Tao Te King - Dao De Jing Study Edition

[Andrea]

I just received a book I ordered over the holidays and it looks fantastic - thus I'd like to recommend it:

The Tao of Wisdom by Hilmar Klaus, 2009, Druck und Verlagshaus Mainz GmbH Aachen

It is a study edition of Lao Zi's Tao Te King /Dao De Jing/Tao Te Ching, which presents the text in Chinese, English and German. There are multiple translations included both verbatim and analogous versions. It also includes rich commentaries, Wang Bi/Mawangdui/Guodian characters, an index to the text, a huge reference list of 160 pages of books, audio & video ressources and websites.

Well I'd say it is the perfect buy for a scholar warrior who likes to spend some time on this text. Costs around 30 USD for 600 pages of wisdom

Here a link to Amazon.de, where I bought it (It is most likely also available on other Amazon sites)

http://www.amazon.de/Tao-Wisdom-Laotse/dp/381070055X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262949543&sr=8-2

Enjoy
Andrea

[DiegoM]

Thank you for the recommendation Andrea. I've been meaning to get a copy of the Tao Te Ching, but given the incredible number of translations, commentaries, study guides and such, I found it impossible to decide which one to get. Unfortunately, I could not find the one by Hilmar Klaus in Amazon.com (US). Does anyone have any recommendations available in the US?

Thanks

Diego

[Andrea]

Another version I like is the one from Derek Lin. The online version is here: http://www.taoism.net/ttc/complete.htm

I believe you can find the book with commentaries on Amazon if you search for "Derek Lin".

There is also always the translation from Thomas Cleary. I have the one integrated in "The Taoist Classics" Volume 1. To me his translation seems very far from any other translation and more of an interpretation. But then that's what every translation is. This volume also contains some other classical texts.

Best regards
Andrea

[DiegoM]

Thank you Andrea for the Derek Lin translation information. That one is on its way!
The Thomas Cleary volumes seem interesting, as soon as I'm ready for some more.

So many books, so little time...

Diego

[David Langford]

I have the Stephen Addiss & Stanley Lombardo translation, I like it a lot. I do not use a study guide though, I prefer to just let the meanings come to me spontaneously, always deeper and deeper things to learn with every passage. =)