Tao Te Ching

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The Tao Te Ching is a Chinese classic text written around 400 BC and traditionally credited to the sage Laozi, though the text’s authorship, date of composition and date of compilation are debated. The oldest excavated portion dates back to the late 4th century BC, but modern scholarship dates other parts of the text as having been written—or at least compiled—later than the earliest portions of the Zhuangzi.

The Tao Te Ching, along with the Zhuangzi, is a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism. It also strongly influenced other schools of Chinese philosophy and religion, including Legalism, Confucianism, and Chinese Buddhism, which was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts when it was originally introduced to China. Many artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and gardeners, have used the Tao Te Ching as a source of inspiration. Its influence has spread widely within the globe’s artistic and academic spheres. It is one of the most translated texts in world literature.

Our Top Reviews

Reviewer: James Pinna
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great book
Review: Great book

Reviewer: Sisyphus
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Patience, simplicity, compassion
Review: With a current trend of pushy and righteous self-help books out there, this is a refreshing reminder that peace comes from non-striving, not from intense routines.

Reviewer: Roy Pitta
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Best translation
Review: A book worth reading – and this is the best translation.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great buy
Review: This book is very easy to read and understand. Wish I k ew about years ago

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Incredible wisdom in this book!
Review: Laozi’s book is as relevant now as it was 2,500 years ago. His advice on how to live a deeper, fuller life and how to be one with “The Dao” is absolutely timeless. If you’re spiritual but not religious (SBNR) like I am, you will get a lot from this book. Approach it with an open mind, keeping your childhood religious indoctrination to the side, and you will come away with some profound insights. I wish I could have met Laozi. After reading this book you will come away agreeing that he was a very profound individual!

Reviewer: A. Person
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great message, mostly positive translation
Review: I was a first timer reading of the Tao Te Ching and I found it very impactful. I really enjoyed its message and felt a deep connection with many of the passages.As far as the translation, obviously I can’t compare to other versions but I have to say I overall enjoyed it. Stephen Mitchell makes things very readable and understandable, I don’t know how close or far any of these translations differ from others, but I did not feel there was any odd language or archaic terms or phraseology that made the ideas difficult to understand, all that came through clearlyThe switching of genders thing is always jolting to me when I am reading something and then I wonder if they are talking about someone else, at least here we got a warning it was coming. In this specific context it was mostly okay because of the universality of the message and I got used to it after a while. However I still felt there were a few parts where the constant changing of genders, combined with the specific other content in a specific verse that I thought kind of made it slightly confusing. Mitchell says “The Chinese language doesn’t make this kind of distinction, in English we have to choose” Uhh, really, Stephen Mitchell? How did you forget about the word “they”? I believe a few theys thrown in would have even made a few of the passages more understandable and the gender less distracting. I am a fan of Stephen Mitchell in general and have enjoyed other work of theirs, but I think they could have executed making the message non-gendered/universal a bit better if it really was so important. to do in the first place.

Reviewer: Patrick Putnam
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Favorite Translation
Review: This has quickly become my favorite translation.

Reviewer: Braxton Williams
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Perfect, don’t change a thing, this translation rocks, and is a great purchase.
Review: We’ve folded this into our morning readings. The translator is very, very respected, and what we are reading is excellent, and is perfectly timed for our spiritual journey. Would highly recommend this translation. Eckhart Tolle has endorsed this translation, and that is more than good enough for me.

Reviewer: Josh
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This is the text that for me, captures the very essence of life! Stephen Mitchell has done a tremendous job in his translation. The physical book is a nice, crisp paperback.

Reviewer: Ryan
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: If you like Stephen Mitchell’s translation of the Tao Te Ching, this is an excellent buy. I find Mitchell’s translation to be simple and yet very eloquent. It does not feel like a ‘westernized’ translation, nor does it feel incomprehensible.This book is really beautiful. Before buying it, I thought it might be too plain, or utilitarian when I saw the gray cover. Upon getting the book and opening it, I was very pleased. The pages are a creamy colour with beautiful numbering of the ‘chapters’ in red at the top of each page. The spacing of words and verses in the book make it very attractive and accessible for a short reading session or reading through the entire book in a single sitting.Ultimately, my notes above are rather irrelevant to why you might enjoy this book. The Tao Te Ching is a wonderful work of wisdom. It’s lessons are beautiful and resonate with one’s inner nature. The Tao is one of many sources to draw spiritual instruction and refreshment from. I suggest reading it through many times and meditating on certain parts and see where that takes you.The Tao is priceless, this copy of the Tao Te Ching is excellent value for the price.

Reviewer: abacomedia
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: One of the most important books everyone should read.I bought it as a present for my son. He didn’t get the meaning of the book.I am sure he will, later in life.You have to think while reading!

Reviewer: fs
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: El libro es excelente, pero la organizacion de los capitulos y la explicacion hace que sea incomodo leerlo. Lo ideal seria que cada capitulo tenga su explicacion inmediatamente despues.

Reviewer: Yipjahoodie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Very interesting

Price effective as of Jun 28, 2025 14:35:45 UTC

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