Chapter 57

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing)
Classic of the Way and Virtue



By Lao Tzu (Laozi)

 

 

Compiled and Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington

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Chapter 57

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu

Classic Book (Ching) about the Tao (Way, Nature, Patterns, Processes) and Te (Virtue, Potency, Power, Integrity, Wise Person, Sage)

 

Indexing, Concordance, Search Terms, Topics, Themes, Keys, Subjects


English and Chinese (Wade-Giles):  Use or Employ (yi), Righteousness or Upright (chêng), Leadership, State or County (kuo), Warfare or Army (ping), Strange or Cunning or Surprise (ch'i), Simplification, Utilize or Conduct (yung), Interfere or Meddle (shih), Conquer or Capture (ch'ü), Heaven (t'ien), Restrictions (chi), Prohibitions or Taboos (hui), Poor or Poverty (p'in), Genuine Influence, People (min), Increase (mi), Doing Nothing (wu wei), Nothing (wu), Weapons (ch'i), Know or Understand (chih), Peace, Confused or Troubled or Chaos (hun), Artful or Skill (chi), Ingenious (ch'iao), Fewer Laws, Reform, Rules or Law (fa), Order or Command (ling), Taxes, Freedom, Less Government, Govern or Rule (chih), More (tzu), Aise or Appear (ch'i), Manifest or Exhibit (chang), Self-Rule, Restraint, Quietude, Wu Wei, Simple and Pure (p'u), Robbers or Thieves (tao, tsê), Good, Saint or Holy Man (shêng jên), Tranquil or Still (ching), Naturally (tsu), Transform or Change (hua), Serene, Welcome or Prefer or Good (hao), Reserved, Fair or Correct or Civilized (chêng), Unnecessary Cleverness and Desires, Wealthy or Rich (fu), Sage, Desires or Wants (), Habits of Simplicity,  淳風    

 

Términos en Español:  Liderazgo, Guerra, Simplificación, No Hacer Nada, Paz, Menos Leyes, Reforma, Caos, Reglas, Pobreza, Armas, Impuestos, Libertad, Menos Gobierno, Gobierno Autónomo, Restricción, Quietud, Sencillez, Lladrones, Bueno, Tranquilo, Sereno, Reservado, Inteligencia Innecesaria, Deseos, Saabio, Hábitos de la simplicidad, Uso, Emplear, Justicia, Vertical, Rectitud, Gobernar, Regla, Estado, País, Extraño, Astucia, Sorpresa, Utilizar, Conducta, Nada, Interferir, Intrometerse, Conquistar, Captura, Cielo, Conocer, Comprender, Prohibición, Tabú, Personas, Aumento, Pobres, Confundido, en Problemas, Ingenioso, Habilidad, Ingenioso, Pobreza, Más, Derecho, Orden, Comando, Ladrón, Sabio, Santo, Cambio, Transformar, Feria, Correcta, Civilizado, Rico, Puro, Todavía. 

Electronic Concordance for Chapters 1 - 81 of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

 

English Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

 

"Rule a kingdom by the Normal.
Fight a battle by (abnormal) tactics of surprise.
Win the world by doing nothing.
How do I know it is so?
Through this:
The more prohibitions there are,
The poorer the people become.
The more sharp weapons there are,
The greater the chaos in the state.
The more skills of technique,
The more cunning things are produced.
The greater the number of statutes,
The greater the number of thieves and brigands.
Therefore the sage says:
I do nothing and the people are reformed of themselves.
I love quietude and the people are righteous of themselves.
I deal in no business and the people grow rich by themselves.
I have no desires and the people are simple
and honest by themselves."
-  Translated by Lin Yutang, 1955, Chapter 57 

 

 

"A state may be ruled by measures of correction; weapons of war may be used with crafty dexterity;
but the kingdom is made one's own only by freedom from action and purpose.
How do I know that it is so?
By these facts:
In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people;
the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state and clan;
the more acts of crafty dexterity that men possess, the more do strange contrivances appear;
the more display there is of legislation, the more thieves and robbers there are.
Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing of purpose, and the people will be transformed of themselves;
I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.
I will take no trouble about it, and the people will of themselves become rich;
I will manifest no ambition, and the people will of themselves attain to the primitive simplicity.' "
-  Translated by Unbekannten, Chapter 57

 

 

"To govern the state resort to what's regular.
To win a war resort to what's unusual.
But to conquer the world refrain from meddling.
How do I know of these methods?
I do because of what's within me.

The fewer the people's freedoms
the poorer the people become.
The more sharp weapons the people possess,
The greater disorder there is in the state.
The more diverse the people's skills,
The more unusual things they produce.
The more numerous the laws,
The more criminals there are.

Therefore, the sage says:
I take no action,
Yet people transform by themselves.
I prefer to remain calm,
Yet people by themselves become correct.
I refrain from meddling,
Yet people by themselves begin to prosper.
I have no desires,
Yet people by themselves become simple
Like uncut wood."
-  Translated by Agnieszka Solska, Chapter 57

 

 

"You lead a group with correctness;
You fight a war by moves not thought of by your enemies;
You win the world by not using effort.
How do I know this is so?
By what is within me!
The more things that are forbidden
and limited in the world,
The poorer the people become.
Freedom for the people is required for a full life.
The more destructive the weapons
the people possess,
The greater confusion controls the land.
People are dangerous to other people and the greater the tools of
destruction in their hands the more they will destroy.
The more clever and tricky the men,
The more often strange things happen.
People who cheat the Laws of the Universe cause a lack of balance which
can not last.
The more well spoken the laws and rulings,
The more robbers and thieves there are.
The more rules there are, the more likely people will break them in the
course of life.
Then after breaking some rules the other rules are less respected and
criminals are considered normal citizens.
The Complete Thinker says:
I live a simple life,
and the people change themselves.
I love quiet,
and the people settle down in their regular jobs.
I look to effortlessness,
and the people grow rich.
I have no desires,
and the people return to Simplicity."
-  Translated by J. L. Trottier, 1994, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Govern the kingdom by the normal way.
Fight the battle by the unexpected way.
And one can win the world without using force.
How do I know this is so?
By the following:
When there are too many restrictions and regulations, people become poor.
When there are too many weapons, the kingdom is in disarray.
When there are too many tricks, bizarre things happen.
When there are too many decrees, the crime rate increases.
This is why the sage says:
"I do not force my way, and people live peacefully.
I keep quiet, and people live normally.
I do not interfere, and people become rich.
I do not covet anything, and people would be honest." "
-  Translated by Thomas Z. Zhang, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Lead the organisation with correctness.
Direct the military with surprise tactics.
Take hold of the world with effortlessness.
How is it so?
Through this:
Too many prohibitions in the world and people become insufficient.
Too many sharp weapons among people and the nation grows confused.
Too much cunning strategy among people and strange things start to happen.
Too many laws and regulations and too many criminals emerge.
Thus enlightened people say: look to inaction and people will be naturally influenced.
Look to refined tranquility and people will be naturally correct,
look to effortlessness and people will be naturally affluent,
look to non-desire and people will be naturally simple."
-  Translated by David Tuffley, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Rule a nation with justice.
Wage war with deception.
Become ruler of the world with peace.
How do I know that this is so?
Because of these.
The more laws and restrictions,
the poorer people become.
The sharper men's weapons,
the more trouble in the land.
The more ingenious and clever men,
the more strange things happen.
The more rules and regulations,
the more thieves and robbers.
Therefore, the sage says: I Wu-Wei,
people will rule themselves.
I enjoy peace and people become honest.
I do nothing special such as tax and war and people become rich.
I have no unjust desires for concubines or conquering. 
People return to the good and simple life."
-  Translated by Tienzen Gong, Chapter 57 

 

 

"The cultivator of Tao uses uprightness in governing his State, exceptional sagacity in war,
and inaction in obtaining the Empire.
How do I know that such is the case?
By this:
When there are many prohibitions in the Empire, the people become the more impoverished.
When the people accumulate excess of wealth and goods,
both State and family become gradually demoralised.
When men are overskilful, the use of fantastical things gradually arises.
When instruments of punishment gradually come into play, robbers increase in number.
Wherefore the Sage says, "I do nothing, and the people reform of their own accord.
I love quietude, and the people become spontaneously upright.
I take no measures, and the people enrich themselves.
I have no desires, and the people naturally become simple."
-  Translated by Frederic Henry Balfour, 1884, Chapter 57

 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2020 CCA 4.0

 

 

 

Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance  By Alexander Simkins. 

Somaesthetic Practices and Theory

The Tao of Daily Life: The Mysteries of the Orient Revealed  By Derek Lin. 
Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony   By Ming-Dao Deng. 
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Taoist Body-Mind Arts and Practices

The Tao of Pooh   By Benjamin Hoff. 
Scholar Warrior: An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life  By Ming-Dao Deng. 
Vitality, Energy, Spirit: A Taoist Sourcebook  Translated by Thomas Cleary. 

 

                             

 

 

 

"Govern a state by (i) the normal (cheng);
Conduct warfare as (i) the abnormal (ch'i);
Take the empire when (i) there is no business.
How do I know such should be the case?
By the following:
In an empire with many prohibitions,
People are often poor;
When people have many sharp weapons,
The state is in great darkness (tzu hun);
When persons abound in ingenuity (ch'iao),
Abnormal (ch'i) objects multiply (tzu ch'i);
When laws are abundantly promulgated (tzu chang),
There are many thieves and brigands.
Therefore the sage says:
I do not act (wei),
Hence the people transform by themselves (tzu-hua);
I love tranquillity (ching),
Hence the people are normal by themselves (tzu-cheng);
I have no business,
Hence the people grow rich by themselves;
I have no desire,
Hence the people are like the uncarved wood by themselves (tzu-p'u)."
-  Translated by Ellen M. Chen, Chapter 57 

 

 

Cloud Hands Blog

 

 

"Rule by what is right.
Wage war by clever strategy.
Win the world by being passive.
How do I know?
By this: more restrictions mean weaker people;
more weapons mean a troubled state;
more cunning means many surprises;
more laws mean violators.
Therefore be passive and the people will be peaceful;
be serene and the people will be pricipled;
be reserved and the people will be wealthy;
be selfless and the people will be simple and serene."
-  Translated by Frank Machovec, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Use fairness in governing the state.
Use surprise tactics in war.
Be unconcerned and you will have the world.
How do I know it is like this?
Because:
The more regulations there are,
The poorer people become.
The more people own lethal weapons,
The more darkened are the country and clans.
The more clever the people are,
The more extraordinary actions they take.
The more picky the laws are,
The more thieves and gangsters there are.
Therefore the sages say:
I do not force my way and the people transform themselves.
I enjoy my serenity and the people correct themselves.
I do not interfere and the people enrich themselves.
I have no desires
And the people find their original mind."
-  Translated by Charles Muller, 1891, Chapter 57

 

 

"If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.

How do I know this is so?
Because in this world,
the greater the restrictions and prohibitions,
the more people are impoverished;
the more advanced the weapons of state,
the darker the nation;
the more artful and crafty the plan,
the stranger the outcome;
the more laws are posted,
the more thieves appear.

Therefore the sage says:
I take no action and people are reformed.
I enjoy peace and people become honest.
I do nothing and people become rich.
If I keep from imposing on people,
the become themselves."
-  Translated by Wayne D. Dyer, 2007, Chapter 57

 

 

"It has been said of good leaders
'Peace is won by doing the expected, war by doing the unexpected'
But to lead by following the way you must let expectations go

Prohibitions only protect one by depriving another
Weapons only defend one by assaulting another
No amount of knowledge will ever substitute for wisdom
No amount of laws can ever replace honor

When you lead by following the way, remember
If you do nothing, people will transform themselves
If you remain quiet, people will have nothing to be confused about
Don't play the angles, and prosperity will be the norm
Don't impose your desires, and no one will conform or rebel"
-  Translated by Ted Wrigley, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Rule the state with peace and inaction;
Wage a war with crafty tricks;
Governing the world by not troubling the people.
How do I know it is the right way?
The reason is as follows:
The more prohibitions there are in the world,
The poorer the people;
The more weapons the people own,
The more chaotic the state;
The more skills the people have,
The more strange things occur;
The more laws and orders are issued,
The more thieves and robbers there are.
Thus the sage says,
If I prefer inaction,
The people will naturally crave for peace;
If I act little,
The people will be naturally rectified;
If I am not meddlesome,
The people will naturally become rich;
If I get rid of desires,
The people will naturally become simple."
-  Translated by Gu Zhengkun, Chapter 57 

 

 

 

Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living  Translated by Eva Wong
The Daodejing of Laozi   Translated by Philip Ivahoe 
Daoism: A Beginner's Guide   By James Miller
Early Daoist Scriptures  Translated by Stephen Bokencamp

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Taoist Body-Mind Arts and Practices

Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance  By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins
Practical Taoism  Translated by Thomas Cleary
Daoism and Chinese Culture  By Livia Kohn

 

                                       

 

 

 

