Lao Zi – författare

Nyutgåva av den kinesiska visdomsboken Dao De Jing (även utgiven som Tao te ching) i översättning av akademiledamoten Göran Malmqvist som också skrivit en utförlig inledning som förser en med allt man behöver för att kunna närma sig denna fascinerande och mångbottnade text. Dao De Jing är en av de mest svårtydbara och gåtfulla texterna i Kinas litterära historia. Samtidigt en av de mest inflytelserika. Texten utgör en av de viktigaste källskrifterna för daoismen. Den författades av Lao Zi ("Den gamle" eller "Den gamle mästaren") i slutet av det fjärde århundradet före Kristus. Om författaren vet man inget. De äldsta bevarade versionerna av texten hittades vid utgrävningar så sent som 1973. De är skrivna på siden och dateras till 200-talet före Kristus. Dao De Jing för första gången på svenska i en översättning baserad på den kinesiska grundtexten. Göran Malmqvists inledning placerar verket i Kinas idéhistoria och diskuterar dess betydelse och hur det kan tolkas. Texten består av 81 mycket korta kapitel, som vart och ett formulerar kärnord om vad läran om Dao (vägen) och De (kraften) går ut på. Båda begreppen är ytterligt mångtydiga och inte helt lätta att översätta till nutidssvenska. Dao är både vägen och normen i tillvaron. Dao är det som är och som fanns innan något blev till. De är kraften som Dao skänker. Daoismen har alltid utgjort en kontrast till konfucianismen. Medan konfucianismen har varit statsreligion som manat till pliktuppfyllelse och lydnad har daoismen snarare uppmanat människan att avstå från all medveten strävan: Människan bör följa sina impulser och handla i samklang med naturens rytm. Dao De Jing är en lågmäld bok med en ofattbar vidd och tyngd i sina milda påståenden. En bok som verkar ifrågasätta i stort sett allt, till och med människans medvetna strävan och hennes förnuftiga sätt att bete sig. Istället antyds en intuitiv väg till insikten om tillvarons mening och det riktiga handlandet. Några lösryckta citat ur Dao De Jing som ger en aning om bokens fascinerande mångbottnade gåtfullhet: "Man knådar lera och tillverkar ett kärl: det är Intet i dess inre som gör kärlet användbart. Man hugger ut dörrar och fönster och bygger ett rum: det är Intet i dess inre som gör rummet användbart. Därav följer att det som finns skapar viss nytta, medan det som icke finns skapar användbarhet." "Den som bevarar vägen inom sig har ingen önskan att bygga ut den." Även om Den okarvade stocken är oansenlig, kan ingen i Allt Under Himlen göra den till sin undersåte." "Den som vet när han har tillräckligt är rik." "Den sanne fursten handlar genom att inte handla, förvaltar sitt ämbete utan att förvalta och njuter det som saknar smak." "Den som handskas med tingen förgör dem; den som håller fast vid tingen förlorar dem." "Anledningen till att Floden och Havet kan tjäna som konungar över De hundra dalgångarnas bäckar är att de förmår ligga lägre än dem." "Trovärdiga ord är inte vackra; vackra ord är inte trovärdiga. Den som äger sann kunskap argumenterar inte; den som argumenterar äger inte sann kunskap." (Appendix med den kinesiska grundtexten ingår.)

‘100 Quotes by Lao Tseu’ is a collection of thoughts and reflections by one of the most influential figures in Chinese philosophy. Thoughtful, reflective, and with a focus on personal development, his ideas are food for any hungry soul. An ideal read for those with an interest in philosophy, this book is superb for dipping in and out of, particularly if you’re in search of a drop of practical wisdom.Commonly referred to as the ‘Old Master,’ Lao Tseu (4th century) is thought to have been born in the Hu district, part of the Henan province. What little is known about him suggests that he was a court astrologer and historian under the Zhou dynasty. According to legend, Tseu met Confucius and accused him of being too arrogant and ambitious. Subsequently, Confucius hailed him as something close to a dragon, seeing the world from above the clouds.Tseu’s travels are equally shrouded in mythology, with many stating that he travelled to the pass separating the Wei valleys and the Yellow River. There, he was challenged to write a book, by the guardian, Yinxi. The result was the ‘Daodejing,’ Tseu’s thoughts on the purpose and fulfilment of life.

Discover the transformative power of meditation with '200 Quotes for Meditation.' Step into a world of tranquility and reflection as you immerse yourself in these carefully curated quotes.Whether you're a beginner or an experienced meditator, these words will guide you on a serene journey within and invite you to enter a state of deep relaxation, self-awareness, and mindfulness.This inspiring collection brings together profound words of wisdom from spiritual leaders, philosophers, and enlightened thinkers, providing a peaceful sanctuary for your mind and soul.

