A while back i acquired a copy of the tao te ching and it turned out to not be the best translation. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. These notes on verse 17 are included in red pines translation of the tao te ching. Chapter 44 chapter 46 index to all the chapters taoism cloud hands blog. Tao te ching chapter one tao the way that can be spoken of is not the constant tao the name that can be named is not a constant name. Leadership advice from the tao te ching embedded artistry. Bill porter is an american author who translates under the penname red pine. Lao tzus taoteching is an essential volume of world literature, and red pines nuanced and authoritative english translationreissued and published with the chinese text en faceis one of the bestselling versions. Red pines bareverse translation follows the classic twopart, eightyone verse format of the tao te ching. The tao te ching is a short text of around 5,000 chinese characters in 81 brief chapters or sections.
Mitchell last updated 20 july 1995 1 the tao that can be told is not the eternal tao the name that can be named is not the eternal name. Who knows others is perceptive who knows himself is wise. The taote ching by laotzu translated by james legge. In chapter 5 of the tao te ching, lao tzu references straw dogs so what exactly is a straw dog.
Classic book ching about the tao way, nature, patterns, processes and te virtue, potency, power, integrity. May, 2008 i got to understand the taiji a little through meditation, but i figure the tao te ching has got to be worth reading. Awardwinning translator red pine, renders the classic chinese text into exquisite english in a breakthrough translation that includes for the first time essential commentaries, considered by chinese scholars to be vital to understanding the wisdom of taoism. Tao quotes the ancient wisdom of the tao te ching by lao tzu. The definitive edition chinese characters, wadegiles 1892 romanization, and a list of meanings for each character by jonathan star. Red pines translation of the most revered of chinese texts corrects errors in previous interpretations, truly breathes new poetic life into the english version, and includes selected commentariesjudged by chinese scholars to be essential to understanding the wisdom of taoism. English translation, word by word chinese and english, and commentary, center tao by carl abbott tao te ching in chinese characters, english, word by word analysis, zhongwen tao te ching. Red pine tao te ching looks great, and the concept behind it is also great. What is the best edition of tao te ching by lao tzu.
The tao te ching by laotzu translated by james legge. Tao te ching by lao tzu translated and explained chapter 9. What sets this volume apart from other translations are its commentaries by scores of taoist scholars, poets, monks. Upright words sound upside down eclectica magazine. Red pine actually did two versions, the older one has a tree on the cover and then the slightly updated. The tao te ching is the route in itself, the path to emptying the human mind of ambitions, schemes and desires and allow it to be flooded with the smoothness of.
Lao tzus taoteching is an essential volume of world literature, and red pines beautifully nuanced english translationupdated and reissued, published with the chinese text en faceis the most authoritative version of this important text. The taote ching has been divided into the following sections. The prose doesnt flow, and it seems to be worded in such a way to actually be saying the opposite of other translations i have read. Jul 19, 2011 while at the college, red pine studied the tao te ching with prof. Taoteching, verse 15, translation by red pine tsao taoch ung says, although the ancient masters lived in the world, no one thought they were special. Apr 05, 2017 before a minneapolis reading from his new book finding them gone.
It is a revised version of the edition published in 1996. Taoteching, verse 10, translation by red pine red pine begins by saying, the chinese say that the hun, or bright, ethereal, yang soul, governs the upper body and the po, or dark, earthly yin soul, concerns itself with the lower body. The texts authorship, date of composition and date of compilation are debated. Lau read chinese at the university of hong kong and in 1946 he went to glasgow where he read philosophy. In eightyone brief chapters, laotzus tao te ching, or book of the way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit, and teaches us how to work for the. Tao te ching lao tzu tao te ching written by laotzu translation by stephen. He adopted red pine chi song as his chinese name, only to discover later that it was also the name of the yellow emperors rain master, a famous taoist.
For nearly two generations, this translation of the tao te ching has been the standard for those seeking access to the wisdom of taoist thought. This is the best translation of tao te ching i have encountered, and i have read probably a dozen over the last 30 years. How to apply the tao te ching in my daily modern life. Visiting chinas poets of the past, bill porter aka red pine sat down with rain taxi editor eric lorberer and author james. I didnt see anyone mention the red pine translation. In ancient china, back when barbaric practices where the norm, they used real dogs to make ceremonial sacrifices. I strongly advocate reading many versions, and if you really like what you read you should consider picking at the chinese of which there are several different.
But what makes it the best one in my eyes is that every chapter is explained with commentary from difrent great thinkers throughout the ages. The above is the most accurate translation of the ancient classic available anywhere at any price. Of the many dozens of translations of this seminal chinese text, red pine s stands out as one of the very best, bringing out the deep meaning of laotzus words with greater clarity through ages of chinese commentators. Red pine himself does not say much, but provides excerpts from centuries of commentaries. The internet classics archive the taote ching by laotzu. Jul 09, 2018 these notes on verse 17 are included in red pines translation of the tao te ching. Thus, the constant void enables one to observe the true essence. Translated by red pine with selected commentaries of the past 2,000 years 2000, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Jul 06, 2017 in eightyone brief chapters, laotzus tao te ching, or book of the way, provides advice that imparts balance and perspective, a serene and generous spirit, and teaches us how to work for the. One of the most noteworthy aspects of this translation is porters use of excerpts from chinas vast and rich commentarial tradition. Wu, who in 1961 had published a valuable english translation of the work. I got to understand the taiji a little through meditation, but i figure the tao te ching has got to be worth reading. To be careful means to act only after taking precautions. I thought it was commen knowledge that it was the most treu translation but i could be wrong.