"Honesty governs the empire Cleverness overcomes without weapons Wisdom prevails through non-action.
How do I know this? Because this is how it is:
The more administrations and prohibitions there are the more force and poverty.
The more force and weapons there are the more unrest and resistance.
The more cunning and calculation there are the more craftiness and setbacks.
The more orders are given the more foes of order there are.
Hence the Sage speaks:
I practice non-action and the people do what is right of themselves.
I practice silence and the people calm down.
I practice non-interference and the people attain prosperity.
I practice gentleness and patience and the people attain harmony and simplicity."
-  Translated by K. O. Schmidt, Chapter 57 

 

 

 

A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 57 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
A note on my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching


 

 

以正治國.
以奇用兵.
以無事取天下. 
吾何以知其然哉.
以此天下多忌諱, 而民彌貧.
民多利器, 國家滋昏.
人多伎巧, 奇物滋起.
法令滋彰, 盜賊多有. 
故聖人云.
我無為而民自化.
我好靜而民自正.
我無事而民自富.
我無欲而民自樸. 
-  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 57 

 

 

yi chêng chih kuo.
yi ch'i yung ping.
yi wu shih ch'ü t'ien hsia.
wu ho yi chih ch'i jan tsai.
yi tz'u t'ien hsia to chi hui, erh min mi p'in.
min to li ch'i, kuo chia tzu hun. 
jên to chi ch'iao, ch'i wu tzu ch'i. 
fa ling tzu chang, tao tsê to yu.
ku shêng jên yun.
wo wu wei erh min tzu hua.
wo hao ching erh min tzu chêng. 
wo wu shih erh min tzu fu.
wo wu yü erh min tzu p'u.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 57 

 

 

Audio Version in Chinese of Chapter 57 of the Tao Te Ching

 

 

yi zheng zhi guo.  
yi qi yong bing.  
yi wu shi qu tian xia.
wu he yi zhi qi ran zai.  
yi ci tian xia duo ji hui, er min mi pin.  
mi duo li qi, guo jia zi hun.  
ren duo ji qiao, qi wu zi qi.
fa ling zi zhang, dao zei duo you.
gu sheng ren yun.  
wo wu wei er min zi hua.
wo hao jing er min zi zheng.
wo wu shi er min zi fu.  
wo wu yu er min zi pu.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 57  
 
 
 

 

 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English (includes a word by word key) from YellowBridge

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Hanyu Pinyin (1982) Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 

Laozi Daodejing: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English. 

Chinese and English Dictionary, MDGB

Google Translator

Chinese Character Dictionary

Dao De Jing Wade-Giles Concordance by Nina, Dao is Open

Dao De Jing English and Wade-Giles Concordance by Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization with Chinese characters, WuWei Foundation

Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English

Tao Te Ching: English translation, Word by Word Chinese and English, and Commentary, Center Tao by Carl Abbott

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, English, Word by word analysis, Zhongwen

Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition  Chinese characters, Wade-Giles (1892) Romanization, and a list of meanings for each character by Jonathan Star 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters: Big 5 Traditional and GB Simplified

Convert from Pinyin to Wade Giles to Yale Romanizations of Words and Terms: A Translation Tool from Qi Journal

Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanizations, and 16 English Translations for Each Chapter of the Daodejing by Mike Garofalo. 

Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanization spellings, English; a word for word translation of the Guodian Laozi Dao De Jing Version. 

Lao Zi's Dao De Jing: A Matrix Translation with Chinese Text by Bradford Hatcher. 

 

 

"Albeit one governs the country by rectitude,
And carries on wars by strategems,
Yet one must rule the empire by meddling with no business.
The empire can always be ruled by meddling with no business.
Otherwise, it can never be done.
How do I know this is so?
By this:
The more restrictions and avoidances are in the empire,
The poorer become the people;
The more sharp implements the people keep,
The more confusions are in the country;
The more arts and crafts men have,
The more are fantastic things produced;
The more laws and regulations are given,
The more robbers and thieves there are.
Therefore the Sage says;
Inasmuch as I betake myself to non-action, the people of themselves become developed.
Inasmuch as I love quietude, the people of themselves become righteous.
Inasmuch as I make no fuss, the people of themselves become wealthy.
Inasmuch as I am free from desire, the people of themselves remain simple."
-  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 57

 

 

“Kingdoms can only be governed if rules are kept;
Battles can only be won if rules are broken.”
But the adherence of all under heaven can only be won by letting-alone.
How do I know that it is so?
By this.
The more prohibitions there are, the more ritual avoidances,
The poorer the people will be.
The more “sharp weapons” there are,
The more benighted will the whole land grow.
The more cunning craftsmen there are,
The more pernicious contrivances will be invented.
The more laws are promulgated,
The more thieves and bandits there will be.
Therefore a sage has said:
So long as I “do nothing” the people will of themselves be transformed.
So long as I love quietude, the people will of themselves go straight.
So long as I act only by inactivity the people will of themselves become prosperous.
So long as I have no wants
The people will of themselves return to the “state of the Uncarved Block.”
-  Translated by Arthur Waley, 1934, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Use the orthodox to govern the state;
Use the unorthodox to wage war.
Use non-involvement to win the world.
How do I know it is so?
By this;

The more restrictions and prohibitions there are, the poorer the people become.
The sharper the people's weapons are, the more national confusion increases.
The more skill artisans require, the more bizarre their products are.
The more precisely the laws are articulated, the more thieves and criminals increase.

Therefore the Sage says; I practice non-action, and the people gradually transform themselves.
I love tranquility, and the people gradually become orthodox by themselves.
I do not interfere, and the people gradually become wealthy by themselves.
I am without desires, and the people gradually return to simplicity."
-  Translated by Tam C. Gibbs, 1981, Chapter 57

 

 

                                                                                  

 

 

 

"If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.

The more prohibitions you have,
the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have,
the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have,
the less self-reliant people will be.

Therefore the Master says:
I let go of the law,
and people become honest.
I let go of economics,
and people become prosperous.
I let go of religion,
and people become serene.
I let go of all desire for the common good,
and the good becomes common as grass."
-  Translated by Edwin Shaw, 1996, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Rule a nation with justice.
Wage war with surprise moves.
Become master of the universe without striving.
How do I know that this is so?
Because of this!
The more laws and restrictions there are,
The poorer people become.
The sharper men's weapons,
The more trouble in the land.
The more ingenious and clever men are,
The more strange things happen.
The more rules and regulations,
The more thieves and robbers.

