The Canon of Reason and Virtue:
Being Lao-tze's Tao Teh King (Chinese and English). Paul Carus, The Open Court Publishing Co., La Salle Illinois, 1964.
 
The philosophy of Lao-Tze is consciously paradoxical and poetic: therapeutic and deconstructional rather than analytic. It offers a guide to practical action which verges on mysticism: how to exercise strength without needing to be strong, how to win by yielding. Lao-Tze's exhortation to act while not-acting or 'doing nothing' has astonished and fascinated Chinese and Westerners alike.
 
The Tao Te Ching is fundamental to the Taoist school of Chinese philosophy and strongly influenced other schools, such as Legalism and Neo-Confucianism. This ancient book is also central in Chinese religion, not only for Taoism but Chinese Buddhism, which when first introduced into China was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts. Many Chinese artists, including poets, painters, calligraphers, and even gardeners have used the Tao Te Ching as a source of inspiration.
 
Yellow and red illustrated cover with a red spine title. Slight cracking at front and rear inside gutter and an otherwise secure text block with clean pages. About 6-1/4 x 4-1/2 with 209 pages. Original owner map bookplate at the front free endpaper. Scarce!