Great Mathematician S.S.Chern & Lao Tzu

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0aa200d2egerdp.gif"> <div> <B>The Philosophical Taoism as Lao Tzu Professed</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="08939490.gif" border=0 width="569" height="73" ALT="ÂI°}¹Ï¼v¹³" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><A HREF="philosophical_taoism_site_map.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Map"><U>Site Map</U></A></div> <div>  <A HREF="lao_tzu_s_taoism.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="English Introduction"><U>English Introduction</U></A>  <A HREF="tao_te_ching_translation_based_on_lao_tzu_s_philosophy__his_taoism.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Book Contents"><U>Book Contents</U></A>  <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lao Tzus Influence on Taoism Confucian"><U>Lao Tzu's Influence on Taoism  & Confucianism</U></A>  <A HREF="philosophers__link_to_lao_tzu_s_taoism.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="References"><U>References</U></A>  </div> <div> <A HREF="philosopher_karl_popper_appreciated_lao_tzu_s_view.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Great Philosopher Karl Popper Lao Tzu"><U>Philosopher Karl Popper & Lao Tzu</U></A>   <A HREF="lao_tzu_s_taoism_means_his_philosophy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Tao"><U>About Tao</U></A>   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About the Original Taoism "><U>About the Original Taoism  </U></A>  <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Great Mathematician S.S.Chern Lao Tzu"><U>Great Mathematician S.S.Chern & Lao Tzu</U></A></div> <div>                                 <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="English Translation(sample)"><U>English Translation(sample)</U></A>  <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chinese Translation "><U>Chinese Translation ¥Õ¸Ü¥y¸Ñ - </U></A>(sample)¥Õ¸Ü¥y?  <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Zen(Chan)"><U>About Zen(Chan)</U></A></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" >           </FONT> </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>   <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Black" > A Preliminary Introduction about Lao Tzu, His Philosophy, and His Book Tao Te Ching(Dao De Jing)</FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0b80f260.gif" border=0 width="271" height="550" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <I> </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Arial Black" ><I>Lao Tzu(Laozi)</I></FONT><I> </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><I> </I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>was The author of  the traditional Chinese book of wisdom, Tao Te Ching.  This book was dictated to a man named Yin Xi in the 6th century BC. who was responsible for writing(carving) it down on bamboo slips(the paper was invented  five hundred years after then), and handed it down to future generations.   Lao Tzu was a great humanistic philosopher. Unfortunately, he had been greatly misunderstood by many people.  The pupose of my books was an attempt to demythologize myths, hearsays and fabrications about him and his thoughts.   The most genuine and authentic heirloom of Lao Tzu is his book Tao Te Ching(Dao De Jing) and the philosophical framework underlies it.</B></FONT></div> <div> <I> </I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Myth about Taoism(Daoism)</div> <div> <B>Only </B><B>the original Taoism</B><B>, as expressed through the book </B><B>Tao Te Ching</B><B>, adheres to Lao Tzu's philosophy.  Nevertheless, improper translation and interpretation of the text of the book could generate  either distortion of or deviation from Lao Tzu's philosophy(pitch of his thoughts).   It further leads to the undesired consequence:initiating the</B><B> misunderstanding of  the </B><B> original Taoism.    This </B><B>significant </B><B>mistake was primarily linguistic, i.e. it was caused by the translator's ignorance of the ancient Chinese language(more ancient and difficult than Latin, not to mention the fact the classical Chinese language has evolved into many versions in the past twenty five centuries).  Secondary reason was the particular reader's incapacity to comprehend the framework which sustains the whole book and connects all phrases and paragraphs together </B><B>cohenrently. </B><B>   Frequently the partial understanding was covered up and smoothed out with out-of-context translation or interpretation.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> What are the real references of phrases frequently used in writings about Taoism</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Black" > </FONT> Tao Te Ching: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336600" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>The book from which Taoism was originated.  However, the very original</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>           title of this book when it was created was </B><I><B>Lao Tzu</B></I><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div>    Laoism  :  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336600" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>It refers strictly to Lao Tzu's philosophy, namely his original Taoism.  This term</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>         was used as early as the Third Century B.C.</B></div> <bR> <div>    Lao Tzu's Taoism = Laoism= Lao Tzu's bona fide Philosophy</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> How to penetrate through the veil of mythologization of Taoism<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Black" >   </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial Black" > </FONT><B>In order to understand the real meaning of </B><B>Tao Te Ching</B><B> we must at least know "How     the book was  introduced to the world?", "How to read its archaic language?", and "What is Lao Tzu's philosophical framework(system)?".</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  About Lao Tzu's Philosophy</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Black" >   </FONT><B>  Lao Tzu was probably the person of his time who had understood </B><I><B>I Ching</B></I><B> more thoroughly than any</B><B>  one we know.  He was the most learned scholar of his time; he took charge of then empirial library and archives(interpreting the function of the political-social system and</B><B> taking charge of the</B><B> I-Ching</B><B> related relics of his time) .  In his book we could find his theory and interpretation of</B><B> I-Ching</B><B>.  Many Pre-Qing</B></div> <div> <B>Chinese thinkers, who existed in between sixth and first century B.C. had been, more or less, influenced by him.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>  </B><B> </B><B> Chinese thinkers who had been influenced by Lao Tzu directly or  indirectly are:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011833663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Confucius</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B>( 552-479 B.C.)---</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>He had visited Lao Tzu three times to inquire about Li(propriety ritual).</B></FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011833663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Chuang Tzu</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B>(350-265? B.C.)--</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>He worshipped Lao Tzu and is the best known and loved Taoist thinker.</B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800660000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial Black" ><B>Sun Tzu</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B>(existed in the sixth century B.C.)--</B></FONT><B>The author of the celebrated military strategy book </B><I><B>Sun Tzu</B></I><B>.  He was said to be personally taught by Lao Tzu; their principles on military strategy are in agreement.</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011833663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> H</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial Black" ><B>an Fei Tzu</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B>(?-233 B.B.)--</B></FONT><B>An influencial thinker on Legalism(the policy of strict adherence to law and order, it advocates severe punishment as a means to sustain peace and order).  However, he has written two books interpreting and commenting on Lao Tzu's book named </B><I><B>Lao Tzu</B></I><B>(known as </B><I><B>Tao Te Ching </B></I><B>later</B><B>).</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011833663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Zen(Ch'an) Buddhists</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B>--</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#993366" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>This branch of Buddhism was originated in China.  Initially Chinese Buddhist monks derived their theory about meditation from Lao Tzu's  description of it.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Western philosophers who had been deeply impressed by Lao  Tzu's words are:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011866663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Frederick Nietzsche-<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Book Antiqua" >-</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Book Antiqua" >He said Lao Tzu's book was full with creative ideas, as inexhaustible as water in a well.</FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011866663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Bertrand Russell<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" >--</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Book Antiqua" >He was deeply touched by Lao Tzu's words about true nobility "[A sage] would help [all creatures] to relish their lives without being possessive.  [He] would carry out good deeds withour asserting his achievement."(2.IV)</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial Black" ><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011866663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Karl R. Popper</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" >(following books are dedicated to the memory of him)</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" >--</FONT>He had been interesting in Lao Tzu ever since he was twenty-six.  Please go to<A HREF="philosopher_karl_popper_appreciated_lao_tzu_s_view.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Great Philosopher Karl Popper Lao Tzu"><U>Great Philosopher Karl Popper & Lao Tzu</U></A>  <A HREF="philosophers__link_to_lao_tzu_s_taoism.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="References"><U>References</U></A>.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011866663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Paul Carus<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" >-</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000CC" FACE="Book Antiqua" >-He said Lao Tzu was a great philosopher and one of the greatest human  beings who had ever trodden earth.</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7014033006600.gif" HEIGHT="21" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Other Westerners who were impressed by Lao Tzu</div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c833663300.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B>Samuel Johnson</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" >(19th century American missionary)</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c833663300.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></FONT><B>Stainislas Julien</B>(sinologist)--<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" >He said Lao Tzu was a great man who had been very misunderstood.  His translation was perhaps the best one in the 19th Century.</FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c833663300.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial Black" >Leo Toystoy</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" >(humanitarianist & novelist)--</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" >He compared the greatness of Lao   Tzu's only book Tao Te Ching  to that of the Holy Bible.</FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011833663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <B>Karl Jung</B>(psychologist)</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f033663300.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></FONT><B>Niel Bohr</B>(quantum physicist)</div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011833663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B><B>Eugene O'Neil</B>(playwright)--<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial" >He claimed to be an admirer of Lao Tzu's principles an<B> </B>named his residence after it.</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#336633" FACE="Arial Black" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011833663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Joseph Needham</B></FONT>(microbiologist & sinologist)--He said<B> "</B><I><B>Dao Teh Ching</B></I><B>, </B>which may be regarded as without exception the most prfound and beautiful work in the Chinese language"(Sicence and Civilization in China)  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011833663300.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Many Christian priests and missionaries who had once stationed in China--Many of them were amazed to find so many parallel passages between Lao Tzu(aka Tao Te Ching) and The New Testament.</div> <div>          </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Black" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#6666FF" FACE="?s??????" ><B> </B></FONT><A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158348390X/taoism" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1"><U><B><IMG SRC="0485d8c0.gif" border=0 width="93" height="140" ALT="descrText" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>        </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial Black" >           </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Black" > <IMG SRC="09896e10.gif" border=0 width="150" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div> The whole book can be viewed at the following portal under the title "Lao Tzu":</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.iuniverse.com/marketplace/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=1-58348-390-x" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.iuniverse.com/marketplace/boo"><U>http://www.iuniverse.com/marketplace/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=1-58348-390-x</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> (English Version <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >ISBN: 1-58348-390X is available</FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >through major online bookstores or through clicking on the photo of the book cover above</FONT>).</div> <div> Chinese version by the same author is now available through bookstore of China Daily News, Los Angeles Division.</div> <div>   <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial Black" > <IMG SRC="0922d490.gif" border=0 width="557" height="73" ALT="ÂI°}¹Ï¼v¹³" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div>                                                        1- 323-261-8105  ext.102 (Mr. Hu)               </div> <div>                                      Chinese Daily News(Los Angeles)</div> <div> <B>Further inquiry about books could be obtained through above mentioned Mr. Wu of Chinese Daily News.</B></div> <div> Or, order it through  Amazon.com: ISBN 0970789106</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970789106" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0"><U>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970789106</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" ><B>*This site will be updated from time to time.  The reciprocal Chinese site is:</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.daoism.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.daoism.net"><U><B>http://www.daoism.net</B></U></A></div> <div> This version was updated on Sept.28, 2001 on Confucious' birthday.</div> <div>    <SCRIPT>  </SCRIPT>  <form method="POST" action="http://mindit.netmind.com/mindit.shtml" target="_top"> <input type="hidden" name="SOURCE" value="511"> <input type="hidden" name="URL" value="http://www.taoism-truth.com/TlxTransfer.txt"> <input type="hidden" name="DOC_TITLE" value="The Taoism Philosophy"> <input type="hidden" name="REDIRECT" value="http://www.taoism-truth.com/"> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tr><td align="center"> <font face="arial,helvetica" size="-1"><b>Click to receive email <br>when this web site is updated</b></font></td> </tr><tr><td align="center"> <input type="image" src="http://mindit.netmind.com/images/mindit511.gif" border="0"></td> 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