Therefore the sage says:
I take no action and people are reformed.
I enjoy peace and people become honest.
I do nothing and people become rich.
I have no desires and people return to the good and simple life."
-  Translated by Feng Gai-fu and Jane English, 1989, Chapter 57

 

 

 

Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-Depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic  By Hu Xuzehi
Tao Te Ching  Annotated translation by Victor Mair  
Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation  By Ha Poong Kim
The Philosophy of the Daodejing  By Hans-Georg Moeller  

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo

Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation  By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall
Tao Te Ching on The Art of Harmony   By Chad Hansen. 
The Way and Its Power: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought   By Arthur Waley

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Taoist Body-Mind Arts and Practices

 


                             

 

 

 

"A realm is governed by ordinary acts,
A battle is governed by extraordinary acts;
The world is governed by no acts at all.
And how do I know?
This is how I know.
Act after act prohibits
Everything but poverty,
Weapon after weapon conquers
Everything but chaos,
Business after business provides
A craze of waste,
Law after law breeds
A multitude of thieves.
Therefore a sensible man says:
If I keep from meddling with people, they take care of themselves,
If I keep from commanding people, they behave themselves,
If I keep from preaching at people, they improve themselves,
If I keep from imposing on people, they become themselves."
-  Translated by Witter Bynner, Chapter 57

 

 

"Rule the kingdom with justice.
Use surprise tactics to fight a war.
But it takes letting go to win and hold the world.
How do I know it is so?
Through this:
The more restrictive the laws in the kingdom, the poorer the people will be.
The more sharp weapons the people have, the more troubled and chaotic the state will be and the less secure the people will be.
The more clever and advanced the people, the stranger the contrivances they will invent.
Law after law promulgates robbers and thieves.
Therefore the Master says: "I will let go of the law,
and the people will act rightly of their own accord,
I will love tranquility and the people will act with righteousness."
"I will make no effort, and the people will prosper.
I will let go of all of my desires, and the people will return to native simplicity."
-  Translated by Rivenrock, Chapter 57 

 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2020 CCA 4.0

 

 

 

"Govern the state with correctness.
Operate the army with surprise tactics.
Administer the empire by engaging in no activity.
How do I know that this should be so?
Through this:
The more taboos and prohibitions there are in the world,
The poorer the people will be.
The more sharp weapons the people have,
The more troubled the state will be.
The more cunning and skill a man possesses,
The more vicious things will appear.
The more laws and orders are made prominent,
The more thieves and robbers there will be.
Therefore the sage says:
I take no action and the people of themselves are transformed.
I love tranquillity and the people of themselves become correct.
I engage in no activity and the people of themselves become prosperous.
I have no desires and the people of themselves become simple."
-  Translated by Chan Wing-Tsit, 1963, Chapter 57  

 

 

 

The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching   Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni
The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu   Translated by Brian Walker

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Taoist Body-Mind Arts and Practices

Tao Te Ching  Translated by Arthur Waley
Tao - The Way   Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles
Taoism: An Essential Guide   By Eva Wong

 

                                       

 

 

 

"By uprightness, govern the kingdom.
By rarely using soldiers
And by means of non-administration
Take the world.
By what means do I know this to be so?
By this:
The world greatly shuns and avoids the poor
And the people remain completely impoverished.
The people greatly sharpen weapons
And the kingdom and households grow dark.
The people become excessively crafty and clever
And strange things start to happen.
Laws and directives are increasingly promulgated
And thus more robbers and thieves exist.
Therefore do the sages say:
“I do not administer, and the people change themselves.
I am pleased with stillness, and the people correct themselves.
I do not meddle in their affairs, and the people grow rich by themselves.
I do not desire, and the people simplify themselves.”"
-  Translated by Aalar Fex, Chapter 57  

 

 

"A good leader guides by example;
A bad leader resorts to force and intrigue.
Everything gains by noninterference.
How do I know this?
Consider the evidence:
The more restrictions and taxes there are, the poorer the people become.
The more weapons people possess, the more they fight.
The more complicated machines become, the greater the danger from mechanical accident.
The more laws are enacted and taxes assessed, the greater the number of law-breakers and tax-evaders.
This is why the intelligent man concludes:
When I attend to my own business, other people are able to attend to theirs.
When I exemplify self-reliance, other people will devote themselves to the exercise of their own intelligence.
When I make no demands upon them, other people themselves will prosper.
When I express no desire to interfere in their lives, others will become genuinely self-sufficient."
-  Translated by Archie J. Bahm, 1958, Chapter 57

 

 

"The government of a country is best achieved by carrying out the rules.
The winning of wars is best achieved by the employment of artful strategy.
But the winning over of the community is best achieved by non-interference.
How do I know that this is so?
By This.
The more the people are forbidden to do this and that,
The poorer they will be.
The more sharp weapons the people possess,
The more will darkness and bewilderment spread through the land.
The more craft and cunning men have,
The more useless and pernicious contraptions will they invent.
The more laws and edicts are imposed,
The more thieves and bandits there will be.
Hence these sayings of a Sage:
"If I work through Non-action, the people will transform themselves.
If I love the Stillness, the people will grow righteous of themselves.
If I do not fuss or interfere, the people will grow wealthy of themselves;
If I am free from desire, the people will return to unspoiled simplicity.
-  Translated by Herman Ould, 1946, Chapter 57 

 

 

 

Tao Te Ching  Translated by Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo  

Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching  Translated by John C. Wu

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Taoist Body-Mind Arts and Practices

Lao-Tzu and the Tao-Te-Ching  Translated by Livia Kohn

Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way Translated by Moss Roberts

 

                             

 

 

 

"Lead by not leading.
Do not script laws and concepts.
Rid yourself of weapons and fears.
Let go of desire and stop valuing items.
Your belly will be full and the grass will be green."
-  Interpretation by Ray Larose, Chapter 57 

 

 

"A country follows justice by a just code of laws.
A war is won by advanced knowledge of tactics.
A strong will makes a wish fulfilled.
Too many laws attract crimes,
Too much preparation for the war, brings war,
The multitude of wishes brings conflicts amongst people.

That is why the Wise One says:
"Don't have too many laws
And the people will govern themselves.
Think of peace and the people won't suffer.
Live a simple life and people will live in harmony." "
-  Translated by Sarbatoare, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Rule the Empire with uprightness.
The Empire is won by non-concern.
How do I know this?
Thus: The more superstitious restrictions in the land the poorer the people;
the more the people are concerned with the administration the more benighted the state and the clans;
the more craftiness is displayed the greater the number of novelties which arise.
The more legislation there is the more thieves and robbers increase.
It is for these reasons that a sage has said:
Do nothing, but the people spontaneously reform.
I love tranquility, and the people spontaneously become upright.
I have no concerns, and the people naturally grow wealthy.
I am without desire, and of their own free will the people revert to primitive simplicity."
-  Translated by C. Spurgeon Medhurst, 1905, Chapter 57 

 

 

 

Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching by Robert Meikyo Rosenbaum

The Tao of Zen by Ray Grigg

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Taoist Body-Mind Arts and Practices

Tao Te Ching: Zen Teachings on the Taoist Classic by Takuan Soho 

Buddhism and Taoism Face to Face: Scripture, Ritual, and Iconographic Exchange in Medieval China by Christine Mollier  

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

 

                                     

 

 

 

"To govern a kingdom, use righteousness.
To conduct a war, use strategy.
To be a true world-ruler, be occupied with Inner Life.
How do I know this is so?
By this:
The more restrictive the laws, the poorer the people.
The more machinery used, the more trouble in the kingdom.
The more clever and skilful the people, the more do they make artificial things.
The more the laws are in evidence, the more do thieves and robbers abound.
That is why the self-controlled man says:
If I act from Inner Life the people will become transformed in themselves.
If I love stillness the people will become righteous in themselves.
If I am occupied with Inner Life the people will become enriched in themselves.
If I love the Inner Life the people will become pure in themselves."
-  Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 57

 

 

"Rule the state with uprightness,
Deploy your troops with craft,
Gain all under heaven with noninterference.
How do I know this is actually so?
Now,
The more taboos under heaven, the poorer the people;
The more clever devices people have, the more confused the state and ruling house;
The more knowledge people have, the more strange things spring up;
The more legal affairs are given prominence, the more numerous bandits and thieves.
For this reason,
The sage has a saying:
"I take no action, yet the people transform themselves;
I am fond of stillness, yet the people correct themselves;
I do not interfere in affairs, yet the people enrich themselves;
I desire not to desire, yet the people of themselves become simple as unhewn logs."
-  Translated by Victor H. Mair, 1990, Chapter 57

 

 

"The empire is administered with righteousness; the army is directed by craft;
the people are captivated by non-diplomacy.
How do I know it is so?
By this same Tao.

Among people the more restrictions and prohibitions there are, the poorer they become.
The more people have weapons, the more the state is in confusion.
The more people are artful and cunning the more abnormal things occur.
The more laws and orders are issued the more thieves and robbers abound.

Therefore the wise man says:
If a ruler practices wu wei the people will reform of themselves.
If I love quietude the people will of themselves become righteous.
If I avoid profit-making the people will of themselves become prosperous.
If I limit my desires the people will of themselves become simple."
-  Translated by Dwight Goddard and Henri Borel, 1919, Chapter 57 

 

 

 

Further Teachings of Lao-Tzu: Understanding the Mysteries (Wen Tzu)   Translated by Thomas Cleary

The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons   By Deng Ming-Dao

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Taoist Body-Mind Arts and Practices

Awakening to the Tao   By Lui I-Ming (1780) and translated by Thomas Cleary

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo

Zhuangzi: The Essential Writings with Selections from Traditional Commentaries   Translation and commentary by Brook Ziporyn

The Inner Chapters of Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi)   Translated by A. C. Graham

 

                                  

 

 

 

"Let the upright rule the state,

And the crafty the army lead,

But the realm can only be made one' s own

When from active scheming freed.

 

How do I know this is so?

By facts that are open to all,

As you multiply prohibitive laws

The people into poverty fall.

 

You increase disorder as well,

When you increase the weapons of war,

And the more and more artful and cunning men grow,

The more and more crafty contrivance they show,

And the more laws and more thieves there are.

 

Said the sage, I do nothing, and men

Of themselves transformed will be,

I love to keep still, they have uprightness,

I do no scheming, and wealth they possess,

I have no ambition, and plain-mindedness

Will come spontaneously."
-  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 57 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tao Te Ching
 Chapter Number Index


Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Daodejing
Chapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in 246 CE
Chart by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index
 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81                  

 

 

 

"One may govern a state by restriction; weapons may be used with skill and
cunning; but one acquireth true command only by freedom, given and taken.

How am I aware of this?
By experience that to multiply restrictive laws in the kingdom impoverishes the people;
the use of machines causeth disorder in state and race alike.
The more men use skill and cunning, the more machines there are;
and the more laws there are, the more felons there are.

A wise man has said this:
I will refrain from doing, and the people will act rightly of their own accord;
I will love Silence, and the people will instinctively turn to perfection;
I will take no measures, and the people will enjoy true wealth;
I will restrain ambition, and the people will attain simplicity."
-  Translated by Aleister Crowley, 1918, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Nichtwirkenwollen Grundgesetz jeder Staatsführung
Durch Unbestechlichkeit fördert man des Landes Verwaltung,
mit Klugheit führt man ein Heer,
mit Nichtwollen aber gewinnt man ein Reich.
Woher weiß ich, daß es so ist?
Es ergibt sich von selbst.
Ein Volk wird arm, in dem Verbote Worte und Handlungen bestimmen.

Jede Ordnung löst sich auf,
wenn die Menschen nur ihr eigenes Wohlergehen suchen.
Umsturz bereitet sich vor,
wenn die Menschen berechnend und absonderlich werden.
Diebe und Räuber wird es geben,
wenn man mit Gesetzen und Befehlen
glaubt Ordnung schaffen zu müßen.

Daher sagt der Weyse:
Ich wirke nicht, so entfaltet sich das Leben
in der Gemeinschaft von selbst.
Ich bleibe in der Stille, so wird das Volk von selber recht.
Ich greife nicht in die Wirt-schaft ein,
so blüht das Volk von selber auf.
Ich bin ohne Begehr, so wird das Volk von selbst gesunden."
-  Translated by Rudolf Backofen, 1949, Chapter 57

 

 

"Zur Leitung des Staates braucht man Regierungskunst,
zum Waffenhandwerk braucht man
außerordentliche Begabung.
Um aber die Welt zu gewinnen,
muß man frei sein von Geschäftigkeit.
Woher weiß ich, daß es also mit der Welt steht?
Je mehr es Dinge in der Welt gibt, die man nicht tun darf,
desto mehr verarmt das Volk.

Je mehr die Menschen scharfe Geräte haben,
desto mehr kommen Haus und Staat ins Verderben.
Je mehr die Leute Kunst und Schlauheit pflegen,
desto mehr erheben sich böse Zeichen.
Je mehr die Gesetze und Befehle prangen,
desto mehr gibt es Diebe und Räuber.

