Reading the Dao
A Thematic Inquiry
Published on 20. January 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
200 pages
978-1-4411-9651-4 (ISBN)
Description
This is an introductory guide to the Dao de Jing, exploring key themes and passages in this key work of Daoist thought. The Dao De Jing represents one of the most important works of Chinese philosophy, in which the author, Lao Zi (c. 580-500 BC), lays the foundations of Taoism. Composed of 81 short sections, the text itself is written in a poetic style that is ambiguous and challenging for the modern reader. Yet while its meaning may be obscure, the text displays the originality of Lao Zi's wisdom and remains a hugely influential work to this day. In "Reading the Dao: A Thematic Inquiry", Wang Keping offers a clear and accessible guide to this hugely important text. Wang's thematic approach opens up key elements of the Dao De Jing in a way that highlights and clarifies the central arguments for the modern reader. Presenting comprehensive textual analysis of key passages and a useful survey of recent Taoist scholarship, the book provides the reader with an insight into the origins of Taoist philosophy. This is the ideal companion to the study of this classic Taoist text.
Reviews / Votes
... a comprehensive overview of Laozi's Daoism for anyone unfamiliar with the DDJ and Daoism. It is clearly written, thematically formulated, and supplemented with helpful commentaries... [the English translation] is lucid and clear while following the poetic spirit of the original text, which makes the book delightful to read. -- Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews Wang (Beijing International Studies Univ. China) has written a significant translation and commentary on Daodejin... Overall, he offers an immensely enjoyable, scholarly reading experience of the Daodejing. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty. -- CHOICEMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
310 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-9651-4 (9781441196514)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
12/2010
1st Edition
Continuum Publishing Corporation
€42.99
Available for download
Person
Wang Keping is a Research Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Professor of Philosophy at Beijing International Studies University, China. His previous publications include The Classic of the Dao (Foreign Languages Press, 1998) and Ethos of Chinese Culture (Foreign Languages Press, 2007). He has also contributed articles to a number of edited collections, including Contemporary Chinese Philosophy edited by Chung-Ying Cheng and Nicholas Bunnin (Blackwell, 2002), The Challenges of Globalization edited by Steven Hicks and Daniel Shannon (Blackwell, 2007) and The Pursuit of Comparative Aesthetics edited by Mashar Hussain and Robert Wilkinson (Ashgate, 2006).
Content
1. The Essence of the Dao; 2. The Features of the Dao; 3. The Movement of the Dao; 4. The Dao and the Myriad Things; 5. The Dao of Heaven and the Dao of Man; 6. From the Dao into the De; 7. The Qualities of the De; 8. On Have-substance and Have-no-substance; 9. On Take-action and Take-no-action; 10. On Pleasure-Snobbery and Acquisitiveness; 11. On the Hard and the Soft; 12. On the Beautiful and the Ugly; 13. On Beauty, Truth and Goodness; 14. On Modesty and Retreat; 15. On Knowledge and Wisdom; 16. On Fortune and Misfortune; 17. On Life and Death; 18. On the Merits of Contentment; 19. On the Possibilities of Achievement; 20. On the Art of Leadership; 21. On Warfare; 22. On Peace; 23. On Returning to Antiquity; 24. On the Ideal Society; 25. The Attitude Toward the Dao-De; 26. The Experience of the Dao-De; 27. The Attainment of Dao-De; Bibliography; Index.