The Tao Te Ching Explained in Plain Language

The Dao De Jing, written by Laozi during the Spring and Autumn period, is the central classic of Daoist thought. Comprising just over five thousand words, it is divided into the “Dao” and “De” sections. Its central teaching concerns the “Dao,” the fundamental source and universal principle governing the workings of all things. Its essence is natural non-action. It advocates following the laws of nature, since “the Dao follows nature,” and governing and conducting oneself through gentleness, humility, and non-contention, achieving everything through non-action. It also contains profound dialectical thought, expressed in the idea that “reversal is the movement of the Dao.” It is celebrated as a wellspring of Chinese philosophical wisdom and has had a far-reaching influence.