The wise men of ancient China, when they reached old age and completed their careers as teachers or officials, would journey to the mountains outside the kingdom and become hermits. This book presents the thoughts of one such elder, known only as "the Old Sage." As he was about to cross the border into barbarian lands, a frontier guard, regretting the loss of this great thinker, asked him to set down what he had learned in his lifetime; this classic book is the result. This new translation is unusual in several respects. It seeks throughout to retain the rhythm of the Chinese verse and even its rhyme scheme. The brilliant metaphors of the Old Sage are not translated into Western equivalents, but are rendered literally, then explained through brief footnotes. Short commentaries follow most of the chapters, elucidating their sometimes obscure thoughts and images. In short, this book presents a highly accurate and literal translation of the Dao De Jing, while retaining the fluidity and simple beauty of the original. With this text you will not only understand Lao-zi"s words but hear his song as well.