CHOICE 1998 Outstanding Academic BooksLao-tzu and the Tao-te-ching presents a coherent collection of materials on the ancient Chinese classic and its author, describing traditional and modern Western interpretations. Written and edited by recognized international specialists in the field, this book brings Lao-tzu and the Tao-te-ching together to present current scholarship on their history and interpretation. Contributors include William H. Baxter, Alan K.L. Chan, A.C. Graham, Julia M. Hardy, Yoshiko Kamitsuka, Livia Kohn, Michael LaFargue, Julian Pas, Isabelle Robinet, Benjamin Schwartz, and Liu Xiaogan. Divided into four parts, the book provides a wealth of information on the influential Chinese classic.Part One, "Ancient Myths," discusses who Lao-tzu was, how he developed into a god of religious Taoism, and how his divinity was represented in medieval Chinese sculpture. Part Two, "Chinese Interpretations," discusses the role of the text in traditional China, studying the major commentaries by Wang Pi and He-shang-kung, looking at about thirty commentaries and their philological and doctrinal interpretations and examining the ritual uses the text found in medieval Taoism. Part Three, "Modern Readings," contains a critical discussion of the Tao-te-ching's reception in the West, a general analysis of its major doctrines, and a contemporary Chinese vision of its possible relevance for life today. Part Four, "Critical Methods," presents recent findings on the Tao-te-ching's linguistic structure and probable date, a historical, hermeneutic enquiry into its original meaning, and an evaluative guide to seventeen major English translations.

List of Tables and Figures Permissions Preface Editors' Introduction Part I. Ancient Myths 1. The Origins of the Legend of Lao Tan A. C. Graham 2. The Lao-tzu Myth Livia Kohn 3. Lao-tzu in Six Dynasties Taoist Sculpture Yoshiko Kamitsuka Part II. Chinese Interpretations 4. A Tale of Two Commentaries: Ho-shang-kung and Wang Pi on the Lao-tzu Alan K. L. Chan 5. Later Commentaries: Textual Polysemy and Syncretistic Interpretations Isabelle Robinet 6. The Tao-te-ching in Ritual Livia Kohn Part III. Modern Readings 7. Influential Western Interpretations of the Tao-te-ching Julia M. Hardy 8. The Thought of the Tao-te-ching Benjamin Schwartz 9. Naturalness (Tzu-jan), the Core Value in Taoism: Its Ancient Meaning and Its Significance Today Liu Xiaogan Part IV. Critical Methods 10. Situating the Language of the Lao-tzu: The Probable Date of the Tao-te-ching William H. Baxter 11. Recovering the Tao-te-ching's Original Meaning: Some Remarks on Historical Hermeneutics Michael LaFargue 12. On Translating the Tao-te-ching Michael LaFargue and Julian Pas Appendix: Index to Citations from Tao-te-ching Chapters Glossary List of Contributors Index