It’s a wonder that it can be translated at all. His use of the English language to convey concepts written in Chinese is, to me, masterful. The way that Mitchell presents the 81 verses resonates with me. Over the years, I have found this translation the easiest to understand. It sits prominently in a bookcase in our living room. It’s one of the few books I will never pack away or give away. It’s worn and stained and bookmarked and shows the many times I’ve picked it up and put it down. Had I known then what first editions with intact dust jackets can sometimes be worth, I might have taken better care of it. The translation’s copyright date is 1988. This version is by Stephen Mitchell and is published by Harper and Row Publishers. They all offer a little something different. I have several different copies of the Tao Te Ching, translated by several different authors. That it is still relevant today is a testament to the wisdom it dispenses and Lao Tzu’s understanding of human nature. Most sources will tell you that the text was first written around 400 BC. It’s is most often pronounced something like “dow day jing.” What I’m really reviewing is one person’s translation of the Tao Te Ching, originally written by Lao Tzu.
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