Taoist Books
| A Personal Tao | By Casey Kochmer [2005 - 2010] A Taoist book written with a 21st century perspective of Taoism. This book resonates with readers searching for their own identity. A Personal Tao is unlike many other modern Taoist texts that either re-translate the Tao Te Ching or wrap the Tao Te Ching with inspirational art. Instead A Personal Tao creates a fresh work teaching Taoism with its own style of thought, philosophy and art upon its own terms. |
| Chuang Tzu | By Zhuangzi ( Chuang Tzu ) Lin Yutang, Translator This is one of the most famous Taoist works. The statement “Am I a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man” comes out of this work. This isn’t a complete translation. Rather it’s a selection from the larger works of the Chuang Tzu. This is in the public Domain. |
| Tao Te Ching | By Lao Tzu R. B. Blakney, Translator 1955 The Tao Te Ching is by far the most central book in Taoism in terms of public mind share. Its simple prose mixed to deeper insights offer an excellent starting point for those wanting to experience Taoist thought. This is in the public Domain. |
| Tao Te Ching | By Lao Tzu J. Legge, Translator (Sacred Books of the East, Vol 39) [1891] A classic baseline translation for the Tao Te Ching This is in the public Domain. |
| The GNL Tao Te Ching |
By Lao Tzu Peter A. Merel 1992 A composite version based upon several earlier translations of the Tao Te Ching. This is an open source book. |
| More Versions of the Tao Te Ching |
By Lao Tzu
This link will take you to a archived copy of a now inactive site having a hundred English translated versions of the Tao Te Ching and dozens of translations in other languages. |
| Another Collection of the Tao Te Ching |
By Lao Tzu
This link will take you to an still active site having a number of translated to English versions of the Tao Te Ching |
Translation Notes:
I posted several translated versions of the Tao Te Ching in the library. Each version will have cross links so a reader can quickly jump and compare the various translations. No one version is correct. Instead focus on the images you experience while reading each one.
Keep in mind hundreds of other translations exist.
What’s an acceptable translation? Scholars fight entire careers over this little topic.
So to clear things up, here is the truth of the matter:
Taoism simply states: it doesn’t matter. Words can never capture the true Tao.
Translations change over time, due to personal differences, cultural changes and the shifting nature of language to be relative to now. So discover over time new meanings upon each reading. This is about your own relative needs “in the now” determining how to best embrace these works.
Don’t worry about the translation… just enjoy each one as it is!
Other Taoist Books:
If you know or have a link to other Taoist materials in the public domain or publicly available books from Google books or other similar sources please let me know and I will get it listed here.
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A Personal Tao
Discover the Tao and Taoism. This is a guide to the heart and a handbook for discovering the Tao.
The Tao of Wisdom (H. Klaus), 5 new verbatim + analogous translations, 600 p., original caracters, pronunciation, Guodian and Mawangdui, synopsis, and more!
Peace ~
Can these books be purchased for viewing on IPad 2, so soft copy
Yes Roberto
If you look on Amazon you should be able to get some of these Taoist books in a soft copy format.
Translated by D.C. Lau (1963)
http://terebess.hu/english/tao/lau.html
Translation by Derek Lin
http://taoism.net/ttc/complete.htm
http://sites.dereklin.com/author/Tao-Te-Ching/online-translation