall is based on ancient bamboo scrolls recently discovered. Though attributed to Laozi, the Dao de jing is, in fact, of unknown authorship and may well have originated in an oral tradition four hundred years before the time of Christ. Ames and Hall provide the original Chinese texts and translate them into crisply chiseled English that reads like poetry. Each of the 81 brief chapters is followed by clear, thought-provoking commentary exploring the layers of meaning in the text. Fine in fine dustjacket, protected with an archival-quality mylar cover. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Seller Inventory # 021426

Bibliographic Details

Title: Dao De Jing: "Making This Life Significant A...

Publisher: Ballantine Books, New York

Publication Date: 2002

Binding: Hard Cover

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

Edition: First Edition.

About this title

Synopsis:

Composed more than 2,000 years ago during a turbulent period of Chinese history, the Dao de jing set forth an alternative vision of reality in a world torn apart by violence and betrayal. Daoism, as this subtle but enduring philosophy came to be known, offers a comprehensive view of experience grounded in a full understanding of the wonders hidden in the ordinary. Now in this luminous new translation, based on the recently discovered ancient bamboo scrolls, China scholars Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall bring the timeless wisdom of the Dao de jing into our contemporary world.

Though attributed to Laozi, “the Old Master,” the Dao de jing is, in fact, of unknown authorship and may well have originated in an oral tradition four hundred years before the time of Christ. Eschewing philosophical dogma, the Dao de jing set forth a series of maxims that outlined a new perspective on reality and invited readers to embark on a regimen of self-cultivation. In the Daoist world view, each particular element in our experience sends out an endless series of ripples throughout the cosmos. The unstated goal of the Dao de jing is self-transformation–the attainment of personal excellence that flows from the world and back into it. Responding to the teachings of Confucius, the Dao de jing revitalizes moral behavior by recommending a spontaneity made possible by the cultivated “habits” of the individual.

In this elegant volume, Ames and Hall feature the original Chinese texts of the Dao de jing and translate them into crisp, chiseled English that reads like poetry. Each of the eighty-one brief chapters is followed by clear, thought-provoking commentary exploring the layers of meaning in the text. The book’s extensive introduction is a model of accessible scholarship in which Ames and Hall consider the origin of the text, place the emergence of Daoist philosophy in its historical and political context, and outline its central tenets.

The Dao de jing is a work of timeless wisdom and beauty, as vital today as it was in ancient China. This new version will stand as both a compelling introduction to the complexities of Daoist thought and as the classic modern English translation.

From the Back Cover:

“A NEW ENGLISH VERSION OF THE CLASSIC CHINESE DAO DE JING . . . Provoke[s] the reader to see the text with fresh eyes. This is a valuable find for anyone who wants to reengage a foundational work.”—Publishers Weekly