Articles
There are two ways to spell Chinese words. The Wade Giles style was older and the Pinyin system is newer. Check out this Glossary of Daoist (Taoist) terms. Many still use the older Wade Giles system.
| Pinyin System | Wade Giles System |
| Daoism | Taoism |
| Newer, more accurate pronunciation, Daoism is being increasingly used. | Older, remains popular in general usage |
| Daoism | Taoism |
| Dao De Jing | Tao Te Ching |
| Laozi | La Tzu |
| Qi | Chi |
| De | Te |
| Qigong | Ch’i Kung |
| Taiji | T’ai chi |
| Yijing | I Ching |
| Zhuangzi | Chuang Tzu |
Daoism An Ancient Philosophy for the Modern Age. Get the book! A simple guide to help you navigate a stressful world. Key teachings from Daoism like constancy, compassion, flexibility, Yin-Yang, wu wei, success, happiness, leadership, and emptiness. Available on Apple and Amazon.
Daoism The Fundamental Texts Get the book! A summary of the three great texts of Daosim: the Dao De Jing, Zhuangzi, and Liezi. It shares much of the same material, quotes, images, and interpretations as Daoism An Ancient Philosophy for the Modern Age, but organized by chapter. Available on Apple and Amazon.
Dao De Ching (Tao Te Ching)
Tao Te Ching: The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained, Stefan Stenudd, author. CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2nd edition 2015. An easy to read translation and commentary on the Dao De Ching. Most of the citations of the Dao De Ching on this website are from this source.
The Eternal Tao Te Ching: The Philosophical Masterwork of Taoism and Its Relevance Today, Benjamin Hoff, Author, Abrams Books, 2021. An English interpretation of the Dao De Ching using the pre-writing Chinese brush characters.
History and Philosophy
Taoism: The Parting of the Way, Holmes H. Welch Jr., author. Beacon Press, 1971. A scholarly outline of the history of Daoism and what the author thinks it means.
Taoism for Inner Peace: Ancient Philosophies for Everyday Life, Einzelgänger, author. Independently published, 2025. A good guide to apply Daoist philosophy.
Liezi (Lieh Tzu)
The Book of Master Lie, Thomas Cleary, translator. 2011. A nice translation of Liezi.
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)
Complete Works Of Zhuangzi, Burton Watson, translator. Columbia University Press, 1968. A good and classic translation of Zhuangzi.
The Cicada and the Bird: The Usefulness of a Useless Philosophy. Zhuangzi’s ancient wisdom translated for modern life, Christopher Tricker, author. Independently published, 2022. A new easy to read translation that focuses on Zhuangzi’s actual writings.
Wenzi (Wen Tzu)
Wen-Tzu, Understanding the Mysteries, Thomas Cleary, Translator. 1991. The only English translation of the Wenzi.
The Wenzi: Creativity and Intertextuality in Early Chinese Philosophy (Studies in the History of Chinese Texts, 9), Paul Van Els, Brill Academic Publisher, 2018. An in-depth analysis of the bamboo fragments from the Dingzhou Wenzi.
Els, P. van. (2006, May 29). The Wenzi: creation and manipulation of a Chinese philosophical text, Paul Van Els, 2006. Doctoral Thesis on the Dingzhou Wenzi.
Daoism 