Green way research, valley spirit center, gushen grove notebooks, vancouver, washington. I strongly advocate reading many versions, and if you really like what you read you should consider picking at the chinese of which there are several different original versions. When those above treat those below with dishonesty, those below respond with deceit. Visiting chinas poets of the past, bill porter aka red pine sat down with. Heaven and earth are not humane blog, religionmyth, tao te ching heaven and earth are. This translation by red pine bill porter of the tao te ching in 2009 is among the best available. Red pine tao te ching has been around for a while now, but the unique challenge and several updates over time make it a musthave for tower defense fans. The tao te ching has a long and complex textual history. The mistake of loving and praising, fearing and despising does not rest with the people but with those above. We are left to contemplate its grandeur and harrow its mysteries largely for ourselves. The tao gives birth to one one gives birth to two two gives birth to three three gives birth to ten thousand things ten thousand things with yin at their backs and yang in their embrace and breath between for harmony.
Chapter 49 chapter 51 index to all the chapters daoism cloud hands blog. Red pine tao te ching for mac turns out to be a neat, easytouse screencasting tool. Learn legitimate neijia deeply, but then go fighting in mix martial arts brawl. In 1950 he joined the school of oriental and african studies in london to teach chinese philosophy. Todd, ill probably order red pines version, he wrote a book on bodhidharma teachings too. After one year, he was unhappy with academic life, and a friend suggested he go to hai ming temple, a monastery 20 km south of taipei. In 2009, copper canyon press published his translation of laozis tao te ching.
Red pine, the pen name of bill porter, is a wellknown translator of buddhist sutras and poetry. The tao has never had a name simple and though small no one can command it if a lord upheld it the world would be his guest when heaven joins with earth they bestow sweet dew no one gives the order it comes down to all to picture the tao in the world imagine rivers and the sea. No doubt translations of the tao will continue to be made. Red pine is a master translator of both original texts and of the many insightful commentaries over history in the original culture. Now jane english and her longtime editor, toinette lippe, have revised and refreshed the translation so that it more faithfully reflects the classical chinese in which it was first written. He is a translator of chinese texts, primarily taoist and buddhist, including poetry and sutras. Now jane english and her longtime editor, toinette lippe, have refreshed and revised the translation, so that it more faithfully reflects the classical chinese in which it was first written, while taking into account changes in. While at the college, red pine studied the tao te ching with prof.
Cheya that books pretty expensive, i might get it some day though. Su che says, darkness is what penetrates everything but what cannot itself be perceived. Laotzus taoteching, with selected commentaries from the. Features that set this volume apart from other translations are its commentaries by scores of taoist scholars, poets. We are glad to make it a free download for everyone, thanks to special permission from the publisher of tao te ching. Jul 30, 2015 this translation by red pine bill porter of the tao te ching in 2009 is among the best available.
Known versions and commentaries date back two millennia, including ancient bamboo, silk, and paper manuscripts discovered in the twentieth century. It is less scholarly than robert henricks translation, more literal than stephen mitchells poetic rendering of the tao te ching, and as readable as robert mosss translation. Lao tzus taoteching is an essential volume of world literature, and red pines nuanced and authoritative english translationreissued and published with the chinese text en face is one of the bestselling versions. The tao te ching doesnt provide answers because there neednt be questions, just the harmony of moulding to the landscape rather than trying to impose a particular shape on it. Translated by red pine with selected commentaries of the past 2,000 years by laotzu, a readable copy. Over a career spanning three decades, red pine has danced with many classical chinese poets and important works of taoist and buddhist literature, including the poet hanshan or cold mountain, the tao te ching, and the heart sutra. The tao te ching is like a mountain, and every translator like a guide. The way that becomes a way is not the immortal way.
Tao te ching is said to be his the principles of his philosophy. Informed by his own buddhist practice and travels in asia, red pines work is consistently characterized by a. Before a minneapolis reading from his new book finding them gone. For nearly two generations, giafu feng and jane englishs bestselling translation of the tao te ching has been the standard for those seeking access to the wisdom of taoist thought. The tao te ching has been divided into the following sections.
Leave job, run a business, solve people problem according to what is right to you, touch many people live as many possible. Of the many dozens of translations of this seminal chinese text, red pines stands out as one of the very best, bringing out the deep meaning of laotzus words with greater clarity through ages of chinese commentators. Do nondoing, strive for nonstriving, savor the flavorless, regard the small as important, make much of little, repay enmity with virtue. Tao te ching, english by red pine terebess asia online tao.