道德

Tao Te Ching

THE WAY AND ITS POWER · LAOZI

Twenty-five centuries ago, Laozi passed through the Hangu Pass,
leaving behind five thousand words of timeless wisdom.
Eighty-one chapters that illuminate the nature of the universe and the art of living.
This is not merely a classic — it is a mirror that reflects your own true nature.

81 Chapters
~5,000 Characters
2,500+ Years
4 Languages

About the Tao Te Ching

The Tao Te Ching (道德经), also known as the Dao De Jing or simply the Laozi, is one of the most influential philosophical texts in human history. Attributed to the sage Laozi (老子) during the Spring and Autumn period (~6th–5th century BCE), it is the foundational text of Daoism.

The book is divided into two parts: the Dao Jing (道经, Chapters 1–37), exploring the nature of the Way, and the De Jing (德经, Chapters 38–81), exploring virtue and its application. At its core is the concept of Dao (道) — the ineffable source and principle of all existence.

With its profound insights into nature, governance, warfare, and personal cultivation, the Tao Te Ching has transcended time and culture, offering wisdom that resonates as powerfully today as it did two and a half millennia ago.

Part I
Dao Jing · Ch. 1–37
Part II
De Jing · Ch. 38–81
8 Sections
Per Chapter Study
4 Languages
ZH · EN · JA · KO

Core Concepts

Key Philosophical Concepts

Ten foundational concepts that run throughout the Tao Te Ching

Dao (道)
The Way · Ch. 1, 4, 6, 14, 25
Wu Wei (无为)
Non-Action · Ch. 2, 3, 10, 37
Water (水)
Ch. 8
Softness (柔弱)
Ch. 6, 8, 10, 76
Xuan De (玄德)
Mysterious Virtue · Ch. 10, 51
Harmony (和光同尘)
Ch. 4, 56
Non-Contention (不争)
Ch. 3, 8, 22, 66
Reversal (反者道之动)
Ch. 40
Simplicity (见素抱朴)
Ch. 19
Stillness (清静)
Ch. 16, 45, 57

Chapter Index

Eighty-One Chapters · Full Index

The first 10 chapters include complete in-depth study (original text, translation, annotations, verse commentary, common misconceptions, modern applications, scholarly annotations, and cross-references). Remaining chapters are being updated.

Part I · Dao Jing Chapters 1-37
Chapter 1
The Way That Can Be Told
The Way that can be told is not the eternal Way.
Full Study
Chapter 2
When All Know Beauty
When all in the world know beauty as beauty, ugliness arises.
Full Study
Chapter 3
Not Exalting the Worthy
Not exalting the worthy keeps people from competing.
Full Study
Chapter 4
The Dao Is Empty
The Dao is empty, yet its use is inexhaustible.
Full Study
Chapter 5
Heaven and Earth Are Not Humane
Heaven and Earth are not humane; they treat all things as straw dogs.
Full Study
Chapter 6
The Spirit of the Valley
The spirit of the valley never dies — it is called the mysterious feminine.
Full Study
Chapter 7
Heaven Is Eternal
Heaven is eternal, Earth endures.
Full Study
Chapter 8
The Highest Good Is Like Water
The highest good is like water — it benefits all things and does not compete.
Full Study
Chapter 9
Fill a Cup to Overflowing
Fill a cup to overflowing — better to stop in time.
Full Study
Chapter 10
Carrying Body and Soul
Can you keep body and soul inseparable?
Full Study
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Tao Te Ching Chapter 11
Study
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Tao Te Ching Chapter 12
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Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Tao Te Ching Chapter 13
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Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Tao Te Ching Chapter 14
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Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Tao Te Ching Chapter 15
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Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Tao Te Ching Chapter 16
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Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Tao Te Ching Chapter 17
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Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Tao Te Ching Chapter 18
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Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Tao Te Ching Chapter 19
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Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Tao Te Ching Chapter 20
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Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Tao Te Ching Chapter 21
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Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Tao Te Ching Chapter 22
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Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Tao Te Ching Chapter 23
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Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Tao Te Ching Chapter 24
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Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Tao Te Ching Chapter 25
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Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Tao Te Ching Chapter 26
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Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Tao Te Ching Chapter 27
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Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Tao Te Ching Chapter 28
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Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Tao Te Ching Chapter 29
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Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Tao Te Ching Chapter 30
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Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Tao Te Ching Chapter 31
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Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Tao Te Ching Chapter 32
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Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Tao Te Ching Chapter 33
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Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Tao Te Ching Chapter 34
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Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Tao Te Ching Chapter 35
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Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Tao Te Ching Chapter 36
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Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Tao Te Ching Chapter 37
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Chapters 38–81
Chapters 38–81
De Jing · Complete
Including \u201cThe highest virtue is not virtuous,\u201d \u201cNothing in the world is softer than water,\u201d \u201cTrue words are not beautiful\u201d — coming soon.
Coming Soon

Explore More

Further Reading

Sage Chronicle · 圣贤志
Travel across 2,500 years to hear the wisdom of fifteen sages — Laozi, Confucius, Zhuangzi, Mencius, and more.
Taoist Classics · 道藏
A collection of Daoist classics — Tao Te Ching, Zhuangzi, Liezi, Wenzi, and more.
Mystic Tools · 玄学工具
I Ching divination, Ba Zi charts, Qi Men Dun Jia — ancient wisdom in modern tools.