A Reader of Laozi

Name: A Reader of Laozi
ISBN: 9787559641687

Kanaya Osamu / 陈雨桥Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. · ChinaJan 2023

4.3

Word count: 105K words
Chapters: 93
ISBN: 9787559641687

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Summary

The Laozi itself runs to just over five thousand characters, yet its meaning is profound and its scope vast—a concentrated expression of the metaphysical wisdom of "non-being," and a work of pivotal importance. Drawing on years of rigorous research in Sinology, the author, Jin Guzhi, assigns a title to each of the eighty-one chapters of the Laozi, analyzing Laozi's thought through both translation and exposition; he also offers numerous comments and explanations on the key points of each chapter, making it easier for readers to understand the content and to enter into dialogue and exchange with Laozi's thought.

Editor's review

Mr. Jin Guzhi's Reader of the Laozi is a classic guide that combines scholarly depth with an approachable style. As a leading figure in Japanese Sinology, Jin Guzhi uses his deep grounding in textual scholarship and clear philosophical reasoning to build a bridge for modern readers into the profound world of the Daodejing. This book is not a simple vernacular translation; through rigorous textual criticism, lucid exposition of meaning, and in-depth analysis of key concepts (such as "Dao," "De," and "wuwei"), it restores the original context and complex implications of Laozi's thought. Its interpretation avoids both the forced analogies of excessive mystification and the superficial popularization that stops at the surface, displaying a steady and thorough scholarly character. For readers who wish to move beyond a fragmented understanding based on aphorisms and truly grasp the systematic outline of Laozi's philosophy, this book provides a reliable and illuminating framework for close reading. It not only helps readers clarify the difficulties of the text itself but also guides them to consider the possible echoes of this ancient wisdom in contemporary life. It is a high-quality reader that serves both as an introduction and as a step forward, worthy of repeated savoring.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who want a systematic understanding of the philosophical system of the Daodejing rather than mere quotations of famous sayings
Readers interested in pre-Qin thought who need a guidebook that combines scholarly reliability with clarity of interpretation
Readers who prefer quiet, reflective reading and are willing to spend time understanding the subtleties of the classic text
Teachers and students in the humanities and social sciences who need to consult rigorous research on Laozi

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking quick results and only wishing to obtain motivational quotes or one-sided success-oriented interpretations
Readers expecting a large amount of story-like, dramatized interpretation and who find pure philosophical analysis dry

Reading tips

It is recommended to read Mr. Jin Guzhi's introduction first to build an overall understanding of the Laozi and its intellectual background
While reading, consult the original text (which this book should include), read the author's annotations and explanations chapter by chapter, and pay attention to the discrimination of key concepts
After finishing each thematic chapter, pause briefly and reflect, in light of your own experience, on the modern significance of ideas such as "wuwei" and "ziran"

About the publisher

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. China · Founded in 1993

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.

