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Rating: 
Summary: Earliest Version!
Review: A must-have for those who can't wait for a translation and commentary a little more in-depth and "friendlier" of this, the earliest copy.
Rating:
Summary: Earliest Version!
Review: A must-have for those who can't wait for a translation and commentary a little more in-depth and "friendlier" of this, the earliest copy.
Rating: 
Summary: An exceptional piece of work
Review: As a student of the Dao i have studied six different translations of the Dao de Jing intensly. I have never been able to pick one out as the best. All versions have something of the essense of the Dao, and all have something of the translators desires or his or hers own spiritual/philosophical background. But then the Ma-wang-tui texts were translated by Mr. Henricks and we were indeed closer to source. The translation of the older Guodian chapters casts an even brighter light on the text we are familiar with today. Was there an "old Master" who wrote the original? No matter what we believe there is no doubt that his work was added to again and again. I have often wondered about the content of some of the chapters and how different portions (within the same chapter) related to one another. I often suspected that often they were different chapters combined. This work bears that out. Compare this work with your favorite version and others. You will be suprised by the added clarity. This is not for everyone, but the time spent in study and comparison will benefit reader and practioner greatly. I highly recomend the Ma-wang-tui texts by Mr. Henricks as the best foundation in the "modern" Dao De Jing. And please throw away the Mitchell version if you own it--it rarely gets it right.
Rating:
Summary: Scholar excellence on Taoist classic
Review: It was with amazement that I read about the new publication of the Guodian slip of Laozi, translated by Robert G. Henricks. This new treasury found in 1993 was studied upon by several Chinese and western scholars, including R.G. Henricks. He was one of the 31 scholars who attended the International seminar for discussion and study upon this new bamboo slip scripture.It doesn't need explanation, to say that Mr Henricks is an extraordinary skilled and profound scholar in the Laozi realm of work. After translating and publishing his work on the Ma-Wang-Tui text of the Lao-Tzu - which proves over and over again to be a high-quality translation and commentary - it was but logical to find the 1st translation of the Guodian treasure to be translated and commented upon by him. The Guodian version, named the Laozi, consists only of 31 chapters out of the 81 chapters we know today as being the complete Lao-Tzu work called the Tao Te Ching. It should be seen as an indepth study on the new Guodian version and I would not recommend this book to someone who has not studied the 'complete' Tao Te Ching prior to reading this book. The Laozi is organized as it was written down on the bamboo slips; In three different Themes. For simplicity, Mr Henricks named these A, B and C. This division has a similar approach in Chuang-Tzu's work: three Sections making up his work: Inner section, Outer section and Miscellaneous. If this was intented is a thesis, but not a fact. It is opted this version to be one that's connected with the Guan-Dao school of Daoism. A great explanation is included on the completeness of the Guodian version compared to the philospical elements that are known in the later versions of the Lao-Tzu (Tao Te Ching). For those who study and want to have new revelation upon the philosophy and Meaning of the Lao-Tzu, this book is a MUST read.
Rating:
Summary: Impeccable Scholarship
Review: This is (and is likely to remain) THE definitive dissertation on one of the most influential and widely-translated works in the history of human thought. A word of caution, though: it is NOT an introductory text; it presupposes that the reader is already familiar with the 81 "chapters" of the _Tao_Te_Ching_ as they are conventionally presented. For those just beginning their study, either the Kwok/Palmer/Ramsay or the Feng/English volumes are the place to start: the lush watercolors in the former or the stark, almost surreal, black and white photographs in the latter -- and the beautiful calligraphy in both -- are invaluable aids to comtemplation while reading the text. If you then find yourself developing a scholarly as well as spiritual interest, Henricks' own earlier "Ma-Wang-Tui" translation is an excellent stepping-stone to his current work. As I said originally, this is NOT a book for every reader, but, for its intended audience, it is a work without peer.
Rating:
Summary: Embrace this translation with confidence...
Review: This is a sure bet for a reliable edition of the Tao Te Ching in the hands of a skilled translator. He guides you through a brief introduction to the 'philosophy' of Taoism and through the significance of the Mawangtui texts. These provide marvelous foundation for approaching this ever elusive, ever unfolding Tao. Of my six copies, I have found his to be the most 'objective' (recognizing, of course, that this is somewhat of an illusion) and matter-of-fact. As far as I can tell, he sticks to the text as text, having a scholastic view of the Tao rather than a spiritual bent. Whereas many, if not most, translations display the spiritual background of the translator, I never get that feeling from this one. It reads easy and makes sense of some passages that have proven difficult in other translations. Of course, if we can understand the Tao then we really don't have it! But this is a surefire bet to give you a solid foundation and an easily approachable translation of the Tao Te Ching. It's one I return to again and again.
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