This is a new translation of the ancient Chinese Taoist classic, the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu. It aims at clarity and simplicity. Its underlying philosophy is explored in the Introduction, and key terms are explained in the Glossary. The Index will show whereabouts in the Tao Te Ching key concepts and ideas are mentioned, making it a handy tool for exploring the text and for locating favourite passages. The book is illustrated with pen and ink drawings.
Like Stephen Mitchell, acclaimed author and poet Ursula K. Le Guin has attempted a nonliteral, poetic rendition of the Tao Te Ching. She brings to it a punctuated grace that can only have been hammered out during long trials of wordsmithing. The wisdom that she finds in the Tao Te Ching is primal, and her spare, undulating phrases speak volumes. By making the text her own, Le Guin avoids such questions as "Is it accurate?" By making it her own, she has made it for us--a new, uncarved block from which we are free to sculpt our own meaning.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Excellent!:
One great way for non-Chinese speakers to appreciate the nature of this book is to compare many different translations and see how different they can be. I've read any number of translations of the Dao De Jing, and this is by far my favorite. Most of them tend to be pretty academic, which certainly has it's value, but Ms. Le Guin demonstrates an genuine affection for this work that comes through on every page. She gives each verse a warm, personal feel without sacrificing any of the paradox or mysticism.more info
A translation that maintains the heart and soul of the Master:
Ursula le Guin captured the essence and poetry of the original without losing the focus and foresight of the original. Long one of my favorite fiction writers, le Guin drew on her ability to envision different worlds and exotic cultures to bring the words of an ancient Chinese philosopher into the 21st Century. Many translations of the Tao Te Ching are on the market, few worth the paper wasted printing them. I've read most of them and found them severely lacking; they either mistranslate or distort the... more info
Great translation:
Ms. LeGuin clearly understands the sujecy at hand. If you like Lao Tzu then you should own this translation.
Ursula's Tao:
Ursula K. LeGuin writes with her heart and her mind. I can not tell which is the more mystical, wonderful place as they always seem to merge in her writings. From the introduction, through her translations, to her notes, this Tao is accessible and personal. It is also mysterious and complex. It is the best addition I have made to my Tao literature.
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