The Dao De Jing (Tao Te King) Summary Available versions and sources Reading options Search a verse

>

Chapter 1 : Chapter 1 How to embody Tao Chapter 2 : Chapter 2 How to cultivate the personality. Chapter 3 : Chapter 3 How to pacify the people. Chapter 4 : Chapter 4 What has no origin. Chapter 5 : Chapter 5 How to use emptiness. Chapter 6 : Chapter 6 How to complete the idea. Chapter 7 : Chapter 7 On the dawning splendour. Chapter 8 : Chapter 8 How to change nature. Chapter 9 : Chapter 9 How to let ease circulate. Chapter 10 : Chapter 10 How to be able to act. Chapter 11 : Chapter 11 How to make use of non-existence. Chapter 12 : Chapter 12 How to keep off desires. Chapter 13 : Chapter 13 How to loathe shame. Chapter 14 : Chapter 14 How to praise the mysterious. Chapter 15 : Chapter 15 How to display Te. Chapter 16 : Chapter 16 How to return to the root. Chapter 17 : Chapter 17 On primitive customs. Chapter 18 : Chapter 18 On the superficiality of the vulgar. Chapter 19 : Chapter 19 How to return to purity. Chapter 20 : Chapter 20 How to differ from the vulgar. Chapter 21 : Chapter 21 How to empty the heart. Chapter 22 : Chapter 22 How to increase humility. Chapter 23 : Chapter 23 How to empty nothingness. Chapter 24 : Chapter 24 How to embitter kindness. Chapter 25 : Chapter 25 On the mystery of the idea. Chapter 26 : Chapter 26 How to lay stress on Te. Chapter 27 : Chapter 27 On the use of cleverness. Chapter 28 : Chapter 28 How to return to simplicity. Chapter 29 : Chapter 29 How to do nothing. Chapter 30 : Chapter 30 How to forbear war. Chapter 31 : Chapter 31 How to suppress war. Chapter 32 : Chapter 32 On the Te of the saint. Chapter 33 : Chapter 33 How to discriminate Te. Chapter 34 : Chapter 34 How to trust in perfection. Chapter 35 : Chapter 35 On the Te of humanity. Chapter 36 : Chapter 36 How to become enlightened on the mystery. Chapter 37 : Chapter 37 How to exercise government. Chapter 38 : Chapter 38 Discussion on Te. Chapter 39 : Chapter 39 On the root of the law. Chapter 40 : Chapter 40 How to abstain from use. Chapter 41 : Chapter 41 How to be identical and different. Chapter 42 : Chapter 42 On the changes of Tao. Chapter 43 : Chapter 43 On general use. Chapter 44 : Chapter 44 How to set up commandments. Chapter 45 : Chapter 45 How to cause Te to overflow. Chapter 46 : Chapter 46 How to moderate desires. Chapter 47 : Chapter 47 How to mirror the distant. Chapter 48 : Chapter 48 How to forget knowledge. Chapter 49 : Chapter 49 How to trust in Te. Chapter 50 : Chapter 50 How to esteem life. Chapter 51 : Chapter 51 How to nourish Te. Chapter 52 : Chapter 52 How to return to the origin. Chapter 53 : Chapter 53 How to complete the evidence. Chapter 54 : Chapter 54 How to cultivate insight. Chapter 55 : Chapter 55 On the charm of the mystery. Chapter 56 : Chapter 56 On mysterious Te. Chapter 57 : Chapter 57 How to simplify customs. Chapter 58 : Chapter 58 How to obey to changes. Chapter 59 : Chapter 59 How to guard Tao. Chapter 60 : Chapter 60 How to remain on the throne. Chapter 61 : Chapter 61 On the Te of humility. Chapter 62 : Chapter 62 How to exert Tao. Chapter 63 : Chapter 63 How to think of the beginning. Chapter 64 : Chapter 64 How to keep the mystery. Chapter 65 : Chapter 65 On the Te of simplicity. Chapter 66 : Chapter 66 How to put the self behind. Chapter 67 : Chapter 67 On the three jewels. Chapter 68 : Chapter 68 How to associate with heaven. Chapter 69 : Chapter 69 How to use the dark one. Chapter 70 : Chapter 70 How to know difficulties. Chapter 71 : Chapter 71 How to know sickness. Chapter 72 : Chapter 72 How to love the self. Chapter 73 : Chapter 73 How to act adequately. Chapter 74 : Chapter 74 How to restrict doubts. Chapter 75 : Chapter 75 How to diminish craving. Chapter 76 : Chapter 76 How to beware of strength. Chapter 77 : Chapter 77 On the way of heaven. Chapter 78 : Chapter 78 How to trust in sincerity. Chapter 79 : Chapter 79 How to fulfil the contract. Chapter 80 : Chapter 80 How to stand alone. Chapter 81 : Chapter 81 How to display reality.

Available versions and sources There are many translations of the Daodejing. Those presented here are a selection of great translation either on public domain, out of print or accessible for comparison only (on the last two cases, they can be delete on request). All chapter's title are taken from Heshangong's commentary (English translation by Eduard Erkes - 1949). Chinese Version (Wangbi, Heshanggong, Mawangdui A&B, Guodian A,B,C) : There are many version of the Dao de jing. The oldest, those who inspired most of the translation are those of Wangbi (226 – 249), He Shanggong (between the 1st et the 6th century) as well as the recent discover in Mawangui and Guodian. - Digitalised by Chinese Text Project Version and commentary of He Shanggong in English : English translation by Eduard Erkes (1949) - Digitalised by Onelittleangel Version and commentary of He Shanggong in Chinese : - Digitalised by Chinese Text Project Wing-Tsit Chan Version : - Digitalised by Terebess Asia Online (T.A.O) Ellen Marie Chen Version (for comparison only) : - Digitalised by Terebess Asia Online (T.A.O) Ch'u Ta-Kao Version (default version) : - Digitalised by Terebess Asia Online (T.A.O) World by world version : World by world translation from modern and free dictionaries C-CEDICT (english) et Chinese-French (French). For translating old chinese we recommand the Ricci (french) and the Student Dictionary Classical (English). Both are available on Pleco Apps. - Digitalised by onelittleangel Yi Wu Version (for comparison only) : - Digitalised by Terebess Asia Online (T.A.O) Richard John Lynn Version (for comparison only) : - Digitalised by Terebess Asia Online (T.A.O)