Darum spricht ein Berufener:
Wenn wir nichts machen,
so wandelt sich von selbst das Volk.
wenn wir die Stille lieben,
so wird das Volk von selber recht.
Wenn wir nichts unternehmen,
so wird das Volk von selber reich.
Wenn wir keine Begierden haben,
so wird das Volk von selber einfältig."
-  Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 57 

 

 

"If one governs the state with governance, he will use the military with perversity.
It is by tending to matters without conscious purpose that one takes all under Heaven as his charge.
How do I know that this is so?
It is by this:
The more all under Heaven are beset with taboos and prohibitions, the poorer the common folk grow.
The more the common folk are beset with sharp instruments, the more muddled the state becomes.
The more people have skill and cleverness, the more often perverse [ji] things will happen.
The more laws and ordinances are displayed, the more thieves and robbers there will be.
Thus the sage says:
I engage in no conscious effort, and the common folk undergo moral transformation spontaneously.
I love quietude, and the common folk govern themselves.
I tend to matters without conscious purpose, and the common folk enrich themselves.
I am utterly free of desire, and the common folk achieve pristine simplicity by themselves."
-  Translated by Richard John Linn, Chapter 57 

 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2020 CCA 4.0

 

 

 

Tao Te Ching: An Illustrated Journey   Translated by Stephen Mitchell

Somaesthetic Practices

Tao Te Ching   Translated by David Hinton

The Book of Tao: Tao Te Ching - The Tao and Its Characteristics   Translated by James Legge

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: Growth of a Religion   By Isabelle Robinet

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tsu), Daoist Scripture: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Quotations, Notes

Zhuangzi: Basic Writings   Translated by Burton Watson

Zhuangzi Speaks: The Music of Nature   An illustrated comic by Chih-chung Ts'ai

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Taoist Body-Mind Arts and Practices

 

 

                                              

 

 

 

"The righteous man may rule the nation.
The strategic man may rule the army.
But the man who refrains from active measures should be the king.
How do I know this?
When the actions of the people are controlled by prohibited laws, the country becomes more and more impoverished.
When the people are allowed the free use of arms, the Government is in danger.
The more crafty and dexterous the people become, the more do artificial things come into use.
And when those cunning arts are publicly esteemed, then do rogues prosper.
Therefore the wise man says:-
I will design nothing: and the people will shape themselves.
I will keep quiet; and the people will find their rest.
I will not assert myself; and the people will come forth.
I will discountenance ambition; and the people will revert to their natural simplicity."
-  Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 57 

 

 

"With rectitude one governs the state; with craftiness one leads the army; with non-diplomacy one takes the empire.
How do I know that it is so? Through the Dao.
The more restrictions and prohibitions are in the empire, the poorer grow the people.
The more weapons the people have, the more troubled is the state.
The more there is cunning and skill, the more startling events will happen.
The more mandates and laws are enacted, the more there will be thieves and robbers.
Therefore the holy man says: I practice non-assertion, and the people of themselves reform.
I love quietude, and the people of themselves become righteous.
I use no diplomacy, and the people of themselves become rich.
I have no desire, and the people of themselves remain simple."
-  Translated by D. T. Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 57

 

 

"In government, objectives are clarified.
In warfare, objectives are concealed.
In following the Tao, objectives are discarded.

How do I know that this is so?
By feeling it from within.

With every commandment thrust upon the people,
They become more impoverished and alienated.
As the weapons of the state grow ever more destructive,
The more contagious is the fear that desolates the nation.
The further science spreads its hegemony of the intellect,
The more demonic are the products that roll off the assembly line.
As the precedents of litigation grow, and the statutory codes accumulate,
The politicians and criminals will proliferate and flourish.

The counsel of the Sage is different:
Let your action lack force,
And there will be spontaneous transformation.
Let meditation guide you,
And the natural order will arise.
Abandon power-
Lead only by example and consensus,
And there will be abundance in the land.
Defeat desire, let innocence be your law,
And your nation will return
To its deepest, simple nature."
-  Translated by Brian Donohue, 2005, Chapter 57 

 

 

"Avec la droiture, on gouverne le royaume; avec la ruse, on fait la guerre;
avec le non-agir, on devient le maître de l'empire.
Comment sais-je qu'il en est ainsi de l'empire ? Par ceci.
Plus le roi multiplie les prohibitions et les défenses, et plus le peuple s'appauvrit;
Plus le peuple a d'instruments de lucre, et plus le royaume se trouble;
Plus le peuple a d'adresse et d'habileté, et plus l'on voit fabriquer d'objets bizarres;
Plus les lois se manifestent, et plus les voleurs s'accroissent.
C'est pourquoi le Saint dit: Je pratique le non-agir, et le peuple se convertit de lui-même.
J'aime la quiétude, et le peuple se rectifie de lui-même.
Je m'abstiens de toute occupation, et le peuple s'enrichit de lui-même.
Je me dégage de tous désirs, et le peuple revient de lui-même à la simplicité."
-  Translated by Stanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 58 

 

 

 

Spanish Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing)
Tao Te Ching en Español


Lao Tsé Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Anton Teplyy

Tao Te Ching   Traducido por Stephen Mitchell, versión española  

Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por el Padre Carmelo Elorduy

Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons   Consejos de Estilo de Vida de Sabios

Tao Te Ching en Español

Lao Tzu-The Eternal Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Yuanxiang Xu y Yongjian Yin 

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices   By Mike Garofalo    Maduración Duraznos: Estudios y Prácticas Taoístas por Mike Garofalo

Tao Te Ching - Wikisource

Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por William Scott Wilson. 

Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching   Traducido al español por Javier Cruz

Tao te king   Translated by John C. H. Wu, , versión española  

Daodejing   Español, Inglés, y Chino Versiones Lingüísticas de la Daodejing


 

                                      

 

 

 

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

 

"Se gobierna al Estado con leyes ordinarias.
Se lucha en la guerra con tácticas extraordinarias.
Pero solo con la no-interferencia se ganará el mundo.
¿Cómo lo sé?
Porque he visto esto:
Cuantas más restricciones se imponen y más artificiales
son los tabúes que hay en el mundo,
más se empobrece la gente.
Cuantas más armas y soldados existen,
mas desorden y conflicto hay en el reino.
Cuanto más oportunistas son los hombres,
mas cosas nefastas ocurren.
Cuanta más prominencia se dá a las leyes y regulaciones,
más ladrones y bandidos aparecen.
Por eso el sabio dice:
Yo no causo interferencia,
y así el pueblo por sí mismo progresa.
Yo fomento la quietud,
y así el pueblo por sí mismo prospera.
Yo no emprendo ningún negocio,
y así el pueblo por sí mismo se enriquece.
Yo nada deseo,
y así el pueblo por sí mismo retorna a la sencillez."
-  Translation from Wikisource, 2013, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 57