版权信息
前言
凡例
老子道德经上篇
1.道可道（世界万物之始源——“道”）
2.天下皆知美之为美（别受限于俗世间的价值）
3. 不尚贤（理想中的政治1）
4.道冲（“道”的作用）
5.天地不仁（理想中的政治2）
6.谷神不死（“道”的作用2）
7.天长地久（于“无私”之劝诫）
8.上善若水（不争之德1）
9.持而盈之（抽身之时）
10.载营魄抱一（圣人之德）
11.三十之辐（“无”的作用）
12.五色令人目盲（奢靡使人疯狂）
13.宠辱若惊（自身比俗世间的价值更重要）
14.视之不见（“道”的体验1）
15.古之善为道者（“道”的体验2）
16.致虚极（“道”的体验3）
17.大上下知有之（理想中的政治3）
18.大道废，有仁义（无用的仁义）
19.绝圣弃智（回归朴素）
20.唯之与阿，相去几何（孤独之歌）
21.孔德之容（“道”的体验4）
22.企者不立（旧第二十四章）（多余的行为）
23.曲则全（旧第二十二章）（不争之德2）
24.希言自然（旧第二十三章）（于“沉默”之劝诫）
25.有物混成（“道”的姿态1）
26.重为轻根（劝诫之轻举妄动篇）
27.善行无辙迹（自然的举止）
28.知其雄，守其雌（返璞归真之路）
29.将欲取天下（于“无为”之劝诫）
30.以道佐人主者（何谓战争1）
31.夫兵者不祥之器（何谓战争2）
32.道常无名（理想中的政治4）
33.知人者智（修养内在比外表更重要）
34.大道泛兮（“道”的姿态2）
35.执大象（“道”的作用3）
36.将欲歙之（倒转思考）
37.道常无为（理想中的政治5）
老子道德经下篇
38.上德不德（自以为是的“智慧”）
39.昔之得一者（立足于“道”）
40.上士闻道（旧第四十一章）（“道”的姿态3）
41.反者道之动（旧第四十章）（“道”的作用4）
42.道生一（柔软的分层）
43.天下之至柔（无为之利）
44.名与身孰亲（财产之所害）
45.大成若缺（中空之妙）
46.天下有道（知足）
47.不出户（观己自省）
48.为学日益（成就“无为”）
49.圣人常无心（无心的圣人）
50.出生入死（理想中的养生）
51.道生之（“道”与“德”）
52.天下有始（回归于为母之“道”）
53.使我介然有知（向着大道前进）
54.善建者不拔（“道”的功德）
55.含德之厚（婴儿的譬喻）
56.知者不言（“玄同”之人）
57.以正治国（理想中的政治6）
58.其政闷闷（落落大方的为政）
59.治人事天（惜物之德）
60.治大国（理想中的政治7）
61.大国者下流（大国应谦让）
62.道者万物之奥（“道”的姿态4）
63.为无为（于“无为”的实践1）
64.其安易持（于“无为”的实践2）
65.古之善为道者（舍弃智巧的为政）
66.江海所以能为百谷王者（政治家应当谦虚）
67.天下皆谓（三宝之德）
68.善为士者（兵法之不争）
69.用兵有言（兵法之守势）
70.吾言甚易知（知我者无）
71.知不知（勿自以为知晓）
72.民不畏威（勿压迫人民）
73.勇于敢则杀（何谓天意1）
74.民不畏死（何谓天意2）
75.民之饥（取决于上的政治）
76.人之生也柔弱（柔弱之德1）
77.天之道（自然的运作1）
78.天下莫柔弱于水（柔弱之德2）
79.和大怨（自然的运作2）
80.小国寡民（乌托邦）
81.信言不美（结束之语）
老子与《老子》
一、儒家与道家
二、老子的思想
三、关于老子这个人
四、关于《老子》本书
五、文本·注释书·参考书
出版后记

FAQ

What style of interpretation does this book lean toward?

The interpretation in this book leans toward rigorous scholarly analysis of meaning, emphasizing textual criticism and the discrimination of philosophical concepts. The language is clear and restrained, with the solid, meticulous character typical of Japanese Sinology, and it differs from freely imaginative personal reflection.

Is it suitable for readers with no philosophical background at all?

The author has done his best to make it accessible, and both the introduction and the annotations are fairly clear. However, because it focuses on philosophical meaning, readers with no background at all may need more patience and should treat it as a "guidebook" requiring serious study rather than light reading.

Compared with other interpretations of the Laozi, what is the greatest feature of this book?

Its greatest feature is the good balance between scholarship and accessibility. It is based on solid research and its interpretation is steady and reliable, while the presentation strives for clarity. It is a classic window into the standards and perspectives of Laozi studies in Japanese Sinology.

Comments

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About the author

Kanaya Osamu Author · Japanese · 1920–2006

Kanaya Osamu (1920–2006) was a Japanese scholar of Chinese philosophy, born in Iga, Mie Prefecture. He graduated in Chinese philosophy from the Faculty of Law and Literature at Tohoku Imperial University and later served as professor and professor emeritus at Tohoku University, and was a member of the Japan Academy. His research covered Qin-Han thought and the various schools of pre-Qin philosophy. He wrote Studies in Qin-Han Intellectual History, A Study of Guanzi, and Thought in the Huainanzi, and translated and annotated Chinese classics such as the Analects, Xunzi, and Sunzi, making him a representative figure in Japanese sinology. In his writing for general readers, he traced intellectual developments from primary texts in a clear, plain style. The library holds two of his works, A Reader of the Laozi and Kodansha’s Spirit of the Philosophers (6 volumes), both in Eastern philosophy, reflecting his combination of scholarly research and popularization of the classics.

陈雨桥 Author

Chen Yuqiao is an author about whom limited public information is currently available, and whose writing centers mainly on Eastern philosophy. The library holds one work by this author, Laozi Reader, which falls under the category of Eastern philosophy. This work suggests that the author is concerned with the interpretation and popularization of Laozi's thought and Daoist classics, and tends to guide readers toward ancient philosophical texts through the format of a reader. Writing of this kind generally requires a balance between fidelity to the original text and accessible expression, respecting the intellectual context of the classic while accommodating the reading level of general readers. As the representative work currently available, Laozi Reader reflects the author's efforts in popularizing traditional culture. Since details of the author's life, education, and professional background have not been confirmed, they are not discussed here; a fuller assessment of the author's writing style and scholarly orientation will also depend on the publication of more works.