Tao Te Ching

The Tao Te Ching, often called the Dào Dé Jīng, serves as a foundational pillar for both philosophical and religious Taoism. Traditionally attributed to the sage Laozi, this ancient text explores the nature of the Way and its inherent virtue through poetic verses. Scholars debate its exact origins, though excavated fragments known as the Guodian Chu slips date back to around 300 BCE during the Warring States period. While tradition places Laozi earlier, most experts estimate the surviving versions emerged in the mid-third century BCE. The work spans roughly five thousand characters across eighty-one short chapters.[edit]