The Tao Speaks: Lao-Tzu's Whispers of Wisdom

Bys: Chung, Tsai Chih, Ts'ai, Chih-Chung, Cai, Zhizhong

The centuries-old wisdom of the Tao, as told??through the profoundly wise and delightfully??entertaining illustrations of Tsai Chih Chung. In??The Tao Speaks, Tsai Chih Chung??brilliantly retells,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385472595
• ISBN13: 9780385472593
• Release Date: June 1995
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.0" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Most approachable Introduction to the Dao

I have read the Tao Te Ching years ago, and found it mostly unintelligible and illogical. For years I have given up on trying to understand anything because it made little sense. That is, until I met this wonderful cartoon series by Zhizhong Cai. Here I found even some of the most complicated and esoteric principles of Taoism explained using brilliant flowing art and very simple examples from ordinary experience. For instance, to illustrate the Taoist principle of "firmness is not necessarily strength while weakness actually is strength", there is a panel showing water in flood surrounding mountains: "water is the most pliant of things, and yet it can erode away mountains and carve out canyons." After reading each of these panels, I get this click of recognition. I finally understand what the Tao is all about, and it makes a lot of sense.The size of the book is very good. Nearly 100 pages containing roughly 6 panels per page is enough to leave my head reeling with ideas. The art is very beautiful and interesting. Further, the edition I have (which is square in shape) has a side panel on every page containing the text of the Tao Te Ching in Chinese (reading top to bottom the traditional way). I found that very interesting and adds an artistic touch to the volume. It is also useful to me since I am currently learning Chinese. Note that there is an older edition which omits this panel (so the book has a more rectangular aspect ratio). I believe the book title is different in the older edition ("The Sayings of Lao Zi").

teaches without teaching

I think it is fantastic that a book that is as enjoyable to read as the "Tao Te Ching" can be made even more so through the use of illustration and humor. Tsai Chic Chung has faithfully adopted the text and lessons of Taoism into this unassuming form ready to be enjoyed.Attributed to the great Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu, the "Tao Te Ching" has attracted generations of followers from across the world to its simple tenets of modesty, peace, and pragmatism. The most pleasant feature of this book is that it illustrates concepts clearly and cleanly. Complex issues are brought home and made familiar.

Start Here

Just getting started on your desire to understand eastern philosophies? Have you stood at the bookstore for hours pouring over where to start and what to buy? Any of this authors books are a wonderful place to start. The reason? Because these books are all about the title subject in a nutshell, easy to read as a comic book, the story lines and illustrations are wonderful, and after you read this as well as all the other books by Tsai, you will have a great, well rounded start on your path and will know what you want to study more deeply!To add, when others ask you about your interest in eastern philosophy, you can get them started here as well, because these books are fun, consise, and you know they will enjoy them over and over again!

Great for people who like Chinese

Taoism is one of the most interesting of the Chinese religion/philosophies. The idea of "The Tao," Yin and Yang, balance, and going with the flow of nature in my opinion is very interesting and something we all need to look at. There are many great translations of Taoist texts and books that interpret them. However, not everyone is big into East Asian philosophy. It is for those people I recommend this version and this entire series of cartoon Chinese philosophy books. They are really cute, make good gifts, and are great in the classroom. I recommend this book for teachers and as a gift. People who are deep into this stuff, will understandably have problems with these books. However, for beginners, kids, and as a gift these books are great.

A wonderful book on Taoism

I received this book as a gift. Its explanations are amazingly clear and leaves one with a deep respect for the wisdom of Lao-Tsu. The opening of the book was cool: A master is teaching a pupil about virtue,"One ought to exhibit cleverness and strength..." and Lao-Tsu comes along and says,"That is not the way. One should appear weak, poor and helpless..." Confucius said of Lao-Tsu,"I know birds can fly, beasts can walk...but the dragons -- they are up in the heavens, ungraspable, unfathomable. Is not Lao-Tsu like the dragon!"