Arthur Waley's brilliant and definitive translation of one of the foremost of all mystical books, Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, has become a modern classic in its own right. Unlike previous translations, it is founded not on the medieval commentaries but on a close study of all the early Chinese literature, and it provides a singular example of authoritative scholarship skillfully blended with brilliant, precise writing. In his introduction, Dr. Waley gives an extensive scholarly account of Chinese thought down to the end of the third century B.C. Here, the author presents a full picture of Chinese prehistory, early philosophy, and literature, showing the original, lofty conception of Taoism before the gradual corruption through the course of centuries, tracing this conflict of philosophies and its background of politics.

The Way And Its Power: A Study Of The Tao Te Ching And Its Place In Chinese Thought is a comprehensive examination of the Tao Te Ching, one of the most important texts in Chinese philosophy. Written by Arthur Waley, a renowned scholar of Chinese literature and culture, the book provides a detailed analysis of the central concepts and themes of the Tao Te Ching, including the Tao (the Way), Te (Virtue), and Wu-wei (non-action).Waley explores the historical and cultural context in which the Tao Te Ching was written, as well as its influence on Chinese thought and culture over the centuries. He also examines the various interpretations and translations of the text, providing insights into the different ways in which it has been understood and applied.Throughout the book, Waley emphasizes the importance of understanding the Tao Te Ching not only as a philosophical text, but also as a work of art and literature. He pays close attention to the language and imagery used in the text, and explores the ways in which these elements contribute to its meaning and impact.Overall, The Way And Its Power is a rich and thought-provoking exploration of one of the most important works in Chinese philosophy, and an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding the Tao Te Ching and its place in Chinese thought and culture.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

One of the five Confucian classics, The Book of Songs (Shijing) is the oldest collection of poetry in world literature and the finest treasure of traditional songs left from antiquity. Where the other Confucian classics treat outward things: deeds, moral precepts, the way the world works,” as Stephen Owen tells us in his foreword, The Book of Songs is the classic of the human heart and the human mind.”

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

First published in 1960. Over a century ago the Chinese discovered in a sealed-up cave in the west of China a collection of manuscripts dating from the fifth century to the end of the tenth. These included many specimens of popular literature of a kind that was not previously known to exist. Although the find was made long ago, only two or three of these pieces had been translated before. Arthur Waley here translates, whole or as extracts, twenty-six pieces, making an invaluable addition to world literature.