J. H. Huang

This is my first reading and I love how Huang goes through his methodology. He explains some of the history of the previous translations and why they were inaccurate; I found this most interesting.

The translation is straightforward, you have the traditional Chinese characters on the left and the English on the right that includes margin notes to explain the ideas. The margin notes sometimes reference other chapters, comments, and end notes. This makes for a lot of flipping back and forth show more and because of that I wish it was in a better format as a book doesn't compliment this style. I found both the comments and endnote sections interesting although plenty was in Chinese (Huang explains "because these endnotes were designed as references, only the orginal Chinese sources are cited, as study at this level presupposes a strong familiarity with the ancient Chinese classics.").

Overall, this was interesting and a thorough work. It was interesting to learn that Laozi's work was perverted to create the "folk religion" of Taoism. I know little of it, but this was the first time hearing it called a folk religion. This book offers plenty of things to think about and consider, not just the Dao De Jing itself but Daoism, Chen, Zen, and Confucianism all separately and how each emerged from the Dao De Jing teachings.

Some key things I came away with. Non-effort and exerting effort. The importance of stillness. Where shrewdness comes from. Cyclical nature of everything. Harmony and the void. Cultivation and cleaving to the Dao and Mother. Part of Huang's methodology is "sufficient comprehension of Chinese etymology, phonology, and semantic" and 20 years of work. Phew, I'm grateful for translators! show less