The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi (Translations from the Asian Classics)

Words cannot describe how excellent this translation and commentary are. This book is worth owning for Wang Bi's commentary alone, which I gather is considered one of the best there is. And it's a wonderful bonus that Richard Lynn's translation is so good and scholarly, with expertly placed and brief footnotes and scholarly interpolations. So, in the interest of letting the text speak for itself, here's one line from the Tao Te Ching followed by Wang Bi's commentary."The Dao may be hidden and nameless, but it alone is good at bestowing and completing." Here's Wang Bi's commentary: "All these manifestations of excellence are achieved by the Dao. When it exists as an image, it is the great image, but the great image is formless. When it exists as note, it is the great note, but the great note is an inaudible sound. Things are completed by it, but they do not see its form. Thus it is hidden and nameless. When it bestows, this is not limited merely to supplying what something specifically happens to need. Once it makes its bestowal, this is sufficient to make the virtue of that something last until its end. Thus the text says: 'It ... is good at bestowing.' The way it completes things is not like the way the carpenter makes something. With it, not a single thing fails to fulfill its form perfectly. Thus the text says: 'it ... is good at ... completing.'"In sum, any serious student of the Tao Te Ching in English translation would probably benefit by adding this book to his collection of translations.

The Wang Bi commentary of the Dao De Jing overwhelmingly forms the traditional (i.e. real) interpretation. And so, instead of making up interpretations, or following fake stuff on the internet, you can use this to reference a proper Chinese interpretation.Many flaws: the book is too narrow and the spine too strong, and so it does not open easily, this is actually very annoying. The visual layout is a disaster and not easy to tell who is speaking (the author, Laozi, or Wang Bi). Placing the Wang Bi commentary, the main body of the book, in italics is a bad idea and annoying to read. The translation is useable, but not excellent. And there’s no Chinese provided.Still four stars, as there’s nothing better?

Very detailed commentary. Take it slow.

This latest translation of the Chinese Taoist Classic is a dry and lifeless specimen, not surprising from a man whose translation of the I Ching was praised for "having no truck with 'timeless wisdom.'" (back cover blurb). This volume's claim to fame, beyond its slim and attractive appearance, is the complete translation of Wang Bi, a 23 year old commentator from 3rd century CE China. To determine whether this translation is for you, you should know that Wang Bi had a strong inclination toward political interpretation, a proclivity probably due to the "high official status and prestige" of his family and their role in government and politics [p. 9], a trend furthered by his great-uncle's "Treatise on Keeping One's Person Safe"-which begins by making government secure [p. 10]. (Now there's a Chinese virtue, eh?) Consider also Wang Bi's answer as to why Confucius never spoke of nothingness while Lao Tzu spoke of it incessantly (as the Mother of the Ten Thousand Things etc.): "The Sage [Confucius] embodied nothingness so he also knew that it could not be explained in words....Master Lao...constantly discussed nothingness...for what he said about it always fell short [p. 12]." Now if you believe that someone who could say that actually knew anything firsthand about the Tao, then this book is for you. And if you are interested in Wang Bi, see Ellen Chen's superb translation/commentary which puts it in perspective. Otherwise, this is a book on Te-social virtue-where the scholarship is impeccable and the feeling is weak. And that's the Way it is!

I am able to read the original text in Chinese, and also books in both Chinese and English trying to translate the text or to comment on the original. This particular author provides insightful interpretations in his translation as well as in his footnotes. The book is especially useful for readers who also read Chinese. It provides names in both English and Chinese. That way, a Chinese reader can look up information about certain terms in Chinese language literature.