Stephen Mitchell stands as a luminary in the world of Taoism, not merely for his translations but for his audacity to interpret ancient texts with a modern, poetic lens.
Great article! Thank you. I too find Mitchell's version resonates the best with me.
Here's Mitchell describing what he's doing in the Foreword to the HarperPerennial edition: "I have often been fairly literal - or as literal as one can be with such a subtle, kaleidoscopic book as the Tao Te Ching. But I have also paraphrased, expanded, contracted, interpreted, worked with the text, played with it, until it became embodied in a language that felt genuine to me. If I haven't always translated Lao Tzu's words, my intention has always been to translate his mind."
Having thoughts and ideas move without friction from one mind to another is surely what good writing is all about. At least, that's how it seems to me.
Thank you, Diamond for such great article. The Tao is embedded everywhere. We participate in it without being aware. I don’t have Mitchell’s version, but I resonate with the point you’re making. 🙏🏽
I have been hearing various things on iChing sites about the issue of authentic interpretation. Some translations are viewed as being with aligned with the original translation. While other interpretations are wildly speculative when I try to compare original to the interpretation.
I still do not know how I feel about this issue. I think there’s something for honoring the original cultural and historical context. This is not the philosophy of my own people. It derives from a tradition that I do not have much familiarity.
Part of me is a pragmatist though — I tend to hold the idea “whatever works” — if we’re able to extract meaning from ancient texts for the purposes of alleviating suffering and enhancing our overall understanding of how to live with more ease and flow in the world, then I don’t necessary take issue with it. The same debates occur in tarot circles and of course with the interpretation of Biblical texts.
Thank you for the reference to Stephen Mitchell’s book. I look forward to learning more.
Great article! Thank you. I too find Mitchell's version resonates the best with me.
Here's Mitchell describing what he's doing in the Foreword to the HarperPerennial edition: "I have often been fairly literal - or as literal as one can be with such a subtle, kaleidoscopic book as the Tao Te Ching. But I have also paraphrased, expanded, contracted, interpreted, worked with the text, played with it, until it became embodied in a language that felt genuine to me. If I haven't always translated Lao Tzu's words, my intention has always been to translate his mind."
Having thoughts and ideas move without friction from one mind to another is surely what good writing is all about. At least, that's how it seems to me.
Yes indeed I 100% agree. But he does have his detractors.
Thank you, Diamond for such great article. The Tao is embedded everywhere. We participate in it without being aware. I don’t have Mitchell’s version, but I resonate with the point you’re making. 🙏🏽
I have been hearing various things on iChing sites about the issue of authentic interpretation. Some translations are viewed as being with aligned with the original translation. While other interpretations are wildly speculative when I try to compare original to the interpretation.
I still do not know how I feel about this issue. I think there’s something for honoring the original cultural and historical context. This is not the philosophy of my own people. It derives from a tradition that I do not have much familiarity.
Part of me is a pragmatist though — I tend to hold the idea “whatever works” — if we’re able to extract meaning from ancient texts for the purposes of alleviating suffering and enhancing our overall understanding of how to live with more ease and flow in the world, then I don’t necessary take issue with it. The same debates occur in tarot circles and of course with the interpretation of Biblical texts.
Thank you for the reference to Stephen Mitchell’s book. I look forward to learning more.