An illustrated collection of the philosophical teachings of LaoTzu discusses the central Taoist idea of living in harmony with the universe.
The Path of Virtue: The Illustrated Tao Te Ching presents the classic Chinese text, as translated by James Legge, alongside elegant drawings, paintings, and sculptures from the extensive collections of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Composed in the 6th century bc by Lao Tzu, a sage and recordkeeper in the Zhou court, the Tao Te Ching was originally the basis of Taoist philosophy, later adopted by Chinese Buddhists as a complement to their basic religious tenets. It is now referred to as a handbook for political and business strategy, as well as a practical guide for daily life.
Legge's rendering, one of the most poetic translations in English, is accompanied by artwork with Taoist themes and bound in a three-piece case with gilding and a ribbon--truly a volume to be contemplated and admired.
Sage and philosopher Lao Tzu was a record keeper in the Zhou dynasty court during the 6th century BC. In the religious form of Chinese Taoism, he is regarded as one of the three highest deities. James Legge (1815-97) was a Scottish sinologist, a Congregationalist missionary, and the first professor of Chinese at Oxford University. In addition to the Tao Te Ching, Legge is known for his translations of the Confucian Analects, as well as the works of philosophers Zhuanzi and Mencius. The Cleveland Museum of Art, established in 1913, holds one of the most comprehensive collections of Chinese art in the United States.
