Laozi

Wang ZhongjiangMar 2022

Rating 4.2

Word count: 93 words
Chapters: 28

Summary

Laozi is one of the celebrated classics of ancient China. Standing as a twin peak alongside Zhuangzi, it is a representative work of the pre-Qin Daoist school and has exerted a profound influence on the formation and development of traditional Chinese culture.

Also known as the Daodejing (Classic of the Way and Virtue), Laozi encompasses cosmology, philosophy of life, epistemology, methodology, and such practical matters as conducting oneself in society and governing a state. Hence Lu Xun remarked that without reading Laozi one cannot understand Chinese culture, and Hu Shi called Laozi the founder of Chinese philosophy and a true philosopher in the history of Chinese thought.

Editor's review

Wang Zhongjiang's edition of Laozi is based on a reliable master text and balances accessibility with scholarly rigor, offering clear section-by-section introductions and annotations to all eighty-one chapters of the Daodejing, making its profound discourse on the Dao, its dialectical thinking, and its teachings on self-cultivation and statecraft approachable and readable. The book is especially attentive to the inner logic of Laozi's thought: from the cosmology of "the Dao follows nature," to the methodology of "acting through non-action, so that nothing is left undone," to the worldly wisdom of "the soft and weak overcoming the hard and strong," it unfolds layer by layer, helping readers grasp the whole rather than piece together isolated chapters and phrases. As one of the twin peaks of pre-Qin Daoism, Laozi is brief in length yet profound in meaning, and this book serves as an excellent cornerstone for entering the classics of Chinese philosophy. It can be read straight through for a full view, or opened at random for gradual insight and repeated reflection. For readers who wish to understand the modes of thought, political ideas, and philosophy of life in traditional Chinese culture, this is a classic volume worth keeping on the desk and returning to again and again.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers seeking a systematic introduction to the classics of Chinese philosophy
University students interested in Daoist thought and traditional culture
Professionals seeking self-cultivation and practical wisdom for living
Teachers of traditional culture courses who need a concise annotated edition

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers expecting in-depth philological exegesis and textual criticism
Readers who want only vernacular stories and reject discussion of philosophical meaning
Those seeking systematic religious doctrine or methods of spiritual practice

Reading tips

Read the introductions and annotations straight through first to grasp the overall structure, then return to key chapters for close reading.
Read only two or three chapters at a time and jot down a few notes connected to your own experience; avoid rushing through.
Read alongside relevant chapters of Zhuangzi to appreciate different facets of Daoist thought.
When you encounter points of disagreement, note them and move on; revisit them after finishing the book rather than wrestling with every word.

导读
一、传奇的生平
二、争讼的著述
三、万物的根源和统一：“道生之”“德畜之”
四、“转化”的奥妙：“有无相生”
五、“简省”和“清静”的统治：“自然”与“无为”
六、“修身养性”：“善摄生”和“不失其所”
七、影响和活用
八、底本、校本及注释体例
老子
上篇
第一章
第二章
第三章
第四章
第五章
第六章
第七章
第八章
第九章
第十章
第十一章
第十二章
第十三章
第十四章
第十五章
第十六章
第十七章

FAQ

Can I understand this book without any foundation in classical Chinese?

Yes. The book provides section-by-section introductions and annotations that help readers overcome the language barrier. It is advisable to read the introduction first to grasp the main idea of each chapter, then examine the original text closely; do not insist on full clarity at first encounter—repeated reading will gradually make things smoother.

Are Laozi and the Daodejing the same book?

They are different names for the same work. Laozi, also known as the Daodejing (Classic of the Way and Virtue), is a representative work of the pre-Qin Daoist school, covering cosmology, philosophy of life, epistemology, methodology, and such matters as conducting oneself in society and governing a state.

Do I need to read other books before reading Laozi?

No special preparation is required. This book can serve as a starting point for entering the classics of Chinese philosophy. To deepen your understanding, you may later read Zhuangzi or learn the basic background of the pre-Qin thinkers, but none of this is a prerequisite.

Is this book suitable for reading straight through from beginning to end?

You can read it through for a full view, but since each chapter of Laozi stands on its own while sharing a common philosophical thread, it is better read in small portions over multiple sessions. Reading two or three chapters at a time, thinking as you go, and then returning to trace the book's overall logic after one full pass yields better results.

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About the author

Wang Zhongjiang Author · Chinese · 1957

Wang Zhongjiang, born in 1957 in Ruzhou, Henan, is a professor and doctoral supervisor in the Department of Philosophy at Peking University, a Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor appointed by the Ministry of Education, and concurrently president of the Chinese Confucius Association and the Laozi Studies Association. He received his PhD in philosophy from Peking University in 1989 and has long engaged in research on Chinese philosophy, with a focus on pre-Qin philosophy, Confucian and Daoist philosophy, excavated texts, and modern and contemporary Chinese philosophy. His writings address the theoretical construction of Daoist metaphysics and the relationship between excavated bamboo and silk manuscripts and the ancient intellectual world, seeking a solid interpretation that links texts with thought. The present collection includes his work Laozi, categorized under Eastern philosophy and intended for readers interested in ancient Chinese Daoist thought. Overall, his writing is grounded in academic research, combining textual scholarship with philosophical analysis in a rigorous style, and is suitable for readers who wish to understand Daoist philosophy and its historical context in greater depth.