 

 

"De tao emanan la tranquilidad, la armonía y la justicia.
Pero entre las personas están la astucia, la avidez, el engaño y la violencia.
Es posible entrar en Tao sólo a través de la no acción.
Cuando las personas buscan acumular muchas cosas innecesarias, se empobrecen espiritualmente.
Cuando se producen demasiadas armas, inevitablemente, se incrementa la delincuencia y surgen los motines.
Cuando los artesanos diestros concentran todos sus esfuerzos en la creación de los objetos materialses de valor,
los fenómenos milagrosos dejan de ocurrir en el país.
Cuando las leyes y las represiones se vuelven demasiado severas,
la oposición y el número de personas descontentas crecen. 
Por eso la persona sabia se aparta de la vanidad y deja que todos los acontecimientos occurran sin su participación directa.
Hay que empezar los cambios en uno mismo.
Yo procuro alcanzar el silencio y la tranquilidad interiores y los demás, observándome, se calmarán.
No busco poseer muchas cosas materiales y las personas a mi alrededor empiezan a satisfacerse con poco. 
Vivo sin apegos terrenales ni pasiones y la gente a mi alrededor llega a la sencillez y naturalidad de la vida."
-  Translated by Anton Teplyy, 2008, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 57

 

 

"El imperio se gobierna con la rectitud.
Con Ia estrategia se dirige un ejército.
Con el no-hacer se conquista el mundo.
¿Cómo sé yo que las cosas marchan de esta manera?
Observándome a mí mismo.
A más edictos y prohibiciones en el imperio, más pobreza en el pueblo.
A más cantidad de armas, más confusión en el imperio.
A más habilidad del pueblo en las artes, mayor producción de cosas extrañas.
A más leyes y ordenanzas, más bandoleros y ladrones.
Por eso el sabio dice:
No hago nada y la gente espontáneamente se transforma.
Estoy quieto y la gente espontáneamente se corrige.
No tengo interés en las ganancias, y la gente espontáneamente se enriquece.
Practico el no-hacer y el pueblo vuelve a la simplicidad."
Translation from Logia Medio Dia, 2015, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 57

 

 

"Un Estado se gobierna con normas permanentes,
en la guerra se emplean tácticas cambiantes,
con el no-actuar se conquista el mundo,
¿Cómo lo sé?
Cuantas más prohibiciones,
más se empobrece el pueblo.
Cuantas más y mejores herramientas tiene el pueblo,
mayor desorden reina en el Estado.
Cuanta más inteligencia posee el pueblo,
más productos extraños surgen por doquier.
Cuanto mayor es el número de objetos preciosos,
más abundan los ladrones y bandidos.
Por eso dice el sabio;
yo practico el no-actuar,
y el pueblo se transforma por sí mismo;
yo no me ocupo de ningún asunto,
y el pueblo se enriquece por sí mismo;
mi deseo es no tener ningún deseo,
y el pueblo se hace sencillo por sí mismo."
-  Translated by Juan Ignacio Preciado, 1978, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 57 

 

 

"Dirige el curso del Estado con impracialidad;
Mueve al ejército de manera inesperada;
Apodérate del mundo como se arrebata un trofeo
    a un enemigo vencido, sin tocarlo con la mano siquiera.
Como sé yo que se puede hacer así?
Por este mismo orden de cosas:
Si proliferan en el mundo el miedo y el aborrecimiento. 
El pueblo estará cada vez más empobrecido.
Si el pueblo tiene abundantes armas afiladas y jefes hábiles,
El Estado será cada vez más tenebroso y oscuro.
Si los hombres están llenos de estratagemas y de astucia,
Aparecerán con profusión objetos extraños y raros.
Si se proclaman constantemente leyes y ordenanzas.
Habrá cada vez más ladrones y bandoleros.

Por eso dice el sabio:
Yo no hago nad creativo, y el pueblo cambia por sí miso,
So partidario del la contención en los conflictos,
   y el pueblo se hace imparcial por sí mismo;
No me aplico a nada, y el pueblo prospera por sí mismo;
No deseo nada, y el pueblo
   tiene por sí mismo sencillez sin adornos."
-  Translated by Alejandro Pareja, 2012, based upon the William Scott Wilson translation into English, Tao Te Ching, Capítulo 57

 

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California, © 2015 CCA 4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #58

Previous Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #56

Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching 

 

 

 

 

Tao Te Ching
Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources
Chapter 57

 

Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse.  Complete versions of all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching by many different translators in many languages: 124 English, 24 German, 14 Russian, 7 Spanish, 5 French and many other languages.  Links are organized first by languages, and then alphabetically by translators.  Formatting varies somewhat.  The original website at Onekellotus went offline in 2012; but, the extensive collection of these Tao Te Ching versions was saved for posterity by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and available as of 9/9/2015.  This is an outstanding original collection of versions of the Daodejing─ the Best on the Internet.  Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website. 


Tao Te Ching, Translations into English: Terebess Asia Online (TAO).  124 nicely formatted complete English language translations, on separate webpages, of the Daodejing.  Alphabetical index by translators.  Each webpage has all 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching translated into English.  A useful collection!  Many reformatted and colored versions from the original collection at Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse.  Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website. 


Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts (Classics of Ancient China) Translated with and introduction and detailed exposition and commentary by Professor Robert G. Henricks.  New York, Ballantine Books, 1992.  Includes Chinese characters for each chapter.  Bibliography, detailed notes, 282 pages. 


Daodejing by Laozi: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English.  This is an outstanding resource for serious students of the Tao Te Ching


Tao Te Ching: A New Translation and Commentary.  By Ellen Chen.  Paragon House, 1998.  Detailed glossary, index, bibliography, notes, 274 pages. 


The Tao and Method: A Reasoned Approach to the Tao Te Ching.  By Michael Lafargue.  New York, SUNY Press, 1994.  640 pages.  Detailed index, bibliography, notes, and tables.  An essential research tool. 


Two Visions of the Way: A Study of the Wang Pi and the Ho-Shang Kung Commentaries on the Lao-Tzu.  By Professor by Alan Kam-Leung Chan.   SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture.  State University of New York Press, 1991.  Index, bibliography, glossary, notes, 314 pages.  ISBN: 0791404560.     


Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition  By Jonathan Star.  Translation, commentary and research tools.  New York, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Penguin, 2001.  Concordance, tables, appendices, 349 pages.  A new rendition of the Tao Te Ching is provided, then a verbatim translation with extensive notes.  Detailed tables for each verse provide line number, all the Chinese characters, Wade-Giles Romanization, and a list of meanings for each character.  An excellent print reference tool! 


Chinese Reading of the Daodejing  Wang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi with Critical Text and Translation.  By Professor Rudolf G. Wagner.  A SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture.  English and Mandarin Chinese Edition.  State University of New York Press; Bilingual edition (October 2003).  540 pages.  ISBN: 978-0791451823.  Wang Bi (Wang Pi, Fusi), 226-249 CE, Commentary on the Tao Te Ching.


Tao Te Ching  Translated by D. C. Lau.  Addison Wesley, Reprint Edition, 2000.  192 pages.  ISBN: 978-0140441314. 

 

 

                                                           

 

 

The Taoism Reader  By Thomas Cleary.  Shambhala, 2012.  192 pages.


Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao  By Wayne W. Dyer.  Hay House, Reprint Edition, 2009.  416 pages. 


The Routledge Encyclopedia of Taoism.  Edited by Fabrizio Pregadio.  London, Taylor and Francis Group, Routledge, 2008, 2011. 2 Volumes, 1551 pages.


Lao Tzu's Tao Teh Ching, A Parallel Translation Collection. Compiled by B. Boisen. 


Tao Te Ching: The Book of the Way.  Revised by Sam Torode based on the translation by Dwight Goddard, 1919. Independent Pub., 2009, 88 pages. 


Tao Te Ching: Annotated and Explained.  By Derek Lin.  Foreword by Lama Surya Das.  Skylight Illuminations, SkyLight Paths, 2006.  208 pages. 


Comparison and Analysis of Selected English Interpretations of the Tao Te Ching.  By Damian J. Bebell and Shannon M. Fera. 


Tao Te Ching Studies, Translated by Bruce R., Linnell, 2015.  Chinese, English, Glossary, and Notes. 


Practicing the Tao Te Ching: 81 Steps on the Way.  By Solala Towler.  Foreword by Chunglang Al Huang.  Sounds True, 2016.  320 pages.


The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons.  By Deng Ming-Dao.  New York, Harper Collins, 2013.  429 pages.  


The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi.  Translated by Richard John Lynn.  Translations from the Asian Classics Series.  Columbia University Press, 2004.  256 pages. 


Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros. 


Yellow Bridge Dao De Jing Comparison Table   Provides side by side comparisons of translations of the Tao Te Ching by James Legge, D. T. Suzuki, and Dwight Goddard.  Chinese characters for each paragraph in the Chapter are on the left; place your cursor over the Chinese characters to see the Pinyin Romanization of the Chinese character and a list of meanings. 


Translators Index, Tao Te Ching Versions in English, Translators Sorted Alphabetically by Translator, Links to Books and Online Versions of the Chapters 


Taoism and the Tao Te Ching: Bibliography, Resources, Links


Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching, Daodejing en Español, Translators Index 


Concordance to the Daodejing


The Tao of Zen.  By Ray Grigg.  Tuttle, 2012, 256 pages.  Argues for the view that Zen is best characterized as a version of philosophical Taoism (i.e., Laozi and Zhuangzi) and not Mahayana Buddhism. 


Chapter 1 in the Rambling Taoist Commentaries by Trey Smith.  The Rambling Taoists are Trey Smith and Scott Bradley. 


The Philosophy of the Daodejing  By Hans-Georg Moeller.  Columbia University Press, 2006, 176 pages.  


Valley Spirit, Gu Shen, Concept, Chapter 6   Valley Spirit Center in Red Bluff, California.   Sacred Circle in the Gushen Grove. 


Lao-tzu's Taoteching
 Translated by Red Pine (Bill Porter).  Includes many brief selected commentaries for each Chapter draw from commentaries in the past 2,000 years.  Provides a verbatim translation and shows the text in Chinese characters.  San Francisco, Mercury House, 1996, Second Edition, 184 pages.  An invaluable resource for commentaries.   


Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation  By Ha Poong Kim.  Xlibris, 2003, 198 pages. 


Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation  By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall.  Ballantine, 2003, 256 pages. 


Thematic Index to the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching


Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living.  Translated by Eva Wong.  Lieh-Tzu was writing around 450 BCE.  Boston, Shambhala, 2001.  Introduction, 246 pages. 


Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic.  By Hu Huezhi.  Edited by Jesse Lee Parker.  Seven Star Communications, 2006.  240 pages. 


Cloud Hands Blog   Mike Garofalo writes about Mind-Body Arts, Philosophy, Taoism, Gardening, Taijiquan, Walking, Mysticism, Qigong, and the Eight Ways.


The Whole Heart of Tao: The Complete Teachings From the Oral Tradition of Lao Tzu.
By John Bright-Fey.  Crane Hill Publishers, 2006.  376 pages.

 

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Laozi, Dao De Jing

 

 

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching


 

Research and Indexing by
Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks (2001-2020)

Red Bluff, California from 1998-2017; Vancouver, Washington from 2017-2020

Green Way Research, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 57, 2011-2020. 

Compiled and Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo

 

This webpage was last modified, edited, maintained, expanded, reformatted, improved or updated on November 26, 2019.    
 
This webpage was first distributed online on June 27, 2011.       

 

Creative Commons License
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Vancouver, Washington  © 2020 CCA 4.0

 

 

Michael P. Garofalo's E-mail

Brief Biography of Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.


 

 

 

Ripening Peaches: Daoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: Resources and Guides
 

Cloud Hands Blog


Valley Spirit Qigong

Ways of Walking

The Spirit of Gardening

Months: Cycles of the Seasons

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu, Zhuang Zhou, Master Chuang)  369—286 BCE

Chan (Zen) and Taoist Poetry

Yang Style Taijiquan

Chen Style Taijiquan

Taoist Perspectives: My Reading List

Meditation

Bodymind Theory and Practices, Somaesthetics

The Five Senses

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Grandmaster Chang San Feng

Grandmaster Cheng Man-ch'ing

Virtues

Qigong (Chi Kung) Health Practices

One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey: Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove

Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Index to Cloud Hands and Valley Spirit Websites

 

Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching 

Introduction

Bibliography  

Index to English Language Translators of the Tao Te Ching

Thematic Index 1-81  

Chapter Index 1-81    

Concordance to the Daodejing

Recurring Themes (Terms, Concepts, Leimotifs) in the Tao Te Ching

Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching

Resources

Comments, Feedback, Kudos

Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles (1892) and Hanyu Pinyin (1982) Romanizations

The Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) circa 500 BCE

 

 

 

Cloud Hands Blog

 

 

 

Tao Te Ching
 Chapter Number Index


Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Daodejing
Chapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in 246 CE
Chart by Mike Garofalo
Subject Index
 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
81                  

 

 

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