The Daode jing Commentary of Cheng Xuanying: Daoism, Buddhism, and the Laozi in the Tang Dynasty(Oxford Chinese Thought)

This book presents for the first time in English a complete translation of the Expository Commentary to the Daode jing, written by the Daoist monk Cheng Xuanying in the 7th century CE. This commentary is a quintessential text of Tang dynasty Daoist philosophy and of Chongxuanxue or Twofold Mystery teachings. Cheng Xuanying proposes a reading of the ancient Daode jing that aligns the text with Daoist practices and beliefs and integrates Buddhist concepts and techniques into the exegesis of the Daode jing.Building on the philosophical tradition of Xuanxue authors like Wang Bi, Cheng read the Daode jing in light of Daoist religion. Cheng presents Laozi, the presumed author of the Daode jing, as a bodhisattva-like sage and savior, who wrote the Daode jing to compassionately guide human beings to salvation. Salvation is interpreted as a metaphysical form of immortality, reached by overcoming the dichotomy of being and non-being, and thus also life and death. Cheng's philosophical outlook ties together the ancient text of the Daode jing and contemporary developments in Daoist thought which occurred under the influence of an intense interaction with Buddhist ideas. The commentary is a vivid testimony of the integration of Buddhist thought into an exegesis of the ancient classic of the Daode jing, and thereby also into Chinese philosophy. Friederike Assandri frames this new translation with an extensive introduction, providing crucial context for a new reading of the Daode jing. It includes a biography of Cheng Xuanying, a discussion of the historical and political context of Daoism in early medieval China in the capital Chang'an, and a discussion of Cheng's philosophy in relation to the interaction of Daoism and Buddhism. This commentary is essential reading for students and scholars interested in the history of Chinese philosophy, Daoist thought, and the reception of Buddhism in China.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Cheng Xuanying - Biographical Data 2. Context: The Challenges of Being a Daoist in Early Tang Chang'an 3. Cheng Xuanying's Expository Commentary and "the Chinese Conquest of Buddhism" 4. Conventions of this Book Scroll 1 Preface 1. The Dao That Can Be Spoken of as Dao 2. All Under Heaven Know 3. Do Not Value the Wise 4. The Dao Is Empty 5. Heaven and Earth 6. The Valley Spirit 7. Heaven and Earth Are Long Enduring 8. The Highest Goodness 9. Holding It 10. Carry the Souls 11. Thirty Spokes 12. Five Colors 13. Favor and Disgrace 14. Looking at It 15. Of Ancient Times 16. Bringing Emptiness to the Limit 17. Taishang18. Great Dao 19. Abolish Sagehood 20. Abolish Learning 21. Great Virtue 22. Crooked, Therefore 23. Sparing in Words 24. He Who Stands on Tiptoe 25. There Is a Thing 26. Weightiness Is 27. Skillfully Acting 28. Knowing Masculinity 29. Those Who Wish 30. [One Who] Takes Dao 31. Fine Weapons 32. Dao Is Constant 33. He Who Knows Other Men 34. The Great Dao 35. The Great Image 36. If You Want to Contain Something 37. Dao Is Forever Without Intentional Action Scroll 2: The Classic of Virtue 38. Superior Virtue 39. Formerly 40. Returning 41. The Person of Highest Capacities 42. Dao Generates 43. Under Heaven 44. Fame or Your Self, Which Is Closer to You? 45. Great Accomplishment 46. When the World Has Dao

About the Author :
Friederike Assandri studied Classical Sinology, modern Sinology and Indology at the University of Heidelberg, and Chinese Philosophy at the Universtiy of Nanjing. She holds a PhD from the University of Heidelberg. She has lived for 10 years in China and currently lives in Berlin and holds a research position at the University of Leipzig. Her research focuses on the encounter of Buddhism with Chinese culture, intellectual history, and early medieval Daoism.

Review :
This is landmark translation, astutely introduced, and greatly contributing to our understanding of Táng Daoism. Assandri must be commended. This is landmark translation, astutely introduced, and greatly contributing to our understanding of Táng Daoism.