Laozi

Sunzi

James Legge

Lionel Giles

The Art of War and Other Classics of Eastern Thought

Confucius

The Doctrine of the Mean by Confucius. Translated by James Legge. Top 100 Chinese Philosophy Classics. The Doctrine of the Mean, is both a doctrine of Confucianism and also the title of one of the Four Books of Confucian philosophy.The text is attributed to Zisi (also known as Kong Ji), the only grandson of Confucius. It was published as a chapter in the Classic of Rites.The phrase Doctrine of the Mean (zhong yong) first occurs in Book VI, verse 26 of the Analects of Confucius: “The Master [Confucius] said, The virtue embodied in the doctrine of the Mean is of the highest order. But it has long been rare among people” — Analects, 6:26 (Burton Watson tr.)Analects never expands on what this term means, but Zisi's text, Doctrine of the Mean, explores its meaning in detail, as well as how to apply it to one's life. The text was adopted into the canon of the Neo-Confucian movement, as compiled by Zhu Xi.Although Burton Watson translated zhong yong as Doctrine of the Mean, other English-language translators have rendered it differently. James Legge called it Constant Mean. Pierre Ryckmans (aka Simon Leys) Middle Way, while Arthur Waley chose Middle Use. Ezra Pound's attempts include Unswerving Pivot, and Unwobbling Pivot. Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall titled their 2001 translation Focusing the Familiar.

The Doctrine of the Mean

Lao- tzu

The Tao Te Ching, Daodejing, or Dao De Jing is a Chinese classic text. According to tradition, it was written around 6th century BC by the sage Laozi, a record-keeper at the Zhou dynasty court, by whose name the text is known in China. The text's true authorship and date of composition or compilation are still debated, although the oldest excavated text dates back to the late 4th century BC. The text, along with the Zhuangzi, is a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism, and strongly influenced other schools, such as Legalism, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was largely interpreted through the use of Daoist words and concepts. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and even gardeners have used the Daodejing as a source of inspiration. Its influence has also spread widely outside East Asia, and is amongst the most translated works in world literature. The Wade-Giles romanization "Tao Te Ching" dates back to early English transliterations in the late 19th century; its influence can be seen in words and phrases that have become well-established in English. "Daodejing" is the pinyin romanization.

The Tao-Te Ching

Entire text of the Analects of Confucius in large, readable characters, and beneath this Legge's full translation, which has been accepted as the definitive, standard English version. Full chinese text, standard English translation on same page. Finest edition anywhere of one of world's finest thinkers.

The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean

Confucian Analects

The She king

The Chinese Classics

With a Translation, Critical and Exegetical Notes, Prolegomena, and Copious Indexes

The Chinese Classics: The Shoo king, or the Book of historical documents; pt. 1. The first parts of the Shoo king, or the Books of T'ang; the Books of Yu; the Books of Hea; the Books of Shang; and the Prolegomena. pt. 2. The fifth part of the Shoo king, or the Books of Chow; and the indexes

The Chinese Classics: with a Translation, Critical and Exegetical Notes, Prolegomena and Copious Indexes ... in Seven Volumes

Vol. 2: The works of Mencius

The Tao Te Ching, roughly translated as The Book of the Way and its Virtue, is an ancient Chinese scripture. Tradition has it that the book was written around 600 BC by a sage called Lao Tzu ("Old Master," also transliterated as Laozi, Lao Tse, Laotze, and in other ways) a record-keeper in the Emperor's Court of the Zhou Dynasty. The short work is one of the most important in Chinese philosophy and religion, especially in Taoism, but also in Buddhism. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers and even gardeners have used the book as a source of inspiration. Its influence has also spread widely outside the Far East, aided by many different translations of the text into western languages. The book covers large areas of philosophy from individual spirituality and inter-personal dynamics to political techniques. The Tao Te Ching is said to contain 'hidden' instructions for Taoist adepts (often in the form of metaphors) relating to Taoist meditation and breathing.

Tao Te Ching

With Essays and Notes

The Life and Works of Mencius

The Chinese Classics: The Shoo king. 2d ed., with minor text corrections

Confucian analects, the Great learning, and the Doctrine of the mean

When wood is rubbed against wood, it begins to burn; when metal is subjected to fire, it (melts and) flows. When the Yin and Yang act awry, heaven and earth are greatly perturbed; and on this comes the crash of thunder, and from the rain comes fire, which consumes great locust trees. The case of men is still worse. They are troubled between two pitfalls, from which they cannot escape. Chrysalis-like, they can accomplish nothing. Their minds are as if hung up between heaven and earth. Now comforted, now pitied, they are plunged in difficulties. The ideas of profit and of injury rub against each other, and produce in them a very great fire. The harmony (of the mind) is consumed in the mass of men. Their moonlike intelligence cannot overcome the (inward) fire. They thereupon fall away more and more, and the Course (which they should pursue) is altogether lost.

Taoist Sacred Texts. Vol.I.

Tzu Chuang

The Chuang Tzu is one of the key foundational works of Chinese Daoism, preaching non-contention, non-intention, simplicity and humility as the path to perfect equanimity amidst life's turmoil. The master Chang Tzu pursues this teaching via humour and historic parable: a deep book of many levels, that will repay reading on a regular basis.

Daoist Teachings: Zhuangzi's Wisdom of the DAO

Chuang Tzu

The Chinese classics ; with a translation, critical and exegetical notes, prolegomena and copious indexes

Volume 1. Confucian Analects, the Great Learning, and the Doctrine of the Mean

The Chinese Classics. With a Translation, Critical and Exegetical Notes, Prolegomena, and Copious Indexes

James Legge

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