Introduction

Translated and Edited

Anthony C.YU(1938-2015) was the Carl Darling Buck Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in the Humanities and Professor Emeritus of Religion and Literature in the Divinity School;also in the Departments of Comparative Literature, East Asian Languages and Civilizations,and English Language and Literature,and the Committee on Social Thought.His scholarly work focuses on comparative study of both literary and religious traditions.

Publication of this volume was made possible by a grant from the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange(USA).

Daodejing 41

上士闻道，勤而行之。

中士闻道，若存若亡。

下士闻道，大笑之；不笑，不足以为道。

The superior student who hears about the Way practices it diligently.

The midding student who hears about the Way now keeps it and now loses it.

The inferior student who hears about the Way laughs and it loudly;

If he did not laugh, it would have fallen short of the Way.