Abstract
“Dao” is an important concept in traditional Chinese philosophy. The three main branches of traditional Chinese philosophy—Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism—have all provided this term with rich exposition and developed their own unique and systematic discourses on it. Dao is not only an important element in the intellectual infrastructure of traditional Chinese thought, it also embodies its worldview and values. As a principal feature of the vocabulary of traditional Chinese philosophy, it has profoundly affected aspects of traditional cultural and intellectual life, such as religion, literature, art, as well as practical aspects of worldly affairs such as politics, self-cultivation, as well military affairs.
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Notes
- 1.
Translator note: Throughout the translation, I have relied on James Legge’s translation of the Daodejing (with modifications), unless otherwise stated.
- 2.
Translator note: Throughout the translation, I have relied on James Legge’s translation of the Zhuangzi (with modifications), unless otherwise stated.
- 3.
Lynn (1999: 73). Throughout this translation, I have used Richard John Lynn’s work on Wang Bi’s commentaries on the Daodejing.
- 4.
Lynn (1999: 124), modified.
- 5.
Ziporyn (2015: 402).
- 6.
Translator note: Throughout the translation, I have relied on James Legge’s translation of the Analects (with modifications), unless otherwise stated.
- 7.
Translator note: I have followed Irene Bloom’s numbering system.
- 8.
Translator note: Throughout the translation, I have relied on James Legge’s translation of the Mencius (with modifications), unless otherwise stated.
- 9.
Ames and Hall (2001: 89). Throughout this translation, I have relied upon Ames and Hall’s translation of the Doctrine of the Mean and often based my own translation on theirs.
- 10.
Chan (1963: 98)s, modified.
- 11.
Chan (1969: 500), modified.
References
Ames, Roger T. and, David L. Hall. 2001. Focusing the Familiar: A Translation and Philosophical Interpretation of the Zhongyong. Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i Press.
Chan, Wing-Tsit. 1969. A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Chan, Wing-Tsit. 1963. Instructions for Practical Living and other Neo-Confucian Writings. New York and London: Columbia University Press.
Lynn, Richard J. 1999. The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-Te-Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi. New York: Columbia University Press.
Ziporyn, Brook. Zhuangzi. 2015. Guo Xiang: The Self-So and the Repudiation-cum-Reaffirmation of Deliberate Action and Knowledge. In Dao Companion to Daoist Philosophy, ed. Liu Xiaogan, 397–424. Verlag: Springer.
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Wang, Y., Bao, Q., Guan, G. (2020). Way (Dao, 道). In: History of Chinese Philosophy Through Its Key Terms. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2572-8_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2572-8_1
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