Bamboo Manuscripts

This volume covers the philosophical, historical, religious, and interpretative aspects of the ancient Guodian bamboo manuscripts (郭店楚簡) which were disentombed in the Guodian Village in Hubei Province, China, in 1993. Considered to be the Chinese equivalent of the Dead Sea Scrolls, these manuscripts are archaeological finds whose importance cannot be underestimated. Many of the texts are without counterparts in the transmitted tradition, and they provide unique insights into the developments of Chinese philosophy in the period between the death of Confucius (551-479 BCE) and the writings of Mencius (c.372-289 BCE), and beyond.

• Restores the feminine essence of the Tao Te Ching as well as the simplicity and poetic undertones of the chapters
• Offers commentary for each of the 81 chapters and key Chinese characters to reveal their profound wisdom
• Translated from ancient silk and bamboo slip manuscripts, the oldest known copies of the Tao Te Ching
• Paper with French flaps