Introduction and English translation copyright © 2000 by David Hinton All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the Publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lao Tzu. [Tao te ching. English] Tao Te Ching / Lao Tzu; translated by David Hinton. p. cm. ISBN 1-58243-047-0 (alk. paper) I. Hinton, David, 1954- . II. Title. BL1900.L3 E5 2000 299'.51482-dc21 00-022551 CIP Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper that meets the American National Standards Insti- tute Z39-48 Standard. Illustration: Nine Dragons (detail), China, Southern Sung dynasty, dated 1244; Ch'en Jung, Chinese (active first half of the 13th century) Handscroll; ink and touches of red on paper; H X L: 183/16 x 431 11/16 in. Francis Gardner Curtis Fund, 17. 1697. Design and electronic production by David Bullen Design COUNTERPOINT P.O. Box 65793 Washington, D.C. 20035-5793 Counterpoint is a member of the Perseus Books Group. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 FIRST PRINTING -iv- |