With Taoism, even if you don’t believe in the Force-like nature of the Tao-and in case there’s any question, I don’t-you can still consider yourself a Taoist. In doing so the first three create division where the last seven seek harmony. For me, the tragedy of the Great List is that the three that top it serve only to divide the world into believers and nonbelievers: regardless how closely you follow the last seven, if you don’t believe in God you’re not worth a fig. Seven of the 10 Commandments don’t mention God and are sound advice designed to facilitate peaceful community relations: respect your elders, don't kill, don't cheat on your spouse, don't steal, don't tell lies, and don't lust after another's spouse or his belongings. Where the Tao Te Ching parts company with religious attempts at morality such as the 10 Commandments is in its inclusiveness. For me, the Tao Te Ching is more folk wisdom than religious treatise and is more useful than a million sermons. So it may seem strange that I’m reviewing the Tao Te Ching, the widely known and influential Taoist text, written by Lao-Tzu and poetically translated in this edition by Stephen Mitchell. I'm an unbeliever and have been since the first time I played hooky from Sunday services and the Eye in the Sky didn’t say boo. As a result of being a a central figure in Chinese culture, both nobility and common people claim Lao Tzu in their lineage. Historians variously contend that Laozi is a synthesis of multiple historical figures, that he is a mythical figure, or that he actually lived in the 5th-4th century BCE, concurrent with the Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period. Laozi translated literally from Chinese means "old master" or "old one", and is generally considered honorific.Īccording to Chinese tradition, Laozi lived in the 6th century BCE. He is also revered as a deity in most religious forms of the Taoist religion, which often refers to Laozi as Taishang Laojun, or "One of the Three Pure Ones". His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism (pronounced as "Daoism"). Lao Tzu (Chinese: 老子 pinyin: Lǎozǐ Wade-Giles: Laosi also Laozi, Lao Tse, Lao Tu, Lao-Tsu, Laotze, Laosi, Lao Zi, Laocius, Lao Ce, and other variations) was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi).
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