---
product_id: 8200519
title: "Tao Te Ching: A New Translation with Commentary"
brand: "ellen chen"
price: "₪119"
currency: ILS
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.co.il/products/8200519-tao-te-ching-a-new-translation-with-commentary
store_origin: IL
region: Israel
---

# Tao Te Ching: A New Translation with Commentary

**Brand:** ellen chen
**Price:** ₪119
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Tao Te Ching: A New Translation with Commentary by ellen chen
- **How much does it cost?** ₪119 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.il](https://www.desertcart.co.il/products/8200519-tao-te-ching-a-new-translation-with-commentary)

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## Description

Tao Te Ching: A New Translation with Commentary

## Images

![Tao Te Ching: A New Translation with Commentary - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51uL64Gfs+L.jpg)
![Tao Te Ching: A New Translation with Commentary - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31ppHBRIPbL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Misleading analysis of Chinese religion and Taoism
  

*by C***. on Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2019*

I will not comment on Ellen Chen's actual translation of Tao Te Ching other than that there are numerous translations and there is benefit in comparing many of them. Rather I want to warn people about her lengthy introduction/commentary. It is filled with factual errors about Chinese religious belief as well as the nature of religion in general and often cites outdated and unreliable sources.The division she makes of religions into what some philosophers call "life-denying" and "life-affirming" religions is somewhat reasonable and needs to be thought about because there is truth to it. This concept is that that these two types of religious attitdues take different attitudes and approaches towards life, the world, and natural desires/pleasures. Life-denying religions tend towards asceticism and disdain for the world while life-affirming religions see no conflict between worldly life and spirituality and often mix them together.However, it is important not to get stuck in a dualistic mentality about this, since some religions (including Taoism, Hinduism, and Buddhism) have a mixture of life-denying and life-affirming attitudes, either as separate paths depending on the sect or in an intermingled form. Ellen Chen also has other strange notions such as that life-affirming religions didn't have concepts of afterlife and that there was a "primordial monotheism" before polytheism. These ideas don't have a foundation in honest historical studies and are actually disproven even by some sources she cites such as Mircea Eliade.In any case, Taoism is generally a life-affirming religion although it has variations which are not. But if you really want to understand it, you need to read other, more reliable authors than Ellen Chen. Of course, you need to read source texts like Tao Te Ching, but actually the Taoist Canon has so many books and commentators that normal people need guides. I recommend checking out Hua-Ching Ni, Maoshing Ni, James Miller, Martin Palmer, Eva Wong, Michael Saso, Julia Ching's book "Chinese Religions", and also Victor H. Mair's commentary on Tao Te Ching.

### ⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Super Dry Read...
  

*by S***T on Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2015*

I got this because among the Tao Te Ching scholars it was always being mentioned as an essential version.  I can see why they say that, given it is very scholarly and academically sound, but wow.... it is really dry.  I consider the Tao Te Ching one of my all time favorite books but I'm halfway through this and it seems like every page is a struggle to get through.  The poetry of it seems to have been lost in the attempt to provide the most "accurate" translation.Having said all that if you are interested in learning some history, and are looking to deepen you knowledge of the Tao Te Ching go ahead and get this.  Just be prepared for a textbook as opposed to a beautifully flowing sacred text.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Very thorough
  

*by M***S on Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2013*

I'm not a scholar of the Tao Te Ching, but Chen seems to have researched it extensively. Her analysis holds your attention, and I think that her translation makes more sense than others I have read, but who am I to judge? I highly recommend it if you want to get deep into the subject.

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*Product available on Desertcart Israel*
*Store origin: IL*
*Last updated: 2026-03-07*