Lao-tzu und der Taoismus.

Maîtres spirituels #34

by Max Kaltenmark

Apart from Confucius, Lao Tzu is the most eminent figure in Chinese antiquity. The book attributed to him, the Tao Te Ching, is the classic statement of the system of thought known as Taoism. Much of the doctrine of the Tao Te Ching was later clarified and modified by the greatest of the Taoist philosophers and writers, Chuang Tzu, whose chief work bears his name.

The major ideas contained in these two early texts form the basis of this concise yet comprehensive history and analysis of Taoism, which also presents biographical information on Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu and an account of religious Taoism.

Largely because of its emphasis on passivity, quietism, and mysticism, Taoism never enjoyed wide popular or official favor, and it was gradually overshadowed by the more positive and active ideology of Confucianism. Through the centuries, however, its influence on intellectuals has led to much of China's greatest art and literature, not to mention a religion that has persisted as a spiritual force to the present day.

Genres: Religion, Taoism, Nonfiction, Philosophy

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Czarny Pies · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lao tseu et le taoïsme" a pour mission de faire connaitre le "taoïsme" au grand public. Le fait j'avais besoin d'un tel livre veut dire que je ne suis pas vraiment apte à le critiquer. Je ne sais pas si le livre présenté bien le taoïsme; je sais seulement que sa présentation systémique s'accorde assez bien avec les commentaires faits en passent au sujet du taoïsme que j'avais souvent lu ou entendus avant.

Il parait qu'il y a des limites à ce que l'on peut comprendre du taoïsme si on ne le pratique pas. Kaltenmark insiste sur le fait que le taoïsme est ineffable; c'est-à-dire on ne peut pas l'expliquer avec des mots et que l'on enseigne avec le silence.

Le base du taoïsme est le "wou-wei" que Kaltenmark rend en francais des fois avec le "non-agir" des fois avec le "sans faire". La sainteté se réalise dans la vacuité. Le but du pratiquant est de "se conformer au rythme universel" (p. 79). Il faut apprendre à se renoncer aux ambitions telles que la richesse, le pouvoir ou le renommé car la poursuite de ces choses dérangent le calme du pratiquant: "toute activité dirigée vers l'extérieur (du pratiquant), même par distraction, peut déclencher une série de réactions fatales"" (p. 132).

Le taoïsme ne prêche pas l'immortalité de l'âme: "les êtres visibles ne sont que les innombrables formes transitoires que prend la vie." (p. 38) Le taoïsme est aussi agnostique au sujet de l'existence de Dieu.

Aux yeux de Kaltenmark, le taoïsme est une philosophie qui est toujours très pertinent. La religion taôiste par contre manque de pertinence. On a fondé le religion taôiste aux 2e et 3e siècles apr. J-C. tandis que l'on a écrit les grand textes philosophiques aux 4e et 3e siècles av. J-C. Kaltenmark signale religion taôiste n'sanctionnait l'alchimie et des pratiques magico-religieuses ce qui à son avis était contre l'esprit du taôisme philosophique. Kaltenmark note que le régime communiste a réussi à supprimer le religion taôiste et qu'il survit de nos jours seulement au Taiwan.

[Yazdanpanah Askari · Rating 1 out of 5]

جینگ = تار
لائو تزه و آيين دائو ، ماكس كالتنمارك ، ترجمه شهرنوش پارسی پور – تهران : انتشارات به نگار 1369 ص 26

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book itself is a very good introduction to the subject of Daoism. It looks more at the philosophical side of Daoism than the religious side. Though it does have an interesting chapter on religious Daoism. I think this book is a nice compliment to Isabelle Robinet's book that focused mainly on the history of the religious side, though she argued that you can't really split the two into two distinct categories.

Kaltenmark looked at the history of the earliest philosophers, what we know and don't know. And then tried to explain the key concepts as written by Lao Tzu and Chuang Tsu. (as they are called in wade giles, the book originally being written in 1964). I was very pleased to find that the passage I had been translating in my classic Chinese textbook was from the very first chapter of Lao Tzu, Tao de Ching. There was something amazingly wonderful about translating ancient daoist wisdom with a migrane, half blind. While AC Graham still remains my favorite author on explaining daoist concepts, this book also did a very good job. It was a nice succinct introduction to the subject. It was a good refresher for me before I start my Ge Hong book that I got last week. And now I've read the English I think I'm brave enough to attempt to start the French.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, concise and useful introduction to Taoism. This book is a timely read: many Taoist ideas are helpful cures for the ills of modernity, particularly the media-induced fear and divisiveness we are being subjected to right now.

Notes:
Tz...[see the rest on my book review site.]

[Faaiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my introductory course into Asian Religions. I think it does a really good job at explaining a complex and often confusing subject that is Taoism. I would definitely recommend this book for better understanding Taoism and its founder Lao Tzu.