Description
Book SynopsisA number of features mark this book apart from others. There is simply no book currently available on Daoism (Taoism) written primarily from a psychological perspective, covering topics on Laozi's sociopolitical and psychological thoughts and their points of contact with Western psychology, particularly that of Carl Jung.
The book comprises an in-depth introduction and a considered translation of Laozi's classic on virtue and the Dao (Way). The introduction covers Daoism as the counterculture in China and beyond; the originality and distinctiveness of Laozi's thoughts; the classic's influence and contemporary relevance to life in the 21st century; and insights on bilingualism that the author gained in the process of translation.
The book contains the very first English translation of the Beida Laozi (Peking University Laozi), in which the chapters on virtue precede those on the Dao. Accordingly, the classic is renamed The Classic of Virtu
Trade Review
"David Y. F. Ho is an accomplished social-clinical psychologist with lifelong experience working at the interface of Chinese and Western cultures. In this riveting book, he guides us into the very heart of the Chinese ideological traditions of Daoism and Confucianism with penetrating insight, applying his professional acumen and linguistic facility to unpackaging these difficult texts. Dr. Ho succeeds in his mission of making his translations and interpretations applicable to its audience and to 21st century life. It is a text that I wish I had available in my early encounters with Chinese culture and its members. All readers of Laozi’s Classic of Virtue and the Dao for the 21st Century: A Psychological Study will find their understanding opened and their hearts enlarged in sympathetic resonance. Such books are life changing!" —Michael H. Bond, Visiting Chair Professor of Psychology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Table of Contents
Preface – Philosophical Daoism: The Counterculture of China and Beyond – Laozi’s Sociopolitical and Psychological Thoughts – Psychological Applications for the Enrichment of Life – Complications in Translating Laozi’s Classic – Self-Reflections on Language and Thought – Are Some Languages More Difficult to Learn than Others? – Musings on How I Learn English: A Personal Case Study – Virtue: Introduction – The Dao: Introduction – Nature, Heaven, and Earth: Introduction – Action and Nonaction: Introduction – Words, Names, and Naming: Introduction – Learning and Knowledge: Introduction – Sagehood and Selflessness: Introduction – On Establishing and Conducting Oneself: Introduction – Humility: Introduction – Politics and Governance: Introduction – Stratagems, War, and Peace: Introduction – Paradoxes and the Pairing of Opposites: Introduction – Females, Infants, and Water: Introduction – References – Index.
