Dao Te Ching

Classic Taoist text

The Dao Te Ching is an ancient Chinese philosophical text attributed to Laozi, foundational to Daoism.

Its 81 short chapters explore the Dao (the Way)—an ineffable principle underlying reality—and Te (virtue or power).

The text counsels simplicity, humility, and non-action (wu wei): The Dao that can be told is not the eternal Dao.

Also spelled Tao Te Ching.

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philosophical tradition

Dao Te ChingAnalects

Classical Chinese wisdom text

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epistemological approach

Dao Te ChingOrganon

Systematic method of inquiry

logical proof

worldly engagement

Dao Te ChingThe Prince

Treatise on obtaining power

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Taoism, Taoist, Daoism, Daoist

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