Taoistic
Tao (Dao), the Way. The fundamental principle of Taoism.
Taoism
The Chinese philosophy of life, founded by the ancient Taoists Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.

Taoism

Introduction to Taoism, and the distinction between Taoist philosophy and Taoist religion.

Lao Tzu

The legendary founder of Taoism.

Tao Te Ching

The ancient source text of Taoism - each chapter explained.

Chapter 1 Versions

The first chapter of Tao Te Ching in 76 English versions.

James Legge's Tao Te Ching

The complete Tao Te Ching translation from 1891 by James Legge.

Aleister Crowley's Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching interpreted by the occultist Aleister Crowley, from 1923.

The book

Tao Te Ching, the printed book. What it contains and how to get it.

Chuang Tzu

The great 4th century BC Taoist Chuang Tzu and his writing.

Tao or Dao

What's with the spelling of Chinese words?

Tao Themes

The 81 chapters of Tao Te Ching sorted by themes.

388 quotes from the Tao Te Ching sorted by topics.

Taoist blog

All the 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching in a blog, where you can comment.

Contact

How to get in touch with me.


The Book:

Tao Te Ching - The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained, by Stefan Stenudd.

The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained
The great Chinese classic, translated and extensively commented by Stefan Stenudd.
Click to see the book at Amazon.


Books by Stefan Stenudd:

QI - increase your life energy, by Stefan Stenudd.

The life energy qi (also chi or ki) explained, with exercises on how to awaken, increase, and use it, by Stefan Stenudd.
More about the book here.

Aikido Principles, by Stefan Stenudd.

Basic Concepts of the Peaceful Martial Art
Aikido principles, philosophy, and basic ideas, by Stefan Stenudd.
More about the book here.


Swedish


Lao Tzu, writer of Tao Te Ching.

Taoist

The Taoism of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu Explained

Taoism is not a religion. To the Taoist, gods and the afterlife are vague, almost non-existent. Taoism is all about here and now: the philosophy of how to live a pleasant life, without causing unnecessary commotion or distress. Tao, the Way, is a kind of natural law behind all of creation. The one who can harmonize with it will be at peace with existence.



Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching

The major source to Taoist philosophy is the Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing), written by the legendary Lao Tzu (Lao Zi) - somewhere between the 7th and the 4th century BC in China. I made a Swedish translation of it (see here) in 1991, and in 2011 I completed one in English, where I explain each chapter from a perspective also relevant in our modern life. The old Taoist philosophy classic still has a lot to teach us.

     The complete text of my Tao Te Ching book is online on this website:

Tao Te Ching: Each chapter explained




Tao Te Ching Chapter 1 versions

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 1 in Chinese. Tao Te Ching, Chapter 1 in the Chinese Wang Bi version.

Already by the first chapter of Tao Te Ching, the Taoist philosophy classic, the style of its interpretor or translator is quite clear. In 2004, I vacuumed the internet and my own library for versions of Tao Te Ching's Chapter 1. I found 75, from well-renowned sinologists to happy amateurs. Now I have also added my own version. The vagueness of the original text allows for very different interpretations, as you can see in the collection below.

76 versions of Tao Te Ching Chapter 1


James Legge's Tao Te Ching

James Legge James Legge (1815-1897), Scottish sinologist. Painting by James Elder Christie.

Have a look at the below translation of the Tao Te Ching, the Taoist philosophy classic, made by the Scottish sinologist James Legge (1815-97) in 1891. It is a splendid version, surpassing many of later dates - although the recent archaeological findings of Tao Te Ching manuscripts in Ma Wang Tui and Guodian were unknown to him.

Tao Te Ching, James Legge's version


Aleister Crowley's Tao Te Ching

Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), English occultist. Photo from 1906.

The English magician and occultist Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) made his own version of the Tao Te Ching in 1923. It is a very interesting and surprisingly clear version of the Taoist philosophy classic - worth reading also for those who have no interest in the occult.

Tao Te Ching, Aleister Crowley's version


Chuang Tzu

Chuang Tzu

Chuang Tzu Chuang Tzu (4th century BC), Taoist philosopher.

Next to Lao Tzu, the legendary writer of Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu (Zhuang Zi) is the most famous of the Chinese Taoist philosophers. He lived in the 4th century BC. According to tradition, he wrote the first seven chapters, called the 'inner' chapters, of the book given his name. His Taoist students are said to have written the remaining 'outer' chapters.

     Below is the complete James Legge translation of the Chuang Tzu Taoist texts, published in 1891, divided into the 33 chapters. You can read them in any order, since they are not connected in a consecutive way.

Chuang Tzu Taoism


Tao Themes

I have another website where the 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching are divided into seven different themes, which are prominent in the book and in Taoist philosophy. Here are those themes.


Tao Quotes

I also have a website where I extracted 388 quotes from the Tao Te Ching, sorted by topics. Each quote has a reference to its chapter in the book. Here they all are:


Tao Te Ching - The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained, by Stefan Stenudd.

The Book

Tao Te Ching - The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained. The great Chinese Taoist philosophy classic, translated and extensively commented by me. It can be ordered from Amazon and other Internet bookstores. More about it here:

Tao Te Ching - the book


Stefan Stenudd
Stefan Stenudd
About me
I'm a Swedish writer, and instructor of the peaceful martial art aikido. In addition to fiction, I've written books about Taoism as well as other Chinese and Japanese traditions. I'm also a historian of ideas, researching the thought patterns in creation myths. Google Profile. Here is my personal website: stenudd.com



Other Websites:

I Ching Online

The 64 hexagrams of the Chinese classic I Ching and what they mean in divination. Try it online for free.

Qi energy

The ancient Chinese life energy qi (chi) explained, with simple instructions on how to exercise it.

Creation Myths

Creation stories from around the world, and the ancient cosmology they reveal.




Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching, the Classic on the Way and Virtue, in Chinese writing.