Roger T. Ames

This is an analysis and a translation of the Art of Rulership, which constitutes one chapter of the Huai Nan Tzu anthology from the Han dynasty. It's the best analysis of ancient chinese political thought that I've read. The author discusses the use of certain key concepts, such as non-action, political purchase and law, in the confucian, taoist and legalist sources, and compares that to their use in the Art of Rulership. He sees the Art of Rulership as an attempt to develop taoist show more principles on a practical level. show less

The first third of this book is comprised of the author’s introduction. Which shares some insight into the cultural and literary forces that helped to form the culture in which this original work was written. This translation is clear and easy to understand for the modern reader. It is a good introduction for those wanting to learn the Daoist Perspective.

Some useful contemporary applications of Confucianism which I'm afraid most would find not very relevant to their lives.