“To be immersed in the mysterious beauty of the Dao De Jing , [this translation] is the most literary and inviting.” ―Stephen R. Platt, Wall Street Journal A landmark translation of the timeless classic of Daoist wisdom, rendered in gorgeous poetry that illuminates its enduring teachings. This bold new translation by two brilliant poets offers a contemporary perspective on a timeless masterpiece of Daoist scripture, introducing Dao De Jing to a new audience while retaining the majesty of the Chinese original. Composed of eighty-one short poems written by the sage Laozi in 400 BC, Dao De Jing is one of the pillars of Chinese thought. Acclaimed poet Li-Young Lee and poet and scholar Yun Wang illuminate Dao De Jing as a unified work of art. This revelatory and faithful translation―presented alongside the original Chinese text―reveals its enduring teachings in their profound simplicity, subtlety, and balance. "This lovely book holds its treasures lightly.… Reach in anywhere, and gather nourishing wisdom for your own life, and for the world." ― Alicia Ostriker, author of The Volcano and After , New York State Poet Laureate, 2018–2021 "I loved reading this book, in this translation.… [T]here is wisdom here that will make you think about how you go through your life." ― Sean Carroll, author of The Big Picture "Li-Young Lee and Yun Wang have offered us a delightful and gratifying version [of the Dao De Jing]. Be prepared for a sumptuous journey into ‘the way.’" ― Marilyn Chin, author of Sage Li–Young Lee is a poet and translator. He received the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize for Lifetime Achievement, among other awards. Lee lives in Chicago. Yun Wang , a poet and cosmologist, is the author of three volumes of poetry. Raised in rural southwest China, she lives in California.