The Dao De Jing

Here is a faithful translation of Laozi's Dao De Jing using the earliest manuscripts: The Guodian Bamboo Slips, and the Mawangdui Silk Texts. After more than three thousand hours of immersion in these early sources, the end result is a translation that is both accurate and easy to read. Within, the voice of an ancient worldview can be heard; one that still resonates in our modern era. A philosophy that speaks to the human condition, and offers wisdom rooted in >This translation is unique in its use of the earliest possible source text for each individual chapter. As these texts were sealed within tombs for more than two thousand years, they were not subject to the copying and editing process that later texts underwent. Due to this, this translation diverges from other English translations that rely on the Received Text as a source (Received being the term for the traditional text that has been recopied, and handed down through the centuries). While the term better is subjective, this translation is far more likely to be closer to the original version of the Dao De Jing, and the voice of its ancient author. (Note: This version contains the additional notes and commentary of the illustrated version, but does not include its color photographs) Standard Version (Second Edition) (c) 2026