A Close Reading of the Daode jing (Tao-te-ching)

The Daode jing (Tao-te ching) is a foundational text of Daoism (Taoism) and among the most important texts in Chinese culture. We will engage the text through English translations with attention to the original Chinese text, but no prior knowledge of Chinese is expected.

Required reading: Selected chapters from the Daodejing (Robert Eno, translator), available online at https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2022/23426/Daodejing.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y. While we will use for discussions one standard translation for all, everyone will be encouraged to look at variant translations online as well. 

Hugh Clark retired in 2017 after 35 years on the faculty of Ursinus College with a teaching and scholarship focus on Chinese history and culture.