The Classics |
Lieh-tzu |
The least known in the West, but perhaps the most accessible one. It shows the Taoist principles in humorous stories about human nature and Tao. By many this text was regarded as too similar to the Chuang-tzu to give it more exposure. But, according to Eva Wong, it is this one with which got the Chinese in touch first. The stories are suited to children as well as to adults. This writing is not by a single author and it had been created between 300 BCE and 300 CE. Like the other texts, it has not been preserved in its complete form. >>More |
Chuang-tzu |
Chuang-tzu consists of essays called the Inner Chapters, the Outer Chapters and the Miscellaneous Chapters. However, only the Inner Chapters were most likely to be written by Chuang-tzu himself. His writings are thought to be an explaining commentary of the ideas presented in Tao-te Ching. The style of it is wild and eccentric. Most of it had been put together between 300 - 25 BCE. >>More |
Lao-tzu (Tao-te Ching) |
Probably the best known and often translated work in the Western world. It was formerly known as the "Lao-tzu". Also because lao means "old" and tzu "wise one" it is generally agreed that it consists of writings of different authors - the old and wise ones. The latter name came from a scholar who felt that this book dealt with the nature of Tao and virtue, "te". Tao-te Ching's style is regarded as the most poetic, though most serious and mysterious, from the Three Classics of Taoism. Most likely it had been written between 770 - 476 BCE, contemporary to Confucius. >>More |
Selected books |
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