道德经 - 老子国学经典诵读 3.3

The "Dao De Jing" is a philosophical work by Laozi (Li Er) from the Spring and Autumn Period. It is also known as the "Classic of Virtue and Morality," "Laozi," "Five Thousand Words," or "Laozi's Five Thousand Characters." It is an important pre-Qin philosophical work and a significant source of Daoist philosophy.

The "Dao De Jing" is divided into two parts: the upper section called "De Jing" and the lower section called "Dao Jing." Originally, it did not have chapters, but it was later divided into 37 chapters in the "Dao Jing" section and 81 chapters in the "De Jing" section.

The text of the "Dao De Jing" focuses on the philosophical concept of "Dao" and "De," discussing ways of self-cultivation, governance, military strategy, and personal well-being. It places a strong emphasis on politics, representing the doctrine of "inner virtue and outer king." With its profound meaning and extensive scope, it is hailed as the king of ten thousand classics.

The "Dao De Jing" is one of the greatest masterpieces in Chinese history and has had a profound influence on traditional philosophy, science, politics, and religion. According to statistics from UNESCO, apart from the Bible, the "Dao De Jing" has been translated into foreign languages and published more frequently than any other cultural masterpiece.