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By giving to others he gains more and more
By serving others he receives everything
Heaven gives and all things turn out for the best
The Sage lives； and all things go as Tao goes all things move as the wind blows
English_Suzuki_TTK
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse
Chinese … English by
D。T。 Suzuki & Paul Carus； 1913
Vorwort/Foreword
This booklet； The Canon of Reason and Virtue； is an extract from the author's larger work； Lao…Tze's Tao Teh King； and has been published for the purpose of making our reading public more familiar with that grand and imposing figure Li Er； who was honored with the posthumous title Poh…Yang； i。 e。； Prince Positive （representing the male or strong principle）； but whom his countrymen simply call Lao…tze； the Old Philosopher。
Sze…Ma Ch慽en； the Herodotus of China； who lived about 136…85 B。 C。； has left a short sketch of Lao…tze's life in his Shi Ki （Historical Records） which is here prefixed as the most ancient and only well…attested account to be had of the Old Philosopher。
Born in 604 B。 C。； Lao…tze was by about half a century the senior of Confucius。 He must have attained great fame during his life； for Confucius is reported to have sought an interview with him。 But the two greatest sages of China did not understand each other； and they parted mutually disappointed。
Confucius's visit to Lao…tze has been doubted。 If it is not historical it certainly is ben trovato； for the contrast between these two leaders of Chinese thought remains to the present day。 The disciples of Confucius； the so…called 〃literati；〃 are tinged with their master's agnosticism and insist on the rules of propriety as the best methods of education； while the Tao Sze； the believers in the Tao； or divine Reason； are given to philosophical speculation and religious mysticism。 The two schools are still divided； and have never effected a conciliation of their differences that might be attained on a common higher ground。
Chwang…tze； one of Lao…tze's disciples； who lived about 330 B。 C。； has preserved another； an older and more elaborate； report of the meeting between Confucius and the Old Philosopher。 Sze…Ma Ch慽en （163…85 B。 C。） is sometimes supposed to have derived his account from Chwang…tze； but Chwang…tze's story bears traces of legendary elements which can not but be regarded as fiction； and it is difficult to believe that the historian should have taken his sober sketch from the fantastic tale of a poet…philosopher。
The names of Lao…tze's birthplace； state； province and the locality of his life's work might be considered as invented purposely because of their strange significance if they were not geographically existent。 In the first edition of Lao…tze's Tao Teh King we translated Cheu as 〃the State of Plenty；〃 and will only add that the word is made up of the characters 〃mouth〃 and 〃to use；〃 its original meaning being 〃to supply everywhere； to make a circuit all around or everywhere； and plenty。〃 The Cheu dynasty was so called because the emperor's power reached all over the civilized world； according to Chinese notions。 In the present edition we have preferred to translate the word Cheu by 〃the State of Everywhere。〃
It would be easy to say that the Old Philosopher was a citizen of Everywhere； and was born in Good Man's Bend to describe his innate character； that his home was situated in Thistle District of Bramble Province to indicate the poverty and difficulties with which his life was surrounded。
The plum…tree is the symbol of immortality； and the ear might signify the man who was willing to listen。 Accordingly Lao…tze's family name Li （plum） seems to be as much justified as his proper name Er （ear）。 What splendid material with which to change Lao…tze into a mythical figure！ It is as good as the life of Napoleon of whom P閞鑪 made a solar hero； an Apollo； on account of his name and the several events of his careerhis final sinking in the west and disappearance on an island in the Atlantic； the ocean of sunset。 Nevertheless the historicity of Lao…tze and the authenticity of his book seem to be sufficiently well ascertained。
The historicity of Lao…tze's writing has been doubted only once； but by so great an authority as H。 A。 Giles。 We must； however； remember that the greater part of the Tao Teh King is preserved in quotations in the pre…Christian writings of Lieh…tze； Chwang…tze； and Hwai Nan…tze。 （For details see the article in reply to Professor Giles in The Monist； XI； pp。 574…601。）
Lao…tze's book on Reason and Virtue first bore the title Tao Teh。 It was in all outward appearances a mere collection of aphoristic utterances； but full of noble morals and deep meditation。 It met the reward which it fully deserved； having by imperial decree been raised to the dignity of canonical authority； hence the name King or 〃canon；〃 completing the title Tao Teh King； as now commonly used； which we translate 〃Canon of Reason and Virtue。〃
Although Confucian philosophy has become the guiding star of the Chinese government Lao…tze has taken a firm hold on the hearts of the people； and in the progress of time his figure has grown in significance into the stature of a Christ…like superhuman personality。 So it happened that later traditions added to Sze…Ma Ch慽en's brief report various details which became more and more fantastic。 We learn that Yin Hi； the officer of the frontier； was warned beforehand by astrological science of the sage's coming。 He is further reputed to have accompanied his master into the deserts of the west； traveling in a car drawn by black oxen。
Still later legends add to these fables the story of Lao…tze's miraculous conception through the influence of a star； and claim that he was the incarnation of the supreme celestial essence； that he had repeatedly been incarnate； once in the village of the state of Tz抲。 This latter birth is represented in analogy with Buddha's nativity； for his mother brought forth the divine child from her left side； and her delivery took place under a treein Lao…tze's case it was a plum…tree。 The infant at his very birth pointed to the tree saying； 〃I shall take my surname Li （plum） from this tree。〃 His head was white； and his countenance that of an aged man； whence it is said he derived his name Lao…tze； which not only means the Old Philosopher but also the Ancient Child。 He is said to have wandered to the farthest extremities of the earth； including the countries Ta Ts慽n （which seems to have represented the Roman Empire） and Tu K慽en； where he preached his doctrine and converted the people to the truth。 In China he is reported to have helped Wu Wang； the founder of the famous Cheu dynasty； in the year 112 B。 C。
Lao…tze's various disciples developed more and more the mystical elements of Taoism； the practical application of which terminated in a belief in alchemy； especially in an elixir of life。
The Emperor Wu Ti and the emperors of the T慳ng dynasty were staunch believers in the Old Philosopher。 When in the year 666 A。 D。 Emperor Kao Tsung canonized him he gave him a rank among the gods as the Great Supreme （T慳i Shang）； as the Empero