Written by a leading authority on Chinese philosophy,
Decoding Dao
uniquely focuses on the core texts in Daoist philosophy, providing readers with a user-friendly introduction that unravels the complexities of these seminal volumes.
Offers a detailed introduction to the core texts in Daoist philosophy, the
Dao De Jing
and the
Zhuangzi
, two of the most widely read – and most challenging – texts in China’s long literary history
Covers the three main ways the texts can be read: as religious, mystical, and philosophical works
Explores their historical context, origins, authorship, and the reasons these seminal texts came into being, along with the key terms and approaches they take
Examines the core philosophical arguments made in the texts, as well as the many ways in which they have been interpreted, both in China itself and in the West
Provides readers with an unrivalled insight into the multifaceted philosophy of Daoism – and the principles underlying much of Chinese culture – informed by the very latest academic scholarship