Commentary

In-depth close readings of the Tao Te Ching chapters. Each article explores the Chinese text, pinyin, and James Legge's translation—then unpacks the meaning in plain English for Western readers.

Ch. 1What Does "The Tao That Can Be Told Is Not the Eternal Tao" Mean?
A plain-English close reading of Tao Te Ching chapter 1: finger and moon, nameless chaos, two ways of seeing, and how the Tao differs from God.