Tao Te Ching
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Good
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
At the heart of ancient Chinese thought lies a text so profound and yet so deceptively simple that it has captivated philosophers, mystics, and scholars for over two and a half millennia — the Tao Te Ching, a collection of 81 short verses attributed to the sage Lao Tzu, believed to have been written in the 6th century BC. This foundational Taoist scripture presents a vision of the universe governed by the Tao — the ineffable, ever-present force that underlies all existence — and instructs the reader on how to align oneself with its natural flow through principles of wu wei (non-action), humility, and compassion. Written in terse, paradoxical language that is as poetic as it is philosophical, the text argues that true wisdom lies not in force or ambition, but in yielding, simplicity, and harmony with the natural order. One of the most translated works in world literature, the Tao Te Ching stands as a cornerstone of Eastern philosophy, its influence radiating outward into art, politics, medicine, and spiritual practice across centuries and cultures. Lao Tzu's cryptic yet luminous style rewards repeated reading, each verse unfolding new layers of meaning with every encounter. This Penguin Classics edition makes the text accessible to Western readers without sacrificing its enigmatic depth — leaving one to wonder whether the Tao that can be named is truly the eternal Tao at all.
Author: Lao Tzu
Format: Paperback
Genre: Philosophy
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Good
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
At the heart of ancient Chinese thought lies a text so profound and yet so deceptively simple that it has captivated philosophers, mystics, and scholars for over two and a half millennia — the Tao Te Ching, a collection of 81 short verses attributed to the sage Lao Tzu, believed to have been written in the 6th century BC. This foundational Taoist scripture presents a vision of the universe governed by the Tao — the ineffable, ever-present force that underlies all existence — and instructs the reader on how to align oneself with its natural flow through principles of wu wei (non-action), humility, and compassion. Written in terse, paradoxical language that is as poetic as it is philosophical, the text argues that true wisdom lies not in force or ambition, but in yielding, simplicity, and harmony with the natural order. One of the most translated works in world literature, the Tao Te Ching stands as a cornerstone of Eastern philosophy, its influence radiating outward into art, politics, medicine, and spiritual practice across centuries and cultures. Lao Tzu's cryptic yet luminous style rewards repeated reading, each verse unfolding new layers of meaning with every encounter. This Penguin Classics edition makes the text accessible to Western readers without sacrificing its enigmatic depth — leaving one to wonder whether the Tao that can be named is truly the eternal Tao at all.