That is a very big topic. There are so many translations to choose from, it can be a daunting task to know where to begin!
More literal translations of Tao Te Ching tend to miss the concise beauty and contemplative flow of the original Chinese text, while more concise, poetic translations tend to stray from the original Chinese text.
In short, if you want a deeper understanding of the text, aside from or in addition to learning Chinese, owning multiple English translations is the way to go.
**Here are some English translations of Tao Te Ching that I recommend as a good starting point:**
- The translation I have been sharing this time around is from **Stephen Mitchell**. It is a beautifully meditative translation, but not always the most true to the original text. Though when liberties are taken, they are taken in the spirit of the Tao.
Tao Te Ching: A New English Version (Perennial Classics) https://a.co/d/fFBzwNQ
- **Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo**, trans. Tao Te Ching. This is a wonderfully unadorned, simple, zen-like translation that has the right "feel" of the spoken original.
Tao Te Ching https://a.co/d/iRLQq5j
- The **D. C. Lau** (Penguin House) translation is considered one of the best (if not THE best) academic translations. Published in 1974, it is missing more recently discovered manuscripts, but if you are looking for a scholarly translation, then look no further.
Tao Te Ching https://a.co/d/6Cq55Aq
- Another translation I highly recommend is by **Derek Lin**. It is probably the most accurate as far as a clear understanding of the original Chinese for both scholarly and personal use.
Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations) https://a.co/d/gP3msq0
https://dereklin.com/tao-te-ching/
I hope this short list serves you well as a good starting point on your journey into Tao.
In closing, I believe the foreword to the Addiss and Lombardo translation will help in understanding why I have recommended multiple translations, and not just one.
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Nice that you brought this to Nostr!
Stephen Mitchell’s version has always been my go-to for casual daily readings. So accessible and easy to read prose-like translations.
Love this edition in particular, it’s perfectly pocketable and I even carried it with me on a three month long distance trek
https://a.co/d/hDNhAeP
Wow, Thank you so much for such a generous reply. My inner healer has really been directing me towards the Tao Te Ching recently. I just went ahead and bought a copy of each of your recommendations. Thank you so much. Please know that you have stated another soul on the path of the Tao. I particularly liked the quote you shared in the above post. Warm wishes to you. Much Gratitude.
@Ava if you read fiction, check out Babel by R.F. Kuang. it’s a brilliant novel that explores precisely this concept of translation, and its nuances.
https://a.co/d/aZ1BVXv
I don't often read fiction, but this looks interesting and has great reviews. Thank you for the recommendation.
Love this quote:
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.
I do not enjoy fiction much anymore. Mostly non-fiction, biography, instructional, gardening, beekeeping. This is my latest… https://image.nostr.build/a3ce4fd119c9ba5bfaac6f0052029db34b8fa6b86c15e6f453b1ff453d689ee4.jpg
A wise decision. Regarding the new book, how do you like it so far?
Very much. Highly technical, repetitive, but generally thought-provoking. I will compose a synopsis later. It may be worth your time/energy. I do so enjoy your #vanlife notes, so I know you’re hella busy with that outfit.
Wonderful. I look forward to reading your synopsis. I'm glad you are enjoying the content. And thank you. I am :)
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