This philosopher would eventually become known as Lao Tzu, “the Old Master,” and his little book would go on to become not only the foundational text for the Taoist tradition but one of the most widely studied and influential works of philosophy and spirituality to ever grace the cultures of our world. And then he journeyed forth across the Tibetan plateau, never to be seen in China again. And the philosopher retreated for a short time before returning with a simple yet amazingly profound book of his writing, which was passed on to later generations as the Tao Te Ching (or more phonetically in pinyin, Dao De Jing)-the book of the Way and its virtue. The guard asked the philosopher to leave some record of his wisdom before passing beyond. But before he could pass beyond the western gates, he was approached by a guard who had heard of his reputation as a person of great wisdom. Specially commissioned calligraphy for more than two hundred Chinese characters illustrates the book's essential themes'- Provided by publisher.Legend has it that around the sixth century BCE, during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China, a wise and venerable philosopher found himself so distraught over the chaos and social upheaval of his time that he decided to flee across the western border of China (into what is now the region of Tibet).

The Tao Te Ching's eighty-one brief chapters are accompanied by illuminating commentary, interpretation, poems, and testimonials by the likes of Margaret Mead, Ursula K. This new translation seeks to understand the Tao Te Ching as a guide to everyday living and encourages a slow, meditative reading experience. With its emphasis on calm, simplicity, purity, and non-action, it provides a time-tested refuge from the busyness of modern life. As one of the world's great works of wisdom literature, it still has much to teach us today, offering a practical model based on modesty and self-restraint for living a balanced existence and for opening your mind, freeing your thoughts, and attaining enlightenment and self-awareness. Traditionally attributed to Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher who was a contemporary of Confucius, it is the essential text of Taoism, one of the three great religions of ancient China. Through aphorisms and parable, it leads readers toward the Tao, or the 'Way': harmony with the life force of the universe. 'The most translated book in the world after the Bible, the Tao Te Ching, or 'Book of the Way,' is a guide to cultivating a life of peace, serenity, and compassion.

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu