Laotzu's Tao and Wu Wei (Tao Teh King)

Lao Tzu ( - c. 550 BCE)
Translated by Dwight Goddard (1861 - 1939), Henri Borel (1869 - 1933) et al.

The classic of the Way and of High Virtue is the Tao Teh Ching. Its author is generally held as a contemporary of Confucius, Lao Tzu, or Laozi. The exact date of the book's origin is disputed. The book is divided into two parts, the Upper Part and the Lower Part. The Upper Part consists of chapters 1-37, and each chapter begins with the word "Tao," or the Way. The Lower Part consists of chapters 38-81, and each chapter begins with the words "Shang Teh," or High Virtue. This 1919 edition names the Lower Part as the Wu Wei, or translated variously as "not doing," "non-ado," or "non-assertion." This edition also contains a history of the book and its author, Lao Tzu, along with a discussion of the Wu Wei. Lao Tzu's classic has been cherished as suggestions, rather than commandments, for finding one's path to beauty, goodness, and quality of life through a non-assertive understanding of the Way. (Summary by Melanie McCalmont)

Genre(s): Philosophy, Other religions

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Introduction Melanie Schleeter McCalmont
00:15:48
Play 01 Tao Teh King, Chapters 1-18 Melanie Schleeter McCalmont
00:17:05
Play 02 Tao Teh King, Chapters 19-37 Melanie Schleeter McCalmont
00:19:14
Play 03 Tao Teh King, Chapters 38-50 Melanie Schleeter McCalmont
00:13:21
Play 04 Tao Teh King, Chapters 51-81 and Valedictory Jc Guan
00:28:38
Play 05 Wu Wei, Preface and Chapter 1: Tao Jc Guan
00:45:37
Play 06 Wu Wei, Chapter 2: Art Jc Guan
00:34:32
Play 07 Wu Wei, Chapter 3: Love Jc Guan
00:29:23