# Preface by James Legge explained — Tao Te Ching

> Chapter companion for Tao Te Ching by Laozi.

## What happens

James Legge introduces his translations of Taoist texts, including the Tao Te Ching and the writings of Chuang-tzŭ, discusses the evolution of Taoism from philosophy to religion under Buddhist influence, and reviews various commentaries and translations, notably criticizing Balfour's reliance on the spurious Lü Yen commentary while defending Julien and other translators against charges of Confucian bias.

## Themes in this chapter

### Critique of Conventional Virtue

Legge discusses the opposition between Taoism and Confucianism, highlighting Taoism's critique of Confucian moral and social principles.

### Return to Origins and Stillness

The preface touches on the cultivation of the Tao as a rule of life favorable to longevity, reflecting a return to original simplicity.

## Character check-ins

### Laozi

Author of the Tao Te Ching, central figure of Taoism.

### Chuang Tzŭ

Major Taoist philosopher whose writings are translated in this volume.

### James Legge

Translator and author of this preface.

### F. H. Balfour

Translator criticized for relying on the spurious Lü Yen commentary.

### Stanislas Julien

Scholar whose work on Laozi is praised and defended against Balfour's charges.

### Herbert A. Giles

Scholar who judged the Lü Yen commentary as spurious and ridiculous.

### Wu Chʽêng

Yuan dynasty scholar whose commentary on the Tao Te Ching was highly useful to Legge.

### John Chalmers

Protestant missionary who translated the Tao Te Ching in 1868.

## Key lines

> The two volumes now submitted to the reader are a fulfilment of the promise made so long ago.

These two volumes finally deliver on a promise made years earlier.

_Legge refers to his earlier promise to translate key Taoist texts._

> It was not till after the introduction of Buddhism into China in our first century that Taoism began to organise itself as a religion, having its monasteries and nunneries, its images and rituals.

Taoism only became an organized religion with institutions and rituals after Buddhism arrived in China in the first century.

_Legge explains the historical transformation of Taoism from philosophy to religion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/preface-by-james-legge
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tao_te_ching_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters