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Reading list

Daoism

The Daodejing, the Zhuangzi and their first great interpreter.

Beginning. 5 steps

Orientation

  1. Tradition

    Daoism

    The Way, its classics and its religion, in outline.

The classics

  1. Text

    The Tâo Teh King

    Laozi, tr. James Legge, 1891

    Read slowly, a few chapters at a time; begin with chapters 1, 8 and 16.

  2. Concept

    Wu wei

    Non-forcing action, the key to the Daodejing’s teaching on life and rule.

  3. Text

    The Writings of Kwang-ze

    Zhuangzi, tr. James Legge, 1891

    Begin with the seven inner chapters, especially the first two and the third.

Interpretation

  1. Text

    The Classic of the Way and Virtue

    Laozi, tr. Richard John Lynn, 1999

    The Daodejing as its most influential commentator read it.

Cite this entry
Chicago (bibliography)

“Daoism.” Reading list. The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society. Last modified November 7, 2026. https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/daoism-reading-list.

Chicago (note)

“Daoism,” reading list, The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, last modified November 7, 2026, https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/daoism-reading-list.

MLA

“Daoism.” The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, 7 Nov. 2026, www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/daoism-reading-list.

BibTeX
@misc{reading-lists-daoism-reading-list,
  title = {{Daoism}},
  howpublished = {The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society},
  note = {Reading list. Last modified November 7, 2026},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/daoism-reading-list}
}

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