Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Tao Te Ching : An Illustrated Journey by Lao Tzu, Stephen Mitchell ISBN: 0-06-019322-0 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 01 June, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 (10 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Fresh perspective on this widely translated ancient text
Comment: Stephen Mitchell, editor of Dropping Ashes on the Buddha by Zen master Seung Sahn, delivers us a magnificently illustrated and lyrically fluid rendition of Lao Tzu's famous work. You know, this book has been translated so many times, that it's nearly impossible for us non scholars to prove or confirm which one is true or absolute. The approach I have taken with The Tao Te Ching has always been a task of comparing one translation to another, seeing both what they share in common together and where there is a disparity. I am partial to The Richard Wilhelm Edition, while second on my list is this one. Mitchell has taken the liberty of alternating back and forth "he" with the word "she" throughout this work in order to convey the original meaning of Master. For, in the Chinese language, no such distinction is made. Mitchell points out that since each one of us is essentially the "Master", there is no need to cling to some kind of male prototype. It's his translation, and he is free to do what he will with it. The shattering of dualism found throughout The Tao Te Ching, to myself, makes it clear this switch is wholly in the spirit of Tao.
Mitchell attributes his Zen training as being the primary reason he feels he relates to those ancient Chinese Taoist masters. After all, Zen is merely the literal result of Indian Vipassana meditation and Chinese Taoism intermingling. Stephen also used existent translations already established in a wide range of languages: English, French, and German. Now I probably wouldn't recommend this as the first translation of The Tao Te Ching for a "beginner" to read, but I'm by no means against the idea, either. It's not like it's injurious, and the prose is quite correct. I find this work in the same spirit as mostly all of the other versions I have read to date, with only slight variations. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book immensely. I think you'll walk away with something, too.
Rating: 5
Summary: A beautiful translation and inspiring illustrations
Comment: This is the most accessible translation I've ever read,showing the warmth, humor, and wisdom of Tao Te -- perhaps because Stephen Mitchell is a poet in addition to a translator! The accompanying artwork reflects these attributes -- altogether a beautiful and inspiring work.
Rating: 2
Summary: Sloppy Translation
Comment: The hardcover version is too small for the beautiful artwork it displays and the translator is no scholar.
 |
Title: Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell ISBN: 0060812451 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 07 October, 1992 List Price(USD): $8.95 |
 |
Title: Tao Te Ching : 25th-Anniversary Edition by Lao Tsu, Gia-Fu Feng, Jane English ISBN: 0679776192 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 04 March, 1997 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
 |
Title: The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, Ernest H. Shepard ISBN: 0140067477 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: July, 1983 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
 |
Title: The Essence of Wisdom by STEPHEN MITCHELL ISBN: 0767903064 Publisher: Broadway Pub. Date: 19 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
 |
Title: Lao Tzu : Tao Te Ching : A Book About the Way and the Power of the Way by Ursula K. Le Guin, Lao Tzu ISBN: 1570623953 Publisher: Shambhala Pub. Date: 20 October, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
