Difference between revisions of "Tao Te Ching"

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The '''Tao Te Ching''' ([[Simplified Chinese|Simplified]]: 道德经; [[Traditional Chinese|Traditional]]: 道德經; [[Hanyu pinyin]]: Dàodéjīng) is a classic Chinese text, written by [[Lao Tzu]]. It is a basic text of [[Daoism]], and is used by many [[Confucians]] as well.
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The '''Tao Te Ching''' is a classic Chinese text, written by [[Lao Tzu]]. It is a basic text of [[Taoism]].
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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{{language box
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Because of its age, the history of the Tao Te Jing in uncertain. The first version appeared during the 7th century B.C. However, it may have been written earlier than that. During the 6th centure B.C. Lao Tzu's students gathered his various writings to produce the official Tao Te Jing. The 81 chapters are considered the true philosophy of Lao Tzu.<ref>http://www.sjsu.edu/upload/course/course_6673/Introduction_to_the_Daode_Jing_4.0.doc</ref>
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|s=道德经
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|t=道德經
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|l=way [of] virtue, classic book
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|p=Dàodéjīng
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|w=Tao-te-ching
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}}
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Because of its age, the history of the Tao Te Ching in uncertain. The first version appeared during the 7th century B.C. However, it may have been written earlier than that. During the 6th century B.C. Lao Tzu's students gathered his various writings to produce the official Tao Te Ching. The eighty one chapters are considered the true philosophy of Lao Tzu.<ref>[http://www.sjsu.edu/upload/course/course_6673/Introduction_to_the_Daode_Jing_4.0.doc Introduction to the Daode Jing]</ref>
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
  
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It is divided into 81 poems and short stories, about 5,000 characters in all. The passages in Tao Te Jing are sometimes difficult to translate; many translations are not very good.<ref>http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-4189(199007)70%3A3%3C492%3ATTCANE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7</ref>
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It is divided into 81 poems and short stories, about 5,000 characters in all. The passages in Tao Te Ching are sometimes difficult to translate; many translations are not very good.<ref>http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-4189(199007)70%3A3%3C492%3ATTCANE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7</ref>
  
 
===Themes===
 
===Themes===
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* [[God]] or ''Tao'': "There was something [[God|formless and perfect]] before the [[universe]] was born. It is serene. Empty. Solitary. Unchanging. [[Infinite]]. [[Eternal]]ly [[Omnipresence|present]]. It is the [[Creator|mother of the universe]]. For lack of a better name, I call it [[God|the Tao]]. [[Qi|It flows]] through [[Creation|all things]], inside and outside, and returns to the [[God|origin of all things]]. The Tao is great. The universe is great. [[Earth]] is great. [[Man]] is great. These are the four great powers. Man follows the earth. Earth follows the universe. The universe follows the Tao. The Tao follows only itself." - [[Lao Tzu]], ''Tao Te Ching'', Chapter 25, [http://taotechingme.com/chapter-25-formless-and-perfect-before-the-universe-was-born Stephen Mitchell] translation.
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* [[Meditation]]: "Stop thinking, and end your problems." - Lao Tzu, ''Tao Te Ching'', Chapter 20, [http://taotechingme.com/chapter-20-stop-thinking-and-end-your-problems Stephen Mitchell] translation.
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* Pacifism and non-violence
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* Humility
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* The trap of greed
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* Respect for elder's wisdom
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* Pursuit of worldly and spiritual knowledge
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* Flexibility in life
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* Acceptance of death
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* The power of words and symbols<ref>http://www.daoiststudies.org/dao/node/6544</ref>
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==Quotes==
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* "When the great Tao is forgotten, [[good]]ness and [[piety]] appear. When the body’s intelligence declines, cleverness and knowledge step forth. When there is no [[peace]] in the [[family]], [[filial piety]] begins. When the country falls into chaos, [[patriotism]] is born." - [[Lao Tzu]], ''[[Tao Te Ching]]'', Chapter 18, [http://taotechingme.com/chapter-18-when-the-great-tao-is-forgotten|Stephen Mitchell] translation.
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==See Also==
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* [[Taoism]]
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* [[Chuang Tzu]] - the second most famous Taoist ancient text
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* [[Lao Tzu]] and the ''Dao De Jing''
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* [[Sun Tzu]] - The [[Art of Warfare]]
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* [[Carl von Clausewitz]] - [[Western]] Art of Warfare
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* [[Martial arts]]: [[Tai Chi]], [[Aikido]] and [[Kung Fu]]
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* [[Qi]]
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* [[Meditation]]
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* [[Traditional Chinese Medicine]]
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* [[Zen]]
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* [[Falun Gong]]
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* [[Feng Shui]]
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* [[Yoga]]
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* [[Exercise]]
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* [[Confucianism]]
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* [[Buddhism]]
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*Pacifism and non-violence
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==References==
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*Humility and the evils of wealth
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{{reflist|2}}
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*Ancestor worship and respect for age
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*Pursuit of worldly and spiritual knowledge
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*Flexibility in life
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*Acceptance of death
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*People as innately flawed and wicked
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*The power of words and symbols<ref>http://www.daoiststudies.org/dao/node/6544</ref>
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==References==
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[[Category:China]]
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<references/>
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[[Category:Chinese Philosophers]]
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[[Category:Philosophy]]
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[[Category:Taoism]]
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[[Category:Taoists]]
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[[Category:Books]]
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[[Category:Traditional Chinese Medicine]]
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[[Category:China]]
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[[Category:Vietnam]]
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[[Category:Japan]]
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[[Category:Korea]]
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[[Category:Asia]]
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[[Category:Asian History]]

Revision as of 02:54, February 10, 2015

The Tao Te Ching is a classic Chinese text, written by Lao Tzu. It is a basic text of Taoism.

History

Tao Te Ching
Traditional Chinese 道德經
Simplified Chinese 道德经
Literal meaning way [of] virtue, classic book

Because of its age, the history of the Tao Te Ching in uncertain. The first version appeared during the 7th century B.C. However, it may have been written earlier than that. During the 6th century B.C. Lao Tzu's students gathered his various writings to produce the official Tao Te Ching. The eighty one chapters are considered the true philosophy of Lao Tzu.[1]

Description

It is divided into 81 poems and short stories, about 5,000 characters in all. The passages in Tao Te Ching are sometimes difficult to translate; many translations are not very good.[2]

Themes

  • Pacifism and non-violence
  • Humility
  • The trap of greed
  • Respect for elder's wisdom
  • Pursuit of worldly and spiritual knowledge
  • Flexibility in life
  • Acceptance of death
  • The power of words and symbols[3]

Quotes

  • "When the great Tao is forgotten, goodness and piety appear. When the body’s intelligence declines, cleverness and knowledge step forth. When there is no peace in the family, filial piety begins. When the country falls into chaos, patriotism is born." - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 18, Mitchell translation.

See Also


References

  1. ↑ Introduction to the Daode Jing
  2. ↑ http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-4189(199007)70%3A3%3C492%3ATTCANE%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7
  3. ↑ http://www.daoiststudies.org/dao/node/6544
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