Thus Spoke Laozi: A New Translation with Commentaries of Daodejing

Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) by Chinese philosopher Laozi (Lao Tzu) is one of the most popular Chinese texts, with more than 100 translations available. Why another? Author Charles Q. Wu believes that his explorations of the infinite nature of the Daodejing can “bring the readers yet another step closer to what Laozi actually says and how he says it through still another translation.” The strength of Wu’s version comes from his superior bilingual talents and unique cross-cultural perspective, drawing widely from both Chinese and Western sources. He provides his target audience of nonacademics and non-Chinese readers with line-by-line bilingual text and commentaries, and tries to retain the original beauty of the poetry and paradoxes of Laozi’s writings. His ambition here is for English-speaking readers to experience what Laozi “sounds” like, as if they were reading the work in Chinese.

Taking a fresh look at what is known as the Wang Bi edition of Laozi’s immortal work, Wu makes use of new findings from recent archaeological discoveries, and invites readers to “participate in the translation and interpretation as an open-door, open-ended process.” Rather than claiming finality in his translation Wu sees himself as a tour guide, leading readers toward unexpected aha! moments as they encounter a more thorough understanding the Daodejing.

• Charles Q. Wu, Editor

  Charles Q. Wu was born and raised in Shanghai, China. He went to college at Beijing Foreign Languages Institute (now Beijing Foreign Studies University) in 1951 and graduated as an English major in 1954. In 1980 he went to Columbia University for graduate studies in English literature and earned a PhD in 1987. His doctoral dissertation was a Daoist reading of the English romantic poet William Wordsworth. Dr. Charles Q. Wu taught Chinese language, literature, and civilization at Reed College from 1987 to 2002, where he is currently Professor Emeritus.

• Charles Q. Wu, Translator

  Charles Q. Wu was born and raised in Shanghai, China. He went to college at Beijing Foreign Languages Institute (now Beijing Foreign Studies University) in 1951 and graduated as an English major in 1954. In 1980 he went to Columbia University for graduate studies in English literature and earned a PhD in 1987. His doctoral dissertation was a Daoist reading of the English romantic poet William Wordsworth. Dr. Charles Q. Wu taught Chinese language, literature, and civilization at Reed College from 1987 to 2002, where he is currently Professor Emeritus.