‘The Three Asian Wise Men: Confucius, Lao Tzu, Buddha’ is a collection of quotes and sayings by the three great ancient sages, whose words of wisdom continue to influence Chinese society to this day.Architects of the three teachings: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, they created the idea of Ying and Yang, going with the flow, reincarnation, benevolent leadership and many others.With well-known sayings such as 'Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.' and 'It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.", this collection is perfect if you want to understand modern-day China or just learn some wisdom that will help you in life.Confucius (551BC – 479BC) was a Chinese philosopher and politician. Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. Buddha was a spiritual teacher who lived during the 5th century B.C. Confucius, Lao Tzu, and Buddha are three ancient sages whose insight and beliefs have influenced Asian and Chinese society for hundreds of years. Creators of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, their words of wisdom are famous all over the world and continue to influence and help people to this day.

William Shakespeare, Plato, Buddha, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Napoleon Bonaparte are just some of the famous names that make up this collection of 500 famous quotes.With ancient sages, politicians, military leaders, philosophers, and physicists imparting their wisdom, this carefully crafted compilation will not only develop your cultural knowledge but entertain, amuse, and inspire you too.´Develop your General Culture in 1000 Quotes´ will delight those who would like a boost of cultural literacy.William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was one of the greatest English poets, playwrights, and actors. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900) is regarded as one of the 19th-century philosophers to have had a lasting effect on contemporary philosophy. Sun Tzu (544 BC-496 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and military general who influenced Western and East Asian philosophy with his work ´The Art of War´. Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded the Platonist school of thought. He is considered a key figure in the history of Ancient Greek and Western philosophy.Lao Zi (1368 – 1644) is credited as the founding father of Taoism. Thought to have lived at the same time as Confucius, he wrote the Tao Te Ching. Gautama Buddha (480 BCE – 400 BCE) was an aristocrat who eschewed materialism, in favour of spiritual reflection. He is the founder of Buddhism. Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) was a theoretical physicist, who is best remembered for developing the Theory of Relativity.Born in England, Winston Churchill (1874-1965) served as the British Prime Minister during WWII. Confucius (551 BCE–479 BCE) was born in China. His profound teachings established Confucianism, which promotes personal and societal morality. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was a French military leader during the French Revolution.

Take a tour of some of the most extraordinary thinkers in history with ‘500 Quotes from Great Minds´.Packed with cherry-picked thoughts, reflections, and observations, it offers inspiring insights into almost every aspect of life, from love and death to art and politics.A superb addition to any coffee table, ‘500 Quotes from Great Minds´ is ideal for those who need a bit of extra motivation. Born in Paris, Charles Baudelaire (1821 – 1867) was one of the most highly-regarded poets of the 19th century. His works focused on the destruction of nature in the shadow of industrialisation. Lao Zi (1368 – 1644) is credited as the founding father of Taoism. Thought to have lived at the same time as Confucius, he wrote the Tao Te Ching. Born in Tibet, the first Dalai Lama (1391 – 1474) started life as a shepherd before studying as a monk and receiving a vision during meditation. Martin Luther King (1929 – 1969) was a Baptist minister who became the most important figure in the American Civil Rights movement. One of the founders of analytical psychology, Carl Jung (1875 – 1961) was a Swiss psychoanalyst and psychologist, who had a huge impact on psychology as a science.

‘2000 Final Quotations’ is an insightful and humorous collection of quotes from some of the world’s greatest thinkers, writers, artists, and statesmen. It contains contributions from Shakespeare, Gandhi and Carl Jung to Friedrich Nietzsche, Confucius and Leonardo da Vinci - and lots more!Stretching from Ancient Greece to 20th-century Germany, this wonderful compilation is guaranteed to inspire and entertain those who want a bit of extra philosophical guidance throughout their day.Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, Marcel Proust, Anton Chekhov, Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche, Laozi, Immanuel Kant, Mahatma Gandhi, Buddha, Albert Einstein, Anne Frank, Leonardo da Vinci, Confucius, Baruch Spinoza, Marcus Aurelius, Carl Jung, Cicero, Emil Cioran.

Ready yourself for this carefully crafted collection of quotes from some of the greatest minds the world has ever seen!Featuring world-famous playwrights, philosophers, activists, Presidents and physicists, from Churchill and Shakespeare to Gandhi and Einstein, this is an entertaining and inspiring compilation covering everything from Ancient Rome to modern-day Britain.‘3500 Final Quotes’ is ideal for those wanting a bit of extra philosophical guidance and inspiration throughout their day.Denis Diderot, Søren Kierkegaard, Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, Marcel Proust, Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Plato, Lao Zi, Immanuel Kant, Mahatma Gandhi, Buddha, Albert Einstein, Anne Frank, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Leonardo da Vinci, Confucius, Baruch Spinoza, Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Marcus Aurelius, Socrates, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Cicero, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, Napoleon Bonaparte, Fyodor Dostoevski, Oscar Wilde, Voltaire, Ontesquieu, Nicolas de Chamfort, Beaumarchais.