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Tao Te Ching / Daodejing A Fresh Look at the Way and its Virtues Lao Tsu David Petersen translator 9780557285068 Books

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Tao Te Ching / Daodejing A Fresh Look at the Way and its Virtues Lao Tsu David Petersen translator 9780557285068 Books

Zhuangzi spoke of the necessity of language for communication. The fish trap is a tool to catch fish. Once the fish is caught, the trap is forgotten. Language is a tool to hold ideas. Once ideas are conveyed, language is forgotten.

David Petersen has written a new translation of the Tao Te Ching. When I was notified that I had won a copy from Goodreads Giveaways I quickly read two other translations (Thomas F. Cleary and Stephen Mitchell) to get in the mood for this one. The Tao Te Ching has been translated almost as often as the Bible and David explains why in a very interesting appendix to his book. Written thousands of years ago in Chinese characters that are no longer standard, and with references to what were then contemporary concepts, the work is interpreted rather than simply translated by each author.

A mere rendering of the 81 poems can be pocket size; David's is a huge, heavy paperback. The first half just holds one poem on each page with no marginalia or footnotes. I skipped to the middle of the book where the poems are again printed one per page, but this time with some words or phrases in bold type and David's comments then surround each highlighted portion.

I found this version most enjoyable even without the notations. Unlike Cleary, Mr. Petersen took the time to make sure his translation was actually readable rather than just trying to shift everything from Chinese to English with no regard for the reader. Cleary's poems don't always make sense. Petersen's almost always do.

Poem number 11 has an interesting theme, "that which exists is used to create benefit --
That which is empty is used to create functionality." And with that in mind, this book leaves the right page mostly blank. In "How To Read A Book" Mortimer Adler said that you never truly own a book until you write in it. Zhuangzi said you no longer need the language once you have the idea. But to hold onto the idea you must paraphrase it in your own private lexicon. Space has been thoughtfully provided just for your thoughts.

Finally, at the bottom of each page is a one sentence quotation that coincides with each poem. These quotes originate everywhere from the Bible to Benjamin Franklin, and even one from Lewis Carroll's Alice. They serve to inspire you to think of Tao in your everyday activities.

Everyone who reads the Tao Te Ching has a favorite translation. This is now mine!


Tags : Tao Te Ching / Daodejing: A Fresh Look at the Way and its Virtues [Lao Tsu, David Petersen (translator)] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Drawing on meticulous study of multiple sources, this fresh but authoritative reading of Lao Tsu's timeless classic combines the poetry of the Tao Te Ching with a wealth of additional material: an introduction to the enigmatic Lao Tsu and his times; a discussion of the many challenges facing the translator; 81 illustrative Chinese characters/phrases,Lao Tsu, David Petersen (translator),Tao Te Ching Daodejing: A Fresh Look at the Way and its Virtues,lulu.com,0557285062,FICTION General,Fiction - General,General,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)

Tao Te Ching / Daodejing A Fresh Look at the Way and its Virtues Lao Tsu David Petersen translator 9780557285068 Books Reviews

Zhuangzi spoke of the necessity of language for communication. The fish trap is a tool to catch fish. Once the fish is caught, the trap is forgotten. Language is a tool to hold ideas. Once ideas are conveyed, language is forgotten.

David Petersen has written a new translation of the Tao Te Ching. When I was notified that I had won a copy from Goodreads Giveaways I quickly read two other translations (Thomas F. Cleary and Stephen Mitchell) to get in the mood for this one. The Tao Te Ching has been translated almost as often as the Bible and David explains why in a very interesting appendix to his book. Written thousands of years ago in Chinese characters that are no longer standard, and with references to what were then contemporary concepts, the work is interpreted rather than simply translated by each author.

A mere rendering of the 81 poems can be pocket size; David's is a huge, heavy paperback. The first half just holds one poem on each page with no marginalia or footnotes. I skipped to the middle of the book where the poems are again printed one per page, but this time with some words or phrases in bold type and David's comments then surround each highlighted portion.

I found this version most enjoyable even without the notations. Unlike Cleary, Mr. Petersen took the time to make sure his translation was actually readable rather than just trying to shift everything from Chinese to English with no regard for the reader. Cleary's poems don't always make sense. Petersen's almost always do.

Poem number 11 has an interesting theme, "that which exists is used to create benefit --
That which is empty is used to create functionality." And with that in mind, this book leaves the right page mostly blank. In "How To Read A Book" Mortimer Adler said that you never truly own a book until you write in it. Zhuangzi said you no longer need the language once you have the idea. But to hold onto the idea you must paraphrase it in your own private lexicon. Space has been thoughtfully provided just for your thoughts.

Finally, at the bottom of each page is a one sentence quotation that coincides with each poem. These quotes originate everywhere from the Bible to Benjamin Franklin, and even one from Lewis Carroll's Alice. They serve to inspire you to think of Tao in your everyday activities.

Everyone who reads the Tao Te Ching has a favorite translation. This is now mine!