Daodejing

Ziporyn, a University of Chicago scholar of ancient and medieval Chinese religion and philosophy, presents a challenging and nuanced new translation of the Daodejing. Though English versions of this Daoist classic abound, Ziporyn draws from multiple textual variants to offer an interpretation full of ambiguity, wordplay, and conceptual playfulness. Ziporyn views this classic not as a single-authored text with a consistent thesis but as a “best-of selection of exemplars of a defunct ancient genre.” Ziporyn’s choice to translate what is typically parsed as “the Dao” or “the Way” as “course” or even “coursing” exemplifies the freewheeling and multifaceted character of his interpretation. The endnotes offer a deeper look into the rigor and simultaneous flexibility of Ziporyn’s translation style, as he discusses the many ways a translator can parse a difficult passage depending on double entendres, irony, puns, and more. One refrain, for example, can mean “producing but not possessing,” “born without possessing anything,” or “alive but not existing” depending on whether its verbs are construed as transitive or intransitive. Ziporyn’s interpretation strikes a fine balance between philosophical ingenuity and readability, offering a new and rewarding way to read the Daodejing. This ambitious translation will engage newcomers and the well acquainted alike. (Jan.)