wandelaar Posted September 30, 2018 https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Ching-Definitive-Lao-Tzu/dp/1585420999 Any comments on this book? I already have many translations of the Tao Te Ching. Would this one add something special? Is the concordance it appears to contain (not visible in the preview) of any use? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted September 30, 2018 I don't have his translation so I can' say anything directly. You might want to look at his PDF to see how it feels to you before purchasing it. http://taisa.si/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Tao-Te-Ching-by-Jonathan-Star.pdf 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wandelaar Posted September 30, 2018 I took a look at the pdf. I think the translation is OK, but doesn't add anything to the many translations I already have. So the remaining question is whether the concordance that forms part of the book is interesting enough to buy the book for that reason alone. Unhappily the preview on Amazon doesn't allow one to see the concordance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldDog Posted September 30, 2018 I know you have preference for the feel of paper and bindings ... but take a look here ... see if it calls you. https://disciplemag.wordpress.com/tag/tao-te-ching-translation-by-jonathan-star/ I took a quick look at some of the better known and key chapters. I would not call it a translation as much as an interpretation into modern language. I think in this effort he misses some fundamental points. Seems like a pop culture interpretation. Under the idea of "Know thy author" ... also took a quick look around to learn about the Star. Could not find much that describes his background, education, training, etc. There is suggestion that the claim to "definitive" lies with supplemental notes, dictionary ... maybe even a concordance. Would have to look at the hardcopy publication to tell. Would be interested to hear what you find. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wandelaar Posted September 30, 2018 Problem solved! I found this: https://archive.org/details/sacredbookschin00legggoog/page/n7 https://archive.org/details/sacredbooksofchi00laozuoft/page/n5 The second one has an extensive index and interesting appendices including a "List of Narratives, Apologues, and Stories of various kinds in the Writings of Kwang-jze". See further the "Table of References" in this book: https://archive.org/details/thecanonofreason00caruuoft/page/n5 That's good enough for me. Search ended. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wandelaar Posted September 30, 2018 Even better is this version: https://archive.org/details/laotzestaotehkin00laoz/page/n5 It has a very comprehensive index! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patrick Brown Posted October 1, 2018 That version seems pretty good, sometimes a new version can allow something to trickle through. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldDog Posted October 3, 2018 I am always a bit suspicious or any title that carries the appelation ... Definitive. Definitive is a appelation confered ... not claimed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wandelaar Posted October 3, 2018 Yes - the title is awful! But we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Basil Posted November 30, 2018 I had this edition. I was excited about, flipped through it a few times, and found that it didn't really add much to my understanding. It eventually went to a used bookstore. In the book's defense, it turns out I am not as inclined to refer regularly to a concordance as the editors assume. If that's your cup of tea, you may enjoy this one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wandelaar Posted November 30, 2018 Do you remember how many pages of concordance there was in the book? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rideforever Posted November 30, 2018 This version is actually quite good for a white guy .. who btw is not a Chinese culture specialist but a translator of many spiritual works. He has a genuine spiritual feeling, but it is not a Taoist feeling and he relates some words back to Christian / Indian terminology because he does not understand Taoism. That's my opinion. Best I've seen is Giu Fu Feng. But it cannot be understood without the Dantien understanding it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Owledge Posted January 18, 2019 On 10/3/2018 at 3:38 PM, wandelaar said: Yes - the title is awful! But we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. The cover can still give valuable insights; more so to very knowledgeable people. That being said, we're judging the title here, heh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wandelaar Posted January 18, 2019 I have (almost) enough versions of the Tao Te Ching now, and the one of this topic didn't make it through the selection. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
