From bestselling cartoonist C. C. Tsai, a delightfully illustrated version of the classic work of Daoist philosophy
C. C. Tsai is one of Asia's most popular cartoonists, and his editions of the Chinese classics have sold more than 40 million copies in over twenty languages. Here, he works his magic again with a delightful graphic adaptation of the complete text of Laozi's Dao De Jing, the beloved source of Daoist philosophy. Masterfully transforming Laozi's challenging work into entertaining and enlightening episodes, Tsai offers a uniquely fresh, relevant, and accessible version of one of the world's most influential books.
After opening with Laozi's biography from the Shi Ji, Tsai turns the stage over to Laozi, who patiently explains his ideas to his earnest students (and us). Laozi describes the spontaneity of natural processes, the paradoxical effects of ethical precepts, the limits of language, the values of simplicity, and, above all else, how to go with the flow. In brief episodes that tantalize and inspire, he takes us into the subtle complexities of human existence. Ultimately, Laozi, a master visionary, guides us to the mountaintop to reveal an expansive view of life.
A marvelous edition of a timeless classic, this book also presents Laozi's original Chinese text in sidebars on each page, enriching the book for readers and students of Chinese without distracting from the English-language cartoons. The text is skillfully translated by Brian Bruya, who also provides an illuminating introduction.
"How could the Dao De Jing, the beloved source of philosophical Daoism, ever be improved upon? Through illustrations by the beloved cartoonist C. C. Tsai. In this complete edition of the Dao De Jing, Tsai works his magic again, taking Laozi's cryptic philosophical language and turning it into episodes that both challenge and delight the reader. Tsai begins with Laozi's biography from the Shi Ji, then Laozi takes over, patiently explaining his ideas to earnest students. Soon, we become the students, as Laozi describes the spontaneity of natural processes, the paradoxical effects of ethical precepts, the limits of language, the values of simplicity, and most of all how to go with the flow. When is knowledge reduced to ignorance? When can something that is empty count as being full? When do good intentions go awry? Laozi is the master visionary, who is able to get to the mountaintop and see a perspective on life that escapes most of us. He is able to see the big picture that we see only when it's too late. Laozi take us into the subtle complexities of human existence, like a dramatic nineteenth century novel, but in bitesize chunks that tantalize and inspire. One of the most translated books in the world, Tsai makes the Dao De Jing fresh and relevant, and Laozi perches us on the mountaintop, ready to take in the wide vista and contemplate each fragment of meaning"--
