From: man@labrea.zko.dec.com (Richard Man)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Chinese Religion
Keywords: Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Confucius
Date: 25 Jan 93 17:17:18 GMT
Reply-To: man@labrea.zko.dec.com (Richard Man)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <1993Jan22.220740.18473@csus.edu>, altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim) writes:
> In article <1993Jan22.155119.29920@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>
>     boylan@ljohub.enet.dec.com (Steve Boylan) writes:
> >
> >In article <1993Jan20.011459.5392@csus.edu>,
>     altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim) writes:
> >
> [a few short recommendations on texts of the Tao Te Ching...]
> >>
> >> Just as a side note: I'd steer away from the Stephen Mitchell translation,
> >> as it is not really a translation at all but a rendering. For a more
> >> authoritive translation,
> >> try the Te Tao Ching by Hendricks, the Tao Te Ching by Wu under Shambala, or 
> >> the inexpensive Penguin edition by D.C. Lau. Lau is very accurate to the 
> >> Chinese, but harder to read. Wu is clear, concise and rather sweet, while
> >> Hendricks is a beautifully researched edition that organizes the two Ma Wang
> >> Tui texts with a clear translation.
> >> 
> >> Cleary's new translation I have a few minor disagreements with, but he is
> >> by far my favorite translator, and has the highest respect from many people.
> > 
> >Of course, those interested in an accessible, lucid, and very entertaining
> >introduction to Taoist thought and philosophy should read the ten-year-old
> >classic, "The Tao of Pooh", and the new companion volume, "The Te of Piglet",
> >both by Benjamin Hoff.  I can dig up all those fun details like the
> >publisher and the ISBN at home tonight.
> >
> >				- - Steve
> 
> Steve, I don't have a real problem with Hoff's "Tao of Pooh", especially for
> those more interested in skimming the surface, but I didn't care for the
> second book much at all. Both provide a light-hearted approach, but are not
> considered scholarly. Of course, the title might clue one in... :-)
> 
> In thinking about it, I'd actually recommend reading Chuang Tzu over Lao Tzu
> as an introduction to Taoist thought, as it is much more accessible and
> also provides some of the lyricism of Taoism. You also won't find a more
> interesting writer of the period. Funny, insightful, and thought-provoking,
> Chuang Tzu is like one big extended koan. Note that only the "inner" chapters,
> which are usually published as the first seven of 33, are considered 
> authoritive.
> 
> Murray
> 

With the exception of the section on "Amazons" in the Te of Piglet, I think
Hoff's two books are the best introduction on Taoism (and I have read some
in Chinese). Certainly they are readable, perhaps not scholarly, but Taoism is
a religion / philosophy for the people. Scholarly texts are good if you are
a scholar, but not if you are just interested to find out what Taoism is.

Also, I think Chuang Tzu tends to concentrate on people - relations and
too introspective. My biggest gripe is that he tends to forget what Taoism is -
life and nature. I think the chaotic Warring States really have a bad efefct 
on him ;-).

--
- Richard F. Man (man@labrea.zko.dec.com)
"Small Rovers, Big Dreams"
Newsgroups: alt.pagan