He who boasts of what he will do, succeeds in nothing, Tao Te Ching

No understanding of Chinese civilization is possible without a grasp of Taoism, the philosophy that has shaped not just Chinese spirituality but also art, science and politics since 6th century BC. And it was in the Tao Te Ching, written around 300BC, that the fundamental beliefs of Taoism were first gathered. This short, wise but very humble book went on to influence on philosophy, religion and politics.

In a simple rhetorical style Tao Te Ching addresses how to live a simple, peaceful and harmonious life, how to rid oneself of desires and free society of institutions promoting greed.

This dual-language edition of Tao Te Ching presents the original Chinese characters with a new translation on the facing page. With a new introduction that discusses the questioned authorship of the text and editorial notes, all 81 brief chapters are included, ranging from advice for politicians to wise words for the everyday person. An important Chinese philosophy that has been popular for hundreds of years is given a new life in this new edition with editorial notes and guides to understanding the depth of